March is Women's History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women throughout history, as well as to recognize the ongoing struggle for gender equality. This month is an opportunity to highlight the important roles that women have played in shaping our society and culture. And we at the Bunker Hill Associates would be remiss if we let this month pass without acknowledging the incredible contributions made by the women of Boston generally and Charlestown specifically. To that end, we would like to highlight a few great women who left an indelible mark on the pages of history from our corner of the world.
To start from a general Boston perspective, one of the most famous and beloved Bostonian women was Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams. Abigail was a fierce advocate for women's rights and education, and she corresponded with her husband during his time in office, urging him to remember the importance of women's involvement in politics. Her letters have been preserved and continue to inspire women today. She famously wrote to her husband, “Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or Representation.” (source)
Left/Top: Abigail Adams; Right/Bottom: Phyllis Wheatley
Around the same time period as Abigail Adams, another Bostonian woman was challenging the societal status quo through the use of her words: Phillis Wheatley, a poet born into slavery in West Africa and brought to Boston as a young girl. By publishing a book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, Wheatley became the first American slave, the first person of African descent, and only the third colonial American woman ever to have her work published! In doing so, she not only helped break down barriers for future generations of female writers, but also proved to the society in which she lived that people of African descent were as equally intellectual and artistic as everyone else. In this way, Phillis Wheatley was able to shine a light on the ugly inequality present in colonial America where slavery was all too common, “...in every breast, God has implanted a principle, which we call love of freedom; it is impatient of oppression.” (source, source)
Closer to home in the Charlestown Navy Yard, it is important that we recognize the critical role women played during WWII. Countless women, known as “Rosies” after Norman Rockwell’s famous recruiting poster, took on industrial jobs domestically to support the war effort overseas. It is estimated that 20% of the wartime workforce in the Navy Yard was comprised of women who took on the incredibly difficult, yet equally important, jobs of welding and shipbuilding. (source)
In more recent history, Charlestown has been home to many women who have made a difference breaking down barriers in the fields of leadership, politics, and activism. You don’t have to walk far to run into Commander Billie Farrell, the first female commander of the U.S.S. Constitution, which is the oldest commissioned warship in the United States Navy. And if you look at the makeup of the sailors under her command, you will notice that more than a third of them are women! (source)
Additionally, it is important to notice the composition of our political leadership. At the federal level we are represented by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Ayanna Pressley, while at the local level we are represented by Mayor Michelle Wu, Charlestown City Councilor Gabriela (“Gigi”) Coletta, and At-Large City Councilors, Erin Murphy, Ruthzee Louijeune, and Julia Mejia. These women not only skillfully represent our interests in the political arena, but stand as beacons for the next generation of young female leaders.
And finally, it is well worth the time to check out the “Charlestown Women’s Heritage Trail: Walk Her Way,” a local walk that was developed by students in Mary Rudder and Maria D’Itria’s classes at the Harvard-Kent School in Charlestown. By doing so, you and any other aspiring feminists can learn about some of the most important female figures that Charlestown has ever produced, from Florence Johnson to Judge Mary Brennan to Mary Colbert to Elizabeth Foster Vergoose. Each of their legacies continues to inspire and empower women to this day. (source)
From Left to Right (or Top to Bottom on mobile): Mary Colbert, Judge Mary Brennan, Florence Johnson, Elizabeth Foster Vergoose Plaque
Taking the time to recognize the great achievements of women throughout history is vitally important because by learning about and sharing these achievements we can inspire future generations to break down barriers to make positive change in the world.