Biography of Patricia Ireland

Chosen one of Vanity Fair's Most Influential Women in America in 1998, Ms. Ireland is an upbeat and motivating speaker who captivates her audience, challenges them to find their passion, and motivates them to get involved in the issues of the day.

Ms. Ireland's commitment to bettering the lives of women and girls, ending racism, and equality for all people means unique possibilities for those looking for a well-known, dynamic speaker. As the longest serving president of the National Organization for Women (1991-2001), Ireland directed countrywide programs on equal opportunity, including initiating the Women-Friendly Workplace Campaign, a national, pro-active project aimed at stopping sexual harassment and other workplace abuses through public education and public pressure. Widely recognized as a key player in improving social and economic conditions for women in the United States and around the world, Ms. Ireland is adept at helping people recognize the connections among women’s rights, civil rights, disability rights, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

Ms. Ireland has had a continuous presence in media outlets that shape public opinion. She has discussed childcare on ABC's Nightline, Supreme Court nominees on PBS's Jim Lehrer News Hour, the impact of the women’s vote on NBC’s Meet the Press, and women as policy-makers on CNN's Larry King Live. She frequently appears in the nation's most widely-read newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today. She has been the subject of numerous feature stories, in publications ranging from The New York Times Sunday Magazine to People.

Ms. Ireland’s 1996 book, What Women Want, has had critical and popular success and is used in history and women’s studies courses. Other publications include "Is Privatizing Social Security Good for Women?" in Controversial Issues in Social Policy, 2d edition, Allyn and Bacon 2003; "Progress Versus Equality: Are We There Yet?" in The Difference "Difference" Makes: Women and Leadership, Stanford University Press 2003; as well as numerous opinion pieces in newspapers and magazines.

Many of her humorous anecdotes come from seven years spent as a "stewardess" in an era when the term "flight attendant" was still unknown

Patricia Ireland, former NOW president (1991-2001) is widely recognized as a key player in improving social and economic conditions for womein in the U.S. and around the World. She will discuss her activist experiences and leadership in the fight for civil justice for the past 30+ years, and the importance of women's studies in developing the next generation of leaders in the women's movement.