Member Spotlight: Women Hold Up Half the Sky

Picture Courtesy: Spartanburg Water

On November 11, 2016, a fountain at Spartanburg Water in downtown Spartanburg, SC, was dedicated to long-time LWVS member Linda Powers Bilanchone to commemorate her 24 years of service as a Commissioner of Public Works.  She shared the thoughts below on that occasion.

Women Hold Up Half the Sky

An old Chinese proverb asserts that women hold up half the sky and that truth has motivated women around the world to tackle the struggle to claim their place in decision-making and leadership.  American women have struggled to be represented in the chambers and halls and small, undistinguished meeting rooms where governance decisions are made and our community’s future is decided.  For Spartanburg women, that began with the Spartanburg Women’s Political Caucus in the 1980s.  We met and plotted and planned and ASKED women to run for office.  Sewer Commissioner Barbara Barnes and I met in the Caucus.  Then in the 1990s, there were the Daughters of Susan B. Anthony who met and celebrated the success of elected and appointed women.
Some of us took the quest statewide by establishing and serving as leaders of the South Carolina Advocates for Women on Boards and Commissions. I have two strong memories of those years. 

1. Every time we mentioned a woman’s name as a nominee, the response was, “Is she QUALIFIED?”  I don’t remember EVER hearing a question of whether a man was qualified.  There were NO qualifications except the mental picture in a person’s head – the picture of an individual wearing a 3-piece suit, possibly sporting a moustache or beard, and probably of pale complexion. 
2. My second memory is of a gathering of legislators at which the Advocates made a case for inclusion.  A legislator rose and said, “Oh, I think I understand what you want; you want us to be fair.”  And, I answered, “No, what we want is equal participation; if we wanted you to be fair, we’d ask you for ALL the seats on boards and commissions for the next 200 years! THAT would be fair.”

And so, we have worked hard to get women elected and appointed – BECAUSE women do hold up half the sky.  This fountain, I am convinced, helps to hold up half the sky.  If a little girl or a young woman enters this building and glances up, she may be inspired to think that she, too, belongs at the table where the decisions are made; at the table where the community is served; at the table where democracy plays out fully and inclusively.  Thank you, Spartanburg Water!!!! Thank you!

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