This week, the campus will celebrate women’s presence, diversity and achievements on campus and address the struggles and challenges they face in higher education and in society during UCLA Women for Change Week. Organizers asked UCLA women who have become campus pioneers in their fields their thoughts on such topics. The following are excerpts from the booklet “Women First,” on display in Dickson Court throughout the week in collaboration with the Clothesline Project.

What strengths or skills are necessary when working toward something others have not done?
“The capacity to take risks, willingly assume additional responsibilities, accept possible rejection, learn from any mistakes and be able to recommit yourself to your objective(s).” — Susan K. Abeles, first woman assistant vice chancellor/controller for Business and Finance (1996 to present)

“Key to going beyond what has been done is to think at least one level broader than what currently exists.” — Jane Permaul, first assistant vice chancellor, Student Affairs (1990 to 2000) and the first person to question having curfew hours for women, but not men, living in UCLA residence halls (1965)

How do you feel that you have contributed to the fight for gender equity?
“By making significant scientific contributions, I made it clear that there was a place for women. When there were occasions to point out clear inequality, I have tried to raise consciousness and to appeal to the conscience of my male colleagues. Believe it or not, that often works.” — Elizabeth Neufeld, professor and chair, Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, and winner of the National Medal of Science

What are some struggles that are unique to women in your field?
“A level of self-assuredness (or even a good imitation thereof) goes a long way toward impressing others that you know what you are talking about. Maybe that comes less easily to women than to men.” — Margaret Galland Kivelson, professor of earth and space sciences and the first woman to chair a department in the physical sciences at UCLA (1984 to 1987)

Do you believe that there is still a gender bias in the workplace today?
“Women continue to be treated as sex objects and are victims of power abuse. We have made significant progress, but we still have a long way to go.” — Linda Avila, the first Latina to hold the position of staff affirmative action officer (2000 to present)

“You betcha! Absence of equal pay for equal work, ‘feminization of a profession’ that leads to shifting perceptions of its status, the disrespect and absence of pay for K-12 teachers, who are disproportionately young women, low numbers of women in technology (high tech!) and other occupations where the ‘future growth’ is predictable.” — Karen Rowe, English professor and founding director, UCLA Center for the Study of Women (1984 to 1988)