Council issues proclamation citing role of females in community
For Mayor Joann Gattinelli, it was important to stand before the Washington Township council and recognize hard-working women in the community.
“I know how hard it is for all of us,” she noted. “We’re very special and unique in our own way. There are so many things we can offer. We have the compassion, the know-how. We’re efficient and we’re great at multitasking.”
Gattinelli recognized March as Women’s History Month with a proclamation at the council’s March 8 meeting. She also recognized the day as International Women’s Day, an occasion to celebrate the historical, cultural and political achievements of females.
“American women in every race, class and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our nation,” the proclamation states. “American women have played and continue to play critical, economic, cultural and social roles in every sphere of life. They play a unique role throughout history by providing a majority of the volunteer labor force.”
American women were particularly important in the early establishment of charitable, philanthropic and cultural institutions in the nation, along with leading historic movements – abolitionism; emancipation; industrial labor; civil rights and peace, according to the proclamation.
“American women have also served our country courageously in the military.”
Despite that, the role of American women in history “has been consistently overlooked and undervalued in literature, teaching and study of American history,” the proclamation reads.
By recognizing Women’s History Month and the efforts of females in the township, Gattinelli said the township is doing its part to not “overlook and undervalue” women.
“We need to be recognized,” the mayor insisted. “We are part of American history. We are part of building our communities and (shaping) the world into what it is today.”
