#39 The Gender Gap in Our Public Square: Joan Wages: How Do We Fix It?

From the AmericanRevolution and the Founding Fathers - through wars, economic changeand the struggle for civil rights, American history isoverwhelmingly dominated by the achievements and errors ofmen. 

Women - because they were largely excluded from public andprofessional life for most of our history - play a relatively smallrole in the established narrative of our past. 

"Role models have a hugeimpact on the way young girls and women in general think aboutthemselves," says Joan Wages, President and CEO of The NationalWomen's History Museum.

"We need more women role models out in the public sphere so weknow about them."

In this episode, Joan tells about the campaign for building aNational Women's History Museum in Washington D.C. TheMuseum's website states: "It will be centrally located near theworld's most prestigious museums and monuments in our Nation'sCapital." 

Fewer than 20% of the Members of Congress are women.  Incorporate boardrooms the numbers are even lower.  Fewer than5% of CEO's at Fortune 500 companies are women.

"Each time a young girl hears this, it sends a message to themthat they're not equal. That's what needs to change." 

This episode has examples of women forgotten by history andlooks at other fixes as well as obstacles as the campaign attemptsto correct an imbalance in how women are portrayed.

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