Lauren Fitzwater: Writing West Virginia women back into history

May 24, 2016

Geri Ferrara, Editor                                                                                                                                         The Dominion Post
1251 Earl L. Core Road
Morgantown, WV 26505

 

Dear Ms. Ferrara:

 

I am a seventh grade student at the Morgantown Learning Academy. In my study of West Virginia history I learned that it is written from a man’s point of view. Women’s role in West Virginia history is under represented. Nevertheless, women did play a role in shaping West Virginia’s history. Women worked in and outside of social constraints to make their families’ lives better.  Women raised their voices against disparity between mine owners and miners. West Virginia should incorporate more information about women in its history. I am a young West Virginia woman and could benefit from these women as role models.  Ma Blizzard, Mother Jones, and others could be role models for me to be a good citizen. All West Virginia citizens deserve to know the truth about how women helped West Virginia.

Your newspaper could help people understand women’s place in history by:

  • Letting the readers of your newspaper know what women are really capable of by publishing informational articles.
  • Not only writing about history, but also highlighting women’s activities today that will help shape West Virginia history.
  • Writing about women in the area that have made an impact on society such Donna Butler, first woman in Monongalia County to be a member of the miner’s union.
  • Publishing series of relatable West Virginia focused articles similar to the works by Dr. Sandra K. Wales, who writes under the pen name Haley Elizabeth Garwood, author of the Writing Women back into History book series.

As I said in my paragraph above, if people do not see the importance of including women’s role in West Virginia history, then that role will continue to be underrepresented. This will result in more young women like myself growing up without strong West Virginia women role models. It is important to teach these parts of history, so that we can all know more about West Virginia, and see that West Virginia’s history is stronger than we ever could have imagined!

 

Yours,

Lauren Fitzwater

Mother Jones
Mother Blizzard