Dear Kid,

On June 18, 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman to go into space. She remains the youngest astronaut in US history.

Interestingly, the first woman in space was a Soviet astronaut who went into space in 1963. Which says something about how women were viewed in this country.

I suspect it is almost impossible for you to truly understand what women faced as recently as thirty years ago. (Which was only a few years before you were born.)

Before her flight into space, Dr. Sally Ride, fully trained astronaut, holder of a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in physics, respected researcher in astrophysics and free electron laser physics, was asked important questions like “Will the flight affect your reproductive organs?” and “Do you weep when things go wrong on the job?”

In retrospect, this should be highly embarrassing not only for the media, but for society as a whole because it wasn’t seen as entirely ridiculous at the time.

Today, a reporter would be stoned and humiliated on Twitter for even thinking up questions like that. But there are organizations and countries where women are still seen as second-class (at best). It is so important that we remain aware of how people are treated—without regard to their skin color, gender, or preference in reality TV. It’s easy to think we’re over the barriers, past the glass ceiling, beyond discrimination—but we’re not. Not only is the literature (by which I mean the blog-o-sphere) full of conversation about discrimination, but the Supreme Court just agreed to hear a case about discrimination. Unfortunately, bias and prejudice are alive and well.

I find it interesting that there is almost nothing written about how she was the youngest American ever to go into space. I’m sure there is room for great commentary there. But I’m not sure what that is (suggestions welcome).

Sally Ride was a great role model. She helped break all kinds of barriers for women. Even for those of us who never lived without gravity.

Love, Mom