Career, Family Tough for Women, O’Connor Says
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor says women will probably have to work harder than their husbands if they hope to have a family and pursue a career.
O’Connor made the comment in a 10-minute speech to the Mortar Board Inc.’s national convention last week. She also received the group’s highest honor, a National Citation Award.
Mortar Board is a national honor society for college seniors.
The justice praised the group for its commitment to honoring women.
“The advancement of the status of women is a goal of particular interest to me,” said O’Connor, who in 1981 became the first woman named to the Supreme Court.
She told the conferees women students will have to meet many challenges if they want to raise a family and pursue a career.
“You’ll probably have to work harder than your husband to accomplish this,” she said. “It’s difficult, but it is possible.”
The Mortar Board was established at Ohio State University in 1914 as a local honor society for women. In 1918, the organization expanded nationally and in 1975 it began admitting men.
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