Washington Area Women's Foundation

Women’s History Month Q&A of the Day: March 28, 2011

Amelia_earhartQ: In addition to becoming the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, this woman was also a member of the National Women’s Party and an early supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment.

A: Amelia Earhart received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross after becoming the first aviatrix to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.  When she wasn’t setting records in the air, Earhart was on faculty at Purdue University, was a member of the National Women’s Party and was an early supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment.  She disappeared over the Pacific Ocean during an attempt to fly around the world in 1937.