Back to the 1970s: Origins and Early Days of Caucus for Women in Statistics

• Activity Number: 71 - Celebrating the 50-Year History of the Caucus for Women in Statistics: Origins, Accomplishments, and Challenges
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Monday, August 9, 2021 : 10:00 AM to 11:50 AM
• Sponsor: Caucus for Women in Statistics
• Author(s): Donna Jean Brogan*
• Companies: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
• Keywords: Women's Caucus; CWS Mission; CWS Activities; Sex Discrimination; ASA Fellows; Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM)

Abstract

At the annual statistics meetings in 1969 and 1970 I posted flyers that invited women to meet to discuss the need for a Women’s Caucus. Ten women attended in 1969 and 45 in 1970. By early 1971 a core group organized the Caucus for Women in Statistics (CWS), and I agreed to be president even though early in my career. CWS obtained ASA affiliation in May 1971, considered to be our founding date. The mission of the CWS was to advance the education, employment, and careers of women in statistics, recognizing underrepresentation of women and major sex discrimination in our male dominated field. At JSM we sponsored paper sessions and business and social meetings. We petitioned ASA to form the ASA Committee on Women in Statistics. We produced a quarterly newsletter for members. We nominated qualified women for ASA fellows. We began discussions on mentoring and networking. Near the end of my three year presidency CWS officers decided to recruit well known and experienced women statisticians for CWS president, and the next four presidents were ASA fellows. The Caucus not only benefitted from their leadership, but it achieved higher visibility and status within the ASA.