Petticoats
in Politics
Kate
Campbell Stevenson creates Petticoats in Politics as her vision
to educate audiences to a vital yet neglected era of
American history.
"Touring
the country performing my one-woman show, Women: Back
to the Future, I was alarmed by the void in general knowledge
of Women's History, particularly the early 20th Century
fight for the ratification of the 19th Amendment. I witnessed
a nonchalant naivete in today's women and young girls about
the long struggle earlier generations of women endured
to win the vote. This compelled me to create an educational
experience, using music and theater, to encourage women
to recognize their power in participating in the democratic
process.
I teamed up with the League of Women Voters for a community
connections grant funded in part by a grant from the Montgomery
County Government and The Arts and Humanities Council of
Montgomery County to create Petticoats in Politics.
My vision is to use music and theater to be an agent of
change. We are in the middle of a historic national election.
Yes, women have come a long way – but a better understanding
of women's history and their struggles
empowers us all for the future. The featured women are
Abigail Adams, First Lady and early women's rights activist;
Rose Crabtree, Council member of the 1920 All-Female Town
Council of Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Alice Paul, early 20th
century suffragist and co-founder of the National Women's
Party; Eleanor Roosevelt, "First Lady of the World",
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and co-author of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Petticoats in Politics fills in some of the gaps in suffrage
history, and challenges today's women and young girls to
become more active participants in the local, state and
national political process. For women's voices to be heard,
more women need to run for office, serve on committees
and learn how to advocate for issues they feel are important
to improve our society, whether it's on local, state or
national level.
Petticoats in Politics performances are dedicated to and
in memory of Marilyn Praisner, a three-time Montgomery
County Council president and the longest serving woman
in council history." |
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