The prominent American politician and labor activist Frances Perkins grew up in an era when women had very few options. She was one of the most well-known women in government at the time, having dedicated her career to advancing workers' rights while serving as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's secretary of labor.
Perkins frequently discussed the difficulties faced by women who wanted to pursue careers. She realized that when a door opened for her, which was an uncommon and important occurrence, it was not only a chance for her but also a step forward for all future women. She essentially believed that it was her duty to take advantage of these opportunities so that women in the future could assert their legitimate position in society without facing the same obstacles.
Consider a large hall with high chairs at one end, where men could only sit and make choices. Perkins felt as though he had broken through an imperceptible wall when he stepped into this room. She occupied those prominent seats not only for herself but also to demonstrate that women were capable of holding influential roles. She did this in the hopes of encouraging other women to overcome their own obstacles and eventually witnessing such areas become more accessible to them in the future.
She acted out of a sense of obligation to people who were similar to her in gender and life experiences. Perkins felt that each step she took would contribute to paving the way for women's rights and opportunities to become more accessible over time, much like one trailblazer blazing a path through dense forest can make it easier for those who follow.
This viewpoint emphasizes how intertwined the fight against inequality is and how individual acts have the ability to lead to more significant change. Perkins wanted to open doors for all women worldwide by doing the same for herself.