In the United States, the innovation, bravery, courage, and determination of women are being celebrated during March’s Women’s History Month, to ensure a collective progressive attitude toward women. Circa 1792, Mary Wollstonecrafts wrote a book called, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.” It was the beginning of a long battle.

In 1893, New Zealand granted women suffrage on the national level. Australia followed in 1902, but American, British, and Canadian women did not win the same rights until the end of World War I.

Modern women reflect on History, for example, Linda Wilson, upstate New York resident, recalls Eleanor Roosevelt, Inez Cole, and Caperton Preston, saying, “These women don’t inspire me in a specific way to ‘do’ something specific in life. Rather they inspire my realization that women can forge their own path,” says Linda Wilson, who was reared during the 1940’s and 50’s when women were seen primarily as wives-mothers-nurses-teachers. “Women should never let a cultural norm prevent them from taking a path that runs against the cultural grain.”

Wilson not only described to me the accomplishments of Roosevelt, Cole and Preston, but also added a funny side-note related to Preston, showing women are noteworthy yet practical loveable human beings.

At the age of 88 years, Miss Preston had the physique and posture of a young woman. Miss Preston also taught Linda the word “jackass.” Linda was 5 years old at the time and during a dance class, Miss Preston protested, “Point your toe, you jackass!” Linda went home delighted with the new word and called her mother a jackass. Her mother asked Linda where she learned such language. “Miss Preston,” the child answered. Linda received a spanking for lying and she began crying. When Linda’s father came home, the story came out. Her dad replied, “Linda isn’t lying. That is how I learned that word.” Linda’s dad had taken ballroom dancing from Miss Preston as a teen. He accidentally tripped Caperton and she fell to the floor and said, “Get me off this floor, you jackass!”

The mental landscape of equality still needs leveling and developing, but we can do it.