Russell Girl’s LTE on ‘Sexist Comment’ Under National Spotlight
I think my favorite part would probably be that so many people have heard me and so many people are hearing my message. – Julianne Speyer
A 12-year-old Russell Township girl’s recent letter to the editor titled “Sexist Comment” has gone viral, garnering national attention and even brought her to New York City this week for a network television interview.
The letter, which appeared in the Geauga County Maple Leaf newspaper July 19, expressed Girl Scout and West Geauga student Julianne Speyer’s disappointment at an announcer’s comment during the Chester Township 4th of July parade.
The announcer — on a grandstand located at the north entrance to West Geauga High School and whose identity has not been confirmed as of July 31 — offended Julianne when he labeled the Boy Scouts as “future leaders of America” and then said the Girl Scouts were “just having fun.”
“I found this comment very sexist and patronizing,” wrote Julianne, who had been marching with Girl Scout Junior Troop 77192 behind the Boy Scouts in the parade. “I would appreciate it if you would help me to let other people know how much this kind of thing happens and how bad it is. I feel it is an insult to both girls and women of all ages. This kind of thing happens way too much and it is not OK at all.”
Julianne went on to say she has always been taught if she thinks something is unjust, to change it.
“So, this is how I am making a change,” she wrote. “Thank you for listening to me and I hope you can help me.”
The Kiwanis Club of West Geauga did not return multiple calls for comment, however, parade organizers did issue the following statement, as reported by Cleveland 19 News:
“There was an unfortunate misunderstanding of two unrelated comments. The announcer is a volunteer and made an observation that participants were enjoying the parade, with no disrespect intended.”
Julianne and her mother, Jennifer Speyer, were reached briefly while walking through Central Park in New York City Tuesday afternoon — the day before their interview on the Megyn Kelly TODAY show.
Jennifer said after the parade, Julianne and her friend were in the car talking about the announcer’s comment and Julianne kept saying she wanted to do something about it.
The next day, the girls were in sewing camp and one of Julianne’s friend’s mom suggested she write a letter to the editor.
“She didn’t know what it was, so when she got home from sewing camp that day, she went online and researched samples of letters to the editor. She wrote it out. She went online, researched the address and mailed it,” Jennifer, a former English teacher, said. “I was so proud of her. She wrote a rough draft, she indented her paragraphs and I was like, ‘Yes!’ I prepped her to not be disappointed if they don’t publish it, I was just so proud of her for doing it.”
The letter not only got published, it spread like wildfire throughout social media.
A news clipping of Julianne’s letter was posted on Facebook and went viral, being shared over 100,000 times and drawing attention from several news networks, publications and people all over the world, including former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton and actor George Takei.
The Maple Leaf received emails from people around the country and Canada praising Julianne’s courage and strength. Many of them have been forwarded to the family.
One such email, from former Girl Scout and current Troop Leader Erin Branham, 48, of Los Angeles, read:
“Ms. Speyer rightly called this it as a sexist remark and I applaud her and you for sharing her thoughts. I would like to add that the announcer’s words were also deeply mistaken. Here are a few Girl Scouts:
- History-making singer Marian Anderson
- First Lady Nancy Reagan
- Astronaut Sally Ride
- Astronaut Mae Jemison
- Astronaut Eileen Marie Collins
- Astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan
- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
- Author Gloria Steinem
- Labor leader Dolores Huerta
- Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice
- Attorney General Janet Reno
- Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
- Secretary of State Madeline Albright
- Senator Tammy Duckworth
- First Lady Michelle Obama
- CEO of YouTube Susan Wojcicki
- CEO and Chairwoman of IBM Virginia Rometty”
“Her voice has been heard and she validated that what she said mattered, that she could have an impact,” Jennifer said. “And it’s just, holy cow, it just spiraled. Never did we expect this. The response has been absolutely amazing.”
While neither Jennifer nor Julianne believe the announcer meant any harm by what he said, they thought it was important to let people know it was not OK.
“Julianne was very adamant about she doesn’t want anyone getting in trouble,” Jennifer said. “It was just about this is what she noticed, she thought it was wrong. (Sexism) can be subtle, but it’s not OK. The Kiwanis is a wonderful, wonderful organization. They support our community in so many ways throughout our community. I don’t know who the announcer is. I don’t wish him any ill will; I don’t want Kiwanis blamed.”
When asked how she feels seeing the impact of her letter, Julianne said she’s “really excited.”
“I’m so thankful for everybody who supported me in all of this,” she said. “I couldn’t have gone this far without everyone’s support.”
That support included an email from an enlisted female in the U.S. Navy, who told Julianne she was proud of her letter and when she’s older, the Navy would welcome her on its team, Jennifer said, adding that meant a lot as she has family on both her and her husband’s side who served in the military.
Another email sent to the Maple Leaf from Nathalie Gamache represented a Canadian organization that comprises 7,000 members, all women physicians and leaders.
“A letter published last week entitled ‘Sexist Comment,’ written by 12-year-old Julianne Speyer, attracted our attention and we wish to commend her for expressing an opinion we all share, and voicing it with such determination,” she wrote. “Although girls and women of all ages know they can strive to become and do anything they choose, we are still faced too often by archaic and paternalistic attitudes and actions, which makes it an added challenge to achieve our goals, grow to our full potential and help make this world a fair and better place for everyone.
“The announcer of the Chesterland 4th of July parade obviously needs to be informed, as Julianne knows already, that while they are having fun, Girl Scouts (all over the world), are also growing into leaders. Michelle Obama, honorary president of Girl Scouts USA; Sally Ride, first American woman astronaut in space; and her Canadian counterpart, Roberta Bondar; Carol Bellamy, head of Unicef; and Queen Elizabeth ll are just a few of the thousands of women leaders who have been nurtured by this preeminent organization whose mission is to ‘build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.’
“Obviously, this fine organization, and so many others, are succeeding in the likes of Julianne Speyer. Julianne, if you read this, know that we all stand beside you and thank you for publicly denouncing an attitude that is ‘not OK at all.’ By doing so, you have already become an exemplary leader.”
Susie Greer, advisor for Julianne’s Girl Scout troop, said the girls were in the process of earning their Bronze Award, which focuses on making a change by taking action.
“The whole notion is that women in service do things to make change in their communities and nation,” she said.
In her interview with Cleveland 19 News, Julianne credited her mother for her courage to stand up for what she believed.
“She’s always taught us to choose to be kind,” Julianne said. “You don’t want to judge people based on their sex. Maybe in the future, if no one beats me to the job, I’ll be the first girl president. I could scream the message that girls can be anything they want to be, they can be in charge someday. We can be the leaders of America.”
As she geared up Tuesday for her interview with former Cleveland weather forecaster Al Roker — who is filling in for Kelly Aug. 1 — Julianne reflected on the best aspect of this entire experience:
“I think my favorite part would probably be that so many people have heard me and so many people are hearing my message.”
