James Monroe High School (JMHS) students Madison Noonkester, Katherine Viars, Billie Dicken, Clara Snedegar, and Danni Dunbar ably represented Monroe County at the annual West Virginia Women’s and Girl’s Day at the State Capitol on Mar. 5. They joined over 100 other young women from across the state in a day focused on women’s issues in the Mountain State. The West Virginia Women’s Commission sponsored the event with the theme, “Girls who dream become women with vision.”
The Mavericks started the day by meeting with Secretary of State Mac Warner and Delegate Roy Cooper and observing debate in the House of Delegates. In the afternoon the participants listened to inspiring and challenging speakers including Miss West Virginia USA Neveah Harmon and Miss Black West Virginia Dwedee Kobbah. At the end of the session, they participated in a discussion seminar on topics relevant to girls and women.
Of the four breakout groups the small JMHS delegation served as moderators and spokespersons for three of them: a testament to their leadership. The discussion topics resulted in spirited conversation and started with the “pink tax” – higher prices for items marketed to women that are similar to cheaper ones sold to men. Other issues they discussed were effective communication, dress codes at school, availability and affordability of feminine hygiene products, drafting women into the military in time of war, and the small percentage of female elected officials serving over 100 years after earning the right to vote.
All agreed that active participation in the political process by voting, organizing, and running for office would help address these challenges.