Amanda is currently working on an extended overview of the history of the Caucus, to be published on the website throughout the year.
How did the Caucus for Women in Statistics get started?
In the words of Donna Brogan, here is how the Caucus for Women in Statistics got started:
“At the ASA annual meeting in August of 1969 in New York
City about ten women held three informal meetings to discuss the need and mission for a Women’s Caucus for statisticians. Discussion continued at the next annual meeting, held jointly with the American Economic Association in December of 1970 in Detroit, and was attended by about 40 to 50 persons from both professional groups. The impetus for these discussions primarily came from two sources: the second wave of feminism sweeping the country and discrimination against women that impacted female statisticians. Areas of discrimination included education, employment, salary, and career advancement and recognition. In 1971 the Caucus for Women in Statistics was officially organized, recognized by the ASA, and permitted to organize a paper session for annual meetings.”
Donna Brogan (pictured) served as the first Caucus president, from 1970-1973. She was elected a Fellow of the American Statistical Association in 1985. She received the Elizabeth Scott Award in 1994.
To learn more about Donna Brogan, see http://www.niss.org/content/donna-brogan.
This reference also provides an interesting background on women in statistics:
Stinnett S and Collaborators. Women in Statistics: Sesquicentennial Activities. The American Statistician 44(2): 74-80, 1990.
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