Elizabeth Eames witnessed unequal treatment of women while she was a professor at SIUC, which motivates her to fight for the equal rights of women.

The young women on campus don’t know of the battle, she said. They think that the battle has been won, but it’s hasn’t been for women yet.

Eames, an emeritus philosophy professor, gave the closing speech for Women’s History Month Monday night in the Northwest Annex in front of about 50 people. The month of March was marked with numerous lectures, readings and exhibits.

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Eames taught at SIUC from 1963 to 1990 and was on the committee that developed the Women’s Studies Program in 1981. She then became the program’s first coordinator.

Eames has also worked with many of the women’s groups on campus and helped bring affirmative action to SIUC.

A major effort made by Eames was working toward the equal pay for women and men in comparable positions at the University.

At the time, women feared standing up for their rights, but Eames said the 1970s brought about change.

The young people of the 1970s were the ones who started to walk the streets in favor of women’s rights.

During her time at SIUC, Eames saw many women get hired and fired. In 1971, 59 of the 110 people fired were women, she said.

One of those 59 women was Edith Spees. Spees does not have any hard feelings toward the University from being fired. She also saw the long journey women have to take before obtaining equal rights.

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I will never forget it, she said. I have been able to help women better understand reality.

Women’s groups have been fighting to obtain equal rights for years. With the support of Eames, more women were able to stand up for their rights during Women’s History Month.

Spees said her support of Eames comes from a feeling of unity women fighting for their rights.

We all feel so strongly, she said. The things that happened were very different and had some serious problems, but it is all about getting equality.

Eames’ worries lie with today’s generation of women, but she feels there is still hope.

Women feel very satisfied, but they shouldn’t, Eames said. They are still not treated right. There’s a renewed excitement and a broader awareness that is out there. We can get there in the future.