By Mamie Salazar Harper

Historically, women have been a minority in RTO industry, but the actual number of female employees and female vendors remains undocumented
Mamie Salazar Harper, Owner Fiesta Rentals

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The month of March is National Women’s History Month . In 2005, Women’s History Month theme of "Women Change America" honors and recognizes women in transforming the American culture in areas of education, business, politics and the arts. "Women Change America" also celebrates the ways in which American women have added to the vitality and diversity of American life with their spirit and courage.

This celebration of women should include all of our women in the rental purchase industry. Historically, women have been a minority in RTO, but the actual number of female employees and female vendors remains undocumented. I am hoping that this article will serve as an open "call to arms" to every female working at any level of the rent to own industry. There are no association or membership requirements, just a non-scientific gathering of contact information. Please help me recognize our "sisters" by documenting their numbers and providing a forum for their achievements. Subscribe to Women in Rental Purchase

The public celebration of women’s history in this country began in 1978 as "Women’s History Week" in California. In 1981 Senator Orrin Hatch and Representative Barbara Mikulski co-sponsored a Congressional resolution to create a "National Women’s History Week". In 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to a month and March was declared "Women’s History Month."

Businesswomen have long struggled with the unique challenges presented by gender roles which have both created opportunities for women’s advancement and limited their growth as professionals. Women have fought tenaciously for their place in the world of business. According to the Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership, "America’s 9.1 million women-owned businesses employ 27.5 million people and contribute$3.6 trillion to the economy."

Catalyst, a nonprofit research and advisory organization that works to advance women in business, cites the following statistics:

* 15.7 % of corporate officers in Fortune companies are women (2,140 of 13,673 total)

* 191 women hold the highest ranking corporate officer positions

* 4129 Fortune 500 companies (85.8%) have at least one woman corporate officer, 12 % have women filling at least one quarter of their officer positions

This research organization goes on to pinpoint exactly how women succeeded:

* Consistently exceeding expectations (69%)

* Successfully managing others (49%)

* Developing a style with which male managers are comfortable (47%)

* Having a recognized expertise in a specific content area (46%)

click the poster to view list of all women honored for National Women's History Week and National Women's History Month

Please take this opportunity to click on "Women in Rental Purchase" and provide your contact information. Call your fellow female employees and vendors and ask them to submit their information as well. Let’s stand up and be counted and receive the recognition we deserve for our many contributions.