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Polly Rosenbaum is a legend in the state of Arizona, where she
served as a member of the state legislature for 46 years. After
she retired in 1995, she researched a history of women's accomplishments
in the state. A graduate of the University of Colorado, Rosenbaum
moved to Arizona in the late 1920s to teach in a mining camp
and continued to teach until she ran for office. She lives independently
in her own apartment.
What was the most important thing
that happened for women during this century? I have
seen women go from being housewives to different fields of endeavor.
World War II had the greatest impact on this change, because
the men were in service and the women found out that they could
do something besides housework. Also, getting the right to vote
was tied to this, because otherwise women would have had no power
to bring about change by electing people to office.
How did it affect your life? This
gave me the feeling of power — that I could do anything
I wanted to do as long as I knew how to do it and do it well.
When I went into politics, I knew it from the ground up because
I had worked with my husband when he was a state legislator.
What advice would you give to girls
today? You need positive faith in your ability, in
your religion, and about the future. |
