The Women of the West
By Minna McGauley
(Trustee of Oakland Free Library and Oakland Museum)
The call in the past of the pioneer to his helpmate, and her loving and sturdy willingness to co-operate, have developed in the women of the West a mind and body that think and act spiritually and fearlessly. She has remained true to her feminine inspiration and vision. The things that she understood best were the tasks man encouraged her to undertake. To these tasks the Western Women brought, as a part of their domestic understanding, a keen interest in civic and community affairs, which is only a larger vision of the home; even before the vote enabled them to participate politically or economically.
The pioneer atmosphere has produced a generation of women who have no fear of the hazards of the unknown. In this greater freedom of the West she has capitalized her powers and broadened woman-made conventions and enabled each to develop for herself greater resourcefulness and individuality. Only a single generation separates the women of California today from the women who made the overland journey, and yet, they have exerted powerful and far-reaching influence in directing legislation for political and social reform. California was the sixth state to grant full suffrage to women. The eight-hour law for women in industry was adopted the same year. The Industrial Welfare Commission is headed by a woman. In the presidential election of 1924, sixty-eight per cent of the million and a quarter voters in California that went to the polls were women.
The history of the West is replete with the outstanding accomplishments of her womankind, artistically, industrially, commercially and politically. The very spirit of this highly favored Land of the Pacific fosters the development of art, music and drama and has inspired the creative and appreciative ability of its women.
The influence of California's women in building up the great educational system of the State has enabled it to rank among the first in the country. California has the highest percentage of enrollment in high schools; of expenditure per school child; and is exceeded by only the four large states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois in actual amount of expenditure for education.
11
