Freya Albert

Student Art Contest: Junior Division, Second Place

7th Grade – Arts & Communication Magnet Academy, Beaverton, OR

An example of human rights activism that is inspiring to me is the work and perseverance of the Women Air Service Pilots (WASP). Due to a shortage of male pilots during World War II, the WASPs' efforts were needed to defend democracy. The WASPs comprised of over one thousand civilian women, including women of color, who volunteered to transport, maintain, and test airplanes for the war effort.

Even though they wouldn’t be awarded official military status for decades, the WASPs flew over 60 million miles during their time volunteering. Despite their negotiation for a contract that allowed them to be an independent part of the military, they were disbanded due to complexities regarding their civilian status and legislation.

As per the Wikipedia article on gender inequality, “Gender inequality is the social phenomenon in which people are not treated equally on the basis of gender”. The WASP suffered gender inequality because they were not treated as equal to male pilots. For instance, the women of WASP were paid two thirds the rate of the men to do the same exact work, while flying undesirable and inferior planes, and called “expendable” by their own commander. 

These awesome women inspired these equally awesome women such as astronaut Eileen Collins, Desert Storm pilot Kelly Hamilton, as well as one of the first ten women to be hired as a commercial airline pilot, Terry London Rinehart, (whose mother was a WASP). 

Like the decades-long battle for the Women Airforce Service Pilots to receive adequate military recognition and compensation, Minoru Yasui fought for his and others’ rights to be seen as Americans, equal to any citizen in this country. The WASPs and Minoru Yosui fought to be seen and recognized as who they were.