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1069179
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1975/09/26 - Homemaking and Identity Conference, White House
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id
1069179
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
1975/09/26 - Homemaking and Identity Conference, White House
citationUrl
collections
Frances K. Pullen Files
Frances Pullen's Speech Reading Copies
subjects
Equal Rights Amendment Project
President (1974-1977 : Ford). Office of the First Lady. 1974-1977
Women
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1069179
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25
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1975-09-25
month
9
year
1975
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day
25
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1975-09-25
month
9
year
1975
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1
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The original documents are located in Box 3, folder "Homemaking and Identity
Conference, White House, September 26, 1975" of the Frances K. Pullen Papers at the
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 3 of the Frances K. Pullen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
MREXX
MRS. FORD'S REMARKS BEFORE PARTICIPANTS IN
HOMEMAKING AND IDENTITY CONFERENCE
September 26, 1975
- 1 -
I'm delighted to see all afyou
I THINK ALL OF YOU ARE JUST GREAT
here TO COME Today - because the
OUT IN THIS WEATHER bit dubines
morning I was a
AND YOU DID
awayt The wather and was afraid
BECAUSE 'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.
might to the get White washed House out -
- 2 -
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF YOUR CONFERENCE
EACH OF US IN THIS ROOM
HAVE OUR OWN CONCEPT OF WHAT "IDENTITY" IS
BUT TO ME IT'S AS FUNDAMENTAL
AS GETTING TO KNOW YOURSELF
AND THAT'S THE BASIS FOR ANYTHING
WE DECIDE TO DO WITH OUR LIVES.
- 3 -
WHEN I WAS YOUNG
I CHOSE A CAREER AS A DANCER
AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE.
I LATER GAVE THAT UP FOR MARRIAGE AND A FAMILY.
I FOUND THIS SECOND CAREER EVERY BIT AS CHALLENGING.
and even more will satify ing
LET'S FACE IT ---
BEING A HOMEMAKER IS A PROFESSION.
- 4 -
AND JUST AS A CAREER WOMAN FINDS AN IDENTITY THROUGH HER JOB,
THE HOMEMAKER NEEDS TO FIND THAT SAME SENSE OF AWARENESS---
THAT SAME SENSE OF SELF---
THROUGH HER JOB.
THAT'S WHY THIS WHOLE SUBJECT OF IDENTITY
IS SO IMPORTANT TO THOSE OF US
WHO HAVE CHOSEN OUR PROFESSIONS IN THE HOME.
- 5 -
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHY THE SUBJECT OF EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN
IS EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT
TO THE HOMEMAKER AS TO THE "CAREER" WOMAN.
I'M IN FAVOR OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
NOT ONLY FOR EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK,
BUT BECAUSE I FEEL EVERY WOMAN SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT
TO DECIDE THE DIRECTION OF HER LIFE.
- 6 -
WHETHER A WOMAN CHOOSES A CAREER
IN THE HOME OR OUTSIDE THE HOME,
WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT SHE MAKE THAT DECISION HERSELF --
WITHOUT my PRESSURES THAT RESTRICT HER CHOICE.
to
THIS IS WHAT REAL LIBERATION IS ALL ABOUT!
- 7 -
A LIBERATED WOMAN IS ONE
WHO FEELS CONFIDENT IN HERSELF
AND IS HAPPY IN WHAT SHE'S DOING.
SHE'S A PERSON WHO HAS A SENSE OF SELF.
SO WHAT'S ALL THIS
ABOUT LIBERATED WOMEN BEING CAREER WOMEN??
ANYONE WHO FEELS GOOD ABOUT WHAT SHE'S DOING IN THE HOME
SHOULD HAVE THE SAME SENSE OF LIBERATION.
- 8 -
I THINK IT ALL COMES WITH THIS FREEDOM OF CHOICE.
AND I HOPE THAT WITH THE NEW EMPHASIS ON FREEDOM OF CHOICE,
THE RESPECT AND STATURE HOMEMAKERS DESERVE
WILL BE RECOGNIZED.
###