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Women in Allendale came together to discuss barriers they face during The Purple Table, a new event series focusing on women's issues. The Purple Table was launched by Lottie Lewis (front, center).
Like women everywhere, women in Allendale County face issues unique to their community and their lives. Addressing these issues is the mission of The Purple Table, a new event series in Allendale hosted by community organizer Lottie Lewis that aims to bring women in Allendale together around a common theme.
On Thursday October 5, The Purple Table held its first event, which had the theme “Does the Shoe Fit?,” in reference to the popular fairy tale Cinderella.
“We’re coming together and celebrating each other,” said Lewis. “We all know that women are the backbone of everything, and when they’re happy there’s no telling what they can do.”
At the meeting, Lewis said the story of Cinderella, which is centered around Cinderella’s slipper fitting correctly, is an important metaphor for the life experiences that women face.
“Most of us have been or will be a Cinderella at one point in our lives,” Lewis said. “This is just a fun way to talk about the issues that we face as women every day. We get turned down for jobs so that male folks can get them, or someone older or younger. No matter how qualified we are, we can get turned down. … Does the shoe fit?”
After speaking to the group of women, Lewis led a round table discussion about times in their lives when “the shoe” did or didn’t fit.
Angela Doe Youmans, a professor at University of South Carolina Salkehatchie, said getting to her current position as a professor was difficult, as she had previously worked at a different job for 25 years.
“People often say ‘How did you get that position?’” said Youmans. “I never taught in a school, I never taught anywhere. I’ve gone from being a health educator and now I’m a professor. … The shoe fits.”
Other attendees shared life experiences as women in which they had to overcome barriers in healthcare, employment and in their social lives. In Allendale and other rural communities, women face barriers in their social and economic lives. At the meeting, Lewis mentioned gun violence and unemployment, two major issues within the Allendale community that often have disproportionately negative effects on women. However, Lewis said that the event was also about celebrating the achievements of Allendale’s women in spite of these barriers.
“I keep holding on to hope for Allendale, no matter what,” Lewis said. “Yes, our crime may be high. Yes, we may have a declining number of people and all kinds of things that are happening. But we do not ever give up hope.”
Lewis said she plans to continue The Purple Table’s events for women in Allendale, with the next event being focused around health.
