European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 9, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Magazine now president Molly Yard energetic feminist fights for rights re Jit t t Ai a try tji Iri Mannl new he Nuhi in in r Rynn in i Unini m inn ii inn i by Jill Lai United press International or father was an Ali visa who was thrown Oul of the Mol Hoisl missions Lor Tus views then was it Rcd by a Universy Lor his social involvement. Her Grandfather refused to Send her Mother to College because to said College is not Tor girls. Ii seems Only natural therefore that Molly Yard today is president of Tho National organization Tor women lighting Lor women s rights i grew up with Yard says. She was born in Shanghai but spent most of her Early years in Iho Central chinese City of Chengdu in Sichuan province whore her father was a methodist missionary. The Yards lived next door to the family of John service who grew up to be one of the earliest american China watchers. She still remembers the total Freedom the boys next door had. Their parents let them go anywhere she said. We were never allowed to do thai. So they All grew up speaking wonderful chinese and he John never lost Yard herself still is fluent. I still can go and bargain in the Market in Sichuan Ese dialect the family Leit China when Yard was 13 and returned to Yonkers. N.y., where her lather James continued his missionary work that s when his views on missionaries caused a parting of the ways and Young Molly Learned the Price of activism. Her father believed that once the missionaries trained the chinese to be administrators professors and educators then everything should be turned Over to them to run. Well that created a juror because he was stepping on everyone s ices Yard said. Every College president was either american or Canadian in China. All the hospitals were run by either americans or canadians with an occasional briton. My lather was booted right James Yard went on to become director of religious activities at Northwestern University in Evans Lon iii., and again his activism got him in trouble. Yard says her father had a very socially conscious ministry at a Lime when Blacks were beginning to Challenge their exclusion irom the University s dormitories gymnasiums and beaches. It was also a period when Southern Illinois Coal mines were being organized by unions. Yard remembers her father travelling South with students la picket with striking miners. He was involved in All kinds of peace activities. Finally this was Loo much Lor the Board of trustees who could t stand All his ferment on Campus so he lost thai Job she said. All the time my Mol Hor was importing irom China Small things linens jewelry lacquer bowls Small rugs. Actually she kept the family going in these periods of my father s involvement Yard town activism began in the 1930s when attended Swarthmore College and her sorority tried to accept a jew As a member. Tho National organization agreed Only it the chapter to which the woman would belong upon graduation was willing to accept her. Griess what that chapter was at Northwestern and the people said absolutely not. That was the beginning of a Campaign a Long and Well organized one and i have never come Back she said. Yard worked Lor women s rights for years by lord any Normal organization existed. Suddenly this summer she was thrust into the Public spotlight when on july 18 she was elected Eleanor smears successor As now president. She told the Media then she was a born a minis because she was surround of by the devaluation of girls irom she recounted an anecdote about her lather s male chinese intends telling him it was a late worse than death to have daughters and no sons " Yar said most news accounts ailed to report the rest of what she said Hal Day i said 1 then came to this country and found it was Nodi Lurenl. It is Yard believes i hat Modem society s views Are such thai in Ever scientists find a Way to let parents choose their babies sex i suspect that at feast live limes out of six in will always be a boy thai they men want ions and i think that women love having daughters but in this kind of situation probably a Man s wishes would dominate. I Don t think we re that changed she said. I Hope in Zynover figure in out. Or if they do. I Hope they keep it a Yard s View of the secondary status of american women has been Ted Over Iho years by her experiences including her unsuccessful run Lor a seat in the Pennsylvania legislature in 1964. I was very surprised by what i encountered especially from women Sha recalls. I never understood in until i finally understood the prejudice against women what in is based on it was kind of like. Who do you think you Are what makes you think you can do i his?1. Sometimes with an audience you could just incl Yard s husband of almost 48 years Sylvester Garrett now a labor arbitrator for Tho slate department foreign service grievance Board tried to explain her reception. She said he told her you come on very strongly it s a threat to them. You lecture on Why women Are where they comprehension came a number of years later when now filed a Briel in support of a group of Young men who had tiled suit against the selective service act contending the act was unfair because it did not apply to women. Now position is that it is against the Dratt Tor everybody but in there is to be a Drall it should be Lor everybody Yard said the Brief pointed out that we have All been brought up to believe that men Are entitled to certain privileges and women Are not in lulled to them. Women Are on of Molly Yard major goal it to Gat More women to run Tor political office. Brought up to accept that Wilhour Questro Merj it. Ami i think it s because they Jon t understand in Shu snick the argument goes that you re endued because As a Man you re Eccl Llo fight and clip for your country but women Aren t mph Clad to i think Ihal s the basis of an awful lot of put Down of she recalled arguing the subject with Phyllis sch ally. Telling sch ally that in Case of War she would expect her daughters to be involved in the same Way As her sons i think in s a position Ihal s vory hard to acc Cpl and i Don t see Why. Except that we Veall been brainwashed Lor centuries that women should to Home and nol surprisingly Yard a Mother and a grand Molher Speaks strongly about Iho need or the equal rights amendment to protect women s rights. We have always said that unless we re in the Constitution any adminis Lvalion can Tail to enforce Iho Bills that have been passed whatever you pass in Congress is Only As Good As the administration administering the Bill she said amp helically. She Points As an example to title 9 of the education amendments of 1972 Hal forbid discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs the act brings Back memories to Yard of her own schooling and Hal other Mother. I probably would have gone to Law school Tail there was no Way a woman could to admitted she said. She also recalls How her Mother was not allowed to go to College because her kalhor believed College was not for girls. In 19b4, the supreme court sharply limited the scope of title 9 to apply Only to the specific program at an institution Hal receives Cetera funds and not to the institution As a whole Yard is still angry at the Federal government s role in the Case. The Reagan administration supported lha Challenge to title 9. The department of Justice is supposed to defend tha government and this Case was a Challenge to the government against the department of education in its administration of the Law she said with a vehemence Hal signals any would be opponent to be careful. Ii we had had Era in the Constitution lha could never have happened. Era says you have to treat women the same As you treat men. We would i have even needed title 9," Yard said until we get it in anything that is passed by Congress is vulnerable to be toward that end Yard s major Long
