General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Who remembers life for women before RBG? [View all]russiamommy
(244 posts)Mom was a wonderful woman. She wanted to go to college. Her mom saw no need for a woman to go to college and kicked her out of the house. She struggled through and got her degree in microbiology. She was actually able to get a job in the state lab working on TB. She told me a lot of stories from those days, but a few stick out.
- A friend of hers wanted to be a vet. Top of her class out of undergrad, but there wasnt a veterinarian school in the country that would accept a woman.
- She got married late in life. Very unusual in the late 50s. She and dad had trouble conceiving and adopted my sister. There was no such thing as daycare back then. Even though she made more money than my dad it was a given that it was her that was going to give up her job. She never held another professional position.
- When they bought their first house, mom was still working. Her income didnt count toward getting the mortgage.
- She did end up getting pregnant (with me! ). Then again with my brother. That was 1968. She asked her doctor for a prescription for the pill. He wouldnt give it to her. The explanation was that she was still young and healthy enough to have another child.
There were many more stories. Im so grateful to women like my mom and of course RBG. The only real example I can remember of being treated differently was when I was 26 and was trying to buy carpet for my new condo. The guy kept asking where my husband was when I applied for the credit to buy the carpet. It was simply beyond his comprehension that a 26 yo single woman would be buying carpet. Needless to say, I bought the carpet elsewhere.