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My mum fought for feminism in her day so instilled in me the importance of equality. She taught me so much about women.

Equal justice under the law, even if it's your mother. That was a point of admiration in our household. It was drilled into me.

And I spoke out on women's rights, like equal pay for equal work.

My mother inspired me to treat others as I would want to be treated regardless of age, race or financial status.

My mother saw nothing inconsistent in her traditional desire to look after her husband and children and her radical politics. She began her civil rights work before most people had ever heard the word 'feminism,' and in those early years, she was focused on racial justice.

My mother was a great advocate of women's rights, a member of the League of Women's Voters and lifelong member of Planned Parenthood and an advocate of a woman's rights in terms of reproductive issues. She was also a founding member of Common Cause in the state of Indiana.

Now my mother, interestingly enough, was not a feminist in her own mind.

My mother didn't want me to be a feminist, a radical, political person, because she was scared. She wanted me to be protected and safe, but my life never was.

I demanded more rights for women because I know what women had to put up with.

I was fourteen years old when I went to my first suffrage meeting. Returning from school one day, I met my mother just setting out for the meeting, and I begged her to let me go along.