F e b r u a r y / M a r c h 2 0 1 8 5 9 Insights Haven’t We? By Olivia Gunn Kostishevskaya As Maine goes, so goes the nation. It sounds so encouraging. But is that true with women’s rights? Prepare for some surprising facts across the decades… Portland Jetport on a crisp November morning, 19 Maine women get out of cars and taxis and assemble in the airport lobby. Imagine: Here is Merle Nelson greeting Sharon Rene Talbot and Linda S. Dyer. Next comes Vivian Massey, JoAnn Fritsche, Kim Matthews, Anne Hazelwood-Brady, Nan Stone, Cynthia Murray-Beliveau, Lois Reck- itt, Constance Depew, Kate McQueen, Pau- lette Dodge, Claire Hussey, Janet Mills, and Pat Ryan. (If you or one of your relatives were in attendance, let us know at editor@ portlandmonthly.com.) Should one of them need to use the air- port “powder room” before takeoff, she’ll have to pay a nickel to enter, though ac- cess to the men’s restroom is free of charge– just one of many frank injustices that have turned a slow burn into something very hot. The destination? Come fly with them as they lift into the flight levels and soar over Boston and New York and into a brighter fu- ture. These Downeast ladies feel a rush of ex- citement, because they’re heading to Hous- ton, Texas, as Maine’s delegates to the first and only U.S. government-funded confer- ence of its kind. The 1977 National Women’s Conference, attended by 20,000 leaders from I t’s the late 1970s, that uneasy period when the sexualized title “stewardess” was morphing into the gender-neutral “flight attendant” and women were smok- ing Virginia Slims. Tension lingers from Vietnam. Patty Hearst has experienced Stockholm Syndrome as a member of the Symbionese Liberation Army, Watergate has fractured the country’s trust, President Carter is desperately cleaning up, and Fem- inism is in full swing. Here in Maine, wom- en comprise 40 percent of the work force but face unequal pay. In front of the departure gate of the Susan D.Jacobson becomes the first woman to graduate from Bowdoin College. Maine is the 31st state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, first proposed in 1923.The amendment, which guarantees equal rights regard- less of gender, is still not includ- ed in the U.S. Constitution. Anna Polvinen becomes Maine’s first female trooper. In 2016,Central Maine News reports that of 330 active troopers only 24 (7%) are female. Newly-electedcity councilorLindaAbromson abolishesafive-centfeeforthe women’stoiletsatthePortland InternationalJetport. The “spousal exemption” rule is removed from sexual assault statutes. Women are able to join and vote as members of the Maine Charitable Mechanics.Augusta’s Franco-American society “Le Club Calumet” first begins accepting female members in 2006. The Portland Country Club allows women the right to the same memberships and tee-times as male members. AnAct to Prohibit Stalking is enacted,making stalking a crime in Maine. Reports show women in Maine are paid 79 cents for every dollar paid to men. Areferendum to include anAmendment to the Constitu- tion of Maine to explicitly protect against sex discrimination fails to secure enough votes. 1971 1977 1985 1990 1996 2016 2017 1991 1980 1974 We’ve Come A Long Way, Baby… 1977 2017 from left:Copyright © Diana Mara Henry / www.dianamarahenry.com Right: filipp v. kotsishevskiy Aboveleft:FirstLadiesLadyBirdJohnson,RosalynnCarter,andBettyFord,InternationalWomen’sYearpresidingofficerBellaAbzug,andTorchof FreedomrelayrunnersDonnadeVarona,Suzy Chaffee,MichelleCearcy,PegKokernot,andSylviaOrtizattheopeningceremonyof theNationalWomen’sConference,Houston,November1977.Above right:The2017Women’sMarchinPortland.