, 1953-06-27
SALUTATORY
by Norma M. James, CHS. Class of '53
THE POSITION OF CONTEMPORARY WOMEN

Mr. chairman. His Excenency, Morris F, de Castro, Governor
for the Virgin Islands; Honorable David G, Canegata, Admmlstra-
tor for ST. Croix; Members of the School Board; Mesdanes Superin-
tendent and Assistant Superintendent of Education; Honored Guests;
Principal and Members Of the Faculty; Classmates; Ladies and
Gentlemen:
why should !, a High School graduate, be concerned with "The
Position Of Contemporary Women? / can certainly make no pre-
tense Of covering the subject thoroughly. Why, then, choose T? MY
reasons are at least fourfoId: First, as a member of the female sex
to express my personal. opinions on a matter which must concern
me vitality; second, to focus the attention Of my audience on the
matter; third, in a limited way, to present, briefly some aspects OF
the subject; fourth, to convince my hearers OF the soundness p my
opinions and to persuade them to- constructive action.
For better or for worse, women are more than ever to be
reckoned with. In st. Crox, we have recently witnessed a revolu-
ton on the political scene, with the successful participation OF
women in competition for public Office. In our national government
a new precedent has been set with the appointment OF Mrs. Oveta
CUP Hobby as the nations first Secretary OF Healtns Eoucau 0 ano
Welfare. While Frances Perkins was the first woman cabinet mem
Der, the post had been previously occupied by men. The Time Maya
kline Of May 4h devotes its frontpage and a Jul length feature
article, to this revolutionary appointment, This magazine expressed
an even more significant and influential trend on the international
scene this year. Usually, a man is chosen for the outstanding person
of the year. This year, however, q change occurred, Y Mseeau u
q man, a woman, Queen Elizabeth II, was chosen. She, as Woman
Of the Year, and Defender Of the Faith, symbolizes the lost faith OF
the people of the world and hope Tor its recovery. "a reacuons 9
the community, local. national, or international, to this situation are
as important and significant as the situation itself Many believe
that the historically backward position OF women should pc nam
tanned. "A surprisingly large group however, believe that widening
the opportunities for the talents Of women viii be healthy and
fruitful.
Historically. women have occupied a position of infeTiority.
There have been notable individual exceptions, such as Queens
Hatshepsut and Cleopatra Of Egypt There have even been cases N
which women as a group have been dominant in society, as IN Ger
tain American Indian tribes, and the ancient Scythians, who are
said to be the foundation for the Greek myth Of the Amozons Some
outstanding individual women, Like Susan 3. Anthony and Elizabeth
C. Stanton, have even succeeded in achieving great advancements
for their sex. These two fought for the liberties Of US women. They
believed that men and women should have the same rights. When
the 18th amendment was passed, restricting the right to vote to males
only, they set out to rectify this situation successfully achieving
their goal in the 18th amendment, which states: 1.-THE right OF citi-
zens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged
by the United States or any state on account Of sex" This amend
ment was in force throughout the United States in 1882. However,
it was not until 1898 that women of age, in the Virgin Islands, capa-
BILE of reading and writing the English language, enjoyed suffrage
Nevertheless. it is in comparatively recent times that women
as a group, and individually, have experienced tremendous, even
radical. changes in their status-poliical social legal, educational