In response to Delaney Mathews’ Dec. 9 letter to the editor (“Women face a wall in effort to advance”):

The 15th Amendment to the Constitution, granting blacks the right to vote, was ratified in 1870 and later fortified by the Voting Rights Act of 1970. And yet, voter suppression and intimidation run rampant in many states today.

The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920, giving women the right to vote. In less than 100 years, women have created cracks along many social avenues including sports, politics, business, etc.

In 1995, there were zero female Fortune 500 CEOs; now they comprise 4.6 percent. And let’s not forgot the many other minorities also expressing recent concern about unjust treatment and violation of rights. Progress does seem slow, if not impossible.

Ms. Mathews’ points are poignant; but considering today’s fractious social climate, would it not be better to steer clear of raising any specific identity issues such as gender inequality and sexism and instead fully focus our attention to eliminating all injustices (whether sexist, racist, xenophobic, homophobic – the list is long) perpetuated against all of the “softer” voices in our society?

Recently, Auburn elected the first female mayor since it incorporated in 1891. Mayor Nancy Backus presents a fresh, hopeful prospective for the city’s vision. She also has made another crack in that glass ceiling. Never give up, chipping away for a better future.

Eventually, the walls will fall.

– Tanya Galat