CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – Women’s Equality Day is a day set aside to mark the anniversary of the constitution’s 19th amendment: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”
This year marks the 97th anniversary of the 19th amendment. To mark the occasion Eighth Army and U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys hosted a Women’s Equality Day Panel Discussion. The panel consisted of nine women, both service members and civilians from an array of various backgrounds. Four of the panelists represented the Far East District (FED), including FED commander Col. Teresa Schlosser, as well as FED employees Jisun Kang, Mia Dukuly and Eman Sundquist.
The panel was asked a series of questions about their careers including what challenges they faced along the way.
Dukuly, who has been a project engineer with the Corps of Engineers for the past 15 years, answered several questions and was praised by one of her colleagues in her ability to balance work and her five children. Dukuly said there aren’t many women who work in the construction field and often times she’s felt the need go above and beyond the call of duty.
“In society there has always been this idea of what a woman should be doing,” said Dukuly. “As a woman I often feel that that pressure and I feel that I have to prove myself to my colleagues through training, education, and experience.”
Dukuly’s colleague, Eman Sundquist, shared with the group her admiration of Dukuly as she recently completed her master’s degree while raising her five children. Dukuly emphasized to the audience the amount of time and effort it took her to complete this feat.
“When I married my husband in 2010 he was in the military at the time,” said Dukuly. “Learning how to juggle our lives together and raise a family taught me the keys necessary to handle both my professional and personal life.”
The panel aimed to empower those assembled and listening in the audience as the women highlighted how they work through hardships and faced adversity head on.
“The panel allowed me the chance to get a better idea of the Army side and the challenges women face in the military,” said Dukuly. “There are many similarities between civilians and military women.”
Dukuly said Women’s Equality Day was a way to thank women of the past for their contributions.
“Women’s Equality Day means celebrating the struggles and being grateful for the sacrifice women before me made in standing up for others,” said Dukuly. “Because of their sacrifice I am able to participate in the workforce.”