4 women making history...
March is Women in History Month.
According to its website, Women in History Month...... had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress asked the president to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as Women's History Week.
Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as Women’s History Month.
So, in this the first post during women's contributions awareness month, we salute four outstanding women who have set their own paths and traveled the road to success in their chosen fields. Instead of recapping the accomplishments of historical figures or past known leaders, H?WUWT? brings to your attention four contemporary women who are writing their own history.
Our role models include an Air Force pilot, two barbers who own their own business, and a foot surgeon. Dr. Ann Pinski is a doctor of podiatric medicine in Louisville, Kentucky. Denise Arington and Tammi Mann are two long-time barbers who are in St. Matthews, an eastern suburb of Louisville. And, Leesa Froelich is a full-time pilot on a C-130J Hercules in the 815th Air Squadron of the United States Air Force. She is stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. She grew up in Florida.
Dr. Ann Pinski was the first Board Certified female foot surgeon in Kentucky.
I was Board Certified in ankle and foot surgery in 1989 following a two-year surgical residency in Philadelphia, said Dr. Pinski. At the time, the passing rate for the exam was 25%, she added. I was very proud to pass it the first time.
You were in school in the 1980s. You must've encountered some prejudice or patriarchal attitudes along the way.
Well, a resounding yes! I was one of 13 women in my class and one of three women residents in the entire hospital. I could keep you entertained for hours about what we put up with and overcame, she confirmed.
How did you cope with that kind of daily pressure?
I took the attitude that ignorance is your problem, not mine. You have to refuse to allow discrimination, she added. The secret was to let my patient care and diagnosis speak for itself.
Did you have a female role model that helped you along the way?
I had an adopted aunt, Nina Woodside, MD who was always there for me, Dr. Pinski recalled. She compared herself to Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (a television drama that aired from 1993-1998). She always said that television show was just like her residency. Quite often we talked about our experiences and the prejudices we encountered.
Was she your inspiration to go into the medical field?
Most definitely, Dr. Pinski acknowledged. President Johnson chose Aunt Nina as one of the six Most Outstanding Women in the United States. I was very proud of her.
What about your own contributions as a podiatrist. If you were to list them, what do you see as your main offerings to your profession?
When I started, podiatrists could only use surgery centers and had no privileges in any hospital, she said. I changed that in 1990. I was the first podiatrist to do ankle surgery and the first to do arthroscopy in hospitals and outpatient surgery centers. So, while I wasn't the first female podiatrist in the state, I was the first woman foot surgeon in Kentucky.
Over the years, you have spent an elaborate amount of time with the National Ski Patrol. How did that come about?
I skied in high school and college and this was a way for me to stay involved, Dr. Pinski commented. Now, I teach classes for Outdoor Emergency Care and I'm an OEC instructor-trainer, which means I teach new teachers.
Have you participated in rescue missions?
I have been fortunate to have been where I was needed a number of times, yes, she said.
What would you say to any aspiring woman doctor?
Really, I'd say the same to anyone who wants to go down this path. For me, it is gratifying to see more women in my profession excel and not be held back due to gender. Work hard and don't let anyone tell you you can't do something, she offered.
You've been somewhat of a trailblazer. Would you agree?
I don't think of it that way, but, someday when I look back on my career, I know I will be very proud of what I've done with my life. And, I truly hope I have made a positive impact on my profession and for the advancement of women as well, Dr. Pinski concluded.
On a side street off Lexington Road in St. Matthew's is where you will find Nally's Barber Shop which almost reminds you of a barber shop made famous in the 1960s.
Floyd's Barber Shop (Andy Griffith Show, 1960-1968) may not exist, but Nally's Barber Shop does and is owned by two outgoing, hardworking women. The shop is still going strong after opening its doors in January, 1950. The original signs and posters are prominently featured. The barber chairs and guest chairs were installed in 1958. A man by the name of Xavier Nally built the business, but is now operated by Denise Arington and Tammy Mann.
Tammy and I started here the same year, said Denise, who is busily doing her best to make my bald pate look well-coiffed.
I started right out of barber college in June of 1989, chimed in Tammy. Denise came here in November.
We bought the shop in 1999, offered Denise. So, we've been here for 31 years as renters then owners.
Do you have some of the same customers you had when you began your careers?
We have a lot of new ones, Denise said, but we've also got customers who have been coming here since we started. We both consider them friends when they come through the door.
Its always amazed me how much men will say to barbers. You must hear a lot of stories.
Some people just need someone to talk to, said Tammy. And, a lot of people defuse from the hustle of the day by talking and sharing their family stories.
