'Women Work' continues to help women in the work force
By Angela Greiner Contributing Writer

Ann Petter PHOTO/SUBMITTED

Hudson - For many, the 1970s symbolize

time of great movies like "Disco Fever" and unique fashion trends like bell-bottom pants. For Ann Petter, a local Hudson resident, the 1970s were the beginning of

30-year crusade to improve employment opportunities for displaced women.

Over the past three decades, Petter has been involved with both the national campaign "Women Work" and the localized effort to get women into the work force.

Petter, who is currently serving as the vice chair of Women Work, formerly know as the National Displaced Homemaker Network (NDHN), is a selfprofessed feminist. She attributed part of the reason that she spent all of her professional life working with women to the fact that she had four children who were all boys.

"I had a very masculine home life," Petter said.

The original grassroots organization sprang up in the 1970s in response to career homemakers who found themselves either widows or the victims of the sky-rocketing divorce rate. The movement spread across the country and resulted in a national women's coalition that was responsible for pushing the first displaced homemaker legislation through Washington in 1975.

Petter jumped on the bandwagon early, becoming involved after the state legislation was passed. She spent several years working on the front line with organizations like the YWCA in the Boston and Metrowest areas to get women into the work force. From there, Petter rose to the position of coordinator of the NDHN in Massachusetts.

The NDHN/Women Work organization over the past three decades has helped more than 10 million women entering the work force.

"The focus has changed somewhat over the past 30 years," Petter said.

The initial goal in the seventies was to aid displaced homemakers. With the changing needs of women in the work place, the organization has grown to encompass a greater breadth. Today Women Work is still committed to helping women gain financial stability through education and training.

"As a national group, we do training for the people who work in the training programs," Petter said.

Although the organizations that provide training programs are fewer than they use to be, they still provide a multitude of services including resume help, technology training and life skills training.

One of the main events sponsored by Women Work is an annual three-day conference in Washington, D.C. The conference provides an opportunity for organizations who work with women to attend seminars in various topics including legislation, ways to augment group leading skills, and work force investment that would aff ect women in the work place.

The organization also provides publications outlining various work force issues that women face such as equal pay and training opportunities for female minorities.

Thirty years later, Petter is still as dedicated to getting women equal access to good jobs.

"Women are still doing the work at home as well as working 40 hours a week," Petter said. "It is clear that women still do not have the same advantages."

For more information on how to become involved with this program, visit www.womenwork.org.