Denise shares that opinion. I just think people like talking to us because they know it's not going anywhere. We hear about wives, families, you name it. We both consider our customers our friends.
Tammy said, I enjoy the conversations because every story is different and I know for some people talking makes them feel better.
People can say and do weird things. Has anyone ever asked you to do anything off the wall?
Probably the strangest thing someone asked of me was to shave his shoulders, said Denise. He stood up, took his shirt off and sat back down waiting for me to do what he asked. It was too funny.
Have you ever experienced any prejudice as a female barber?
Absolutely. I had this guy one time who refused to say I was a barber. He insisted on calling me a hairstylist, Denise responded. I never argue with a customer, but, I told him I am a licensed barber, then I kept quiet. She went on to say, There are just men who only want women to cut their hair, and there are guys who only allow men. We've had guys come in and turn around and leave because only women barbers were available.
Do you two do any style of haircut? What's a different kind of cut you've done?
Probably my strangest was putting zig zags on the side of someone's head, Tammy replied.
I guess a tomahawk, Denise responded. It's not really strange, but different.
You have two or three other barbers in your shop. When you hire a woman right out of barber college, what do you tell them?
Be patient and be willing to put in the time to build your business, because it will take some time, Denise replied. You will not be successful right away.
Tammy offered this advice.
I would tell her to be a friend first and a barber second. You don't stay in business by not being friendly to your customers, she said.
What's an upside to owning your own business?
Tammy and I agree on almost everything. We don't have anybody telling us we can't do something, said Denise. We both have a pretty good feel of what it takes to be a success here.
I am so glad we took the step of buying this place when we did, Tammy answered. We wouldn't have it any other way.
From a doctor's office to a barber shop and now to the cockpit of a C130J-Hercules.
I earned a degree in Meteorology from Florida State University, Leesa said. My intention was to become a Hurricane Hunter with the U.S. Air Force.
What did you do after graduating college?
I've always been intrigued with weather and a little bit of an adrenaline junkie. Three months after graduation, I was off to Officer Training School to be an officer in the Air Force as an Aerial Reconnaissance Officer, she said.
You completely changed direction?
Yes. Four years ago, I made the decision to cross train and become a pilot with the 815th Airlift Squadron (AS), she offered. So, now I'm a full time pilot on a C-130J Hercules.
You're stationed in a beautiful part of the country and it's right on the Gulf Coast.
Absolutely. I'm stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Leesa replied.
Tell us about obstacles you've overcome to be where you are now.
The biggest obstacle was myself. I suppressed the idea of becoming a pilot because I didn't want to fail, she admitted. But, I had awesome mentors that helped me overcome those fears and realize my potential and I will be forever grateful to them.
You are in a male-dominated culture. Have you experienced prejudice?
I have not had blatant prejudice in my career, no. The squadron I am in has really welcomed diverse backgrounds, she said.
Describe something that is difficult about your job.
Lots of challenges with being a pilot. One of the hardest aspects comes from knowing what to do when things go wrong, she confessed. That's especially true in the first few years when you are still learning every nuance of the aircraft.
There must be a lot you enjoy about being a pilot and being in the Air Force.
I absolutely love the type of flying we do, the 32 year old responded. The variety of missions the C-130J is capable of...air drop, either people or cargo is the most enjoyable to me.
Explain air drop.
We open the back of the plane via a ramp and door and have a small drop zone on the ground in which cargo or personnel are released into, she explained. We look at a variety of factors including longitude and latitude. To see that come to fruition is really rewarding.
Do you look at yourself as a role model?
Sometimes I do, but most of the time, I just feel so fortunate to be doing what I love every day. The timing of some of the aspects of my career have made me feel really lucky, but I also know I worked extremely hard to get where I am, she said.
10 years from now. What is Leesa Froelich doing?
I am hoping to be at a major airline flying all over the world while still being a reservist and flying C-130J's, basically having two jobs, she said.
And to women who want to follow in your footsteps. What would you say to them?
Don't listen when somebody tells you no, you can't do that. Take it one step at a time. Have your big picture goals, but really focus on the step that is right in front of you, she advised.
Thanks to four special women who contributed to today's post.
Coming soon! Next post, we'll continue to celebrate Women in History Month; and, down the road, we'll have another chapter in the lives of the four George brothers; a look at some POS (people over 60) and their AAR (activities after retirement); and, we're going to learn a new language!
We leave you with the following quote from American actress, Mary Tyler Moore, who said,
HUH? What's up with that?
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