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Patsy Mink

(1927-2002) –Attorney, U.S. Representative

Patsy Mink,  is the first Asian American woman to run for president in the Democratic Party and was the first Asian American woman to serve in the U.S. Congress. Upon graduating law school, she was unable to find work due to her status as a married Asian woman. She later returned to Hawai'i where she was refused the right to take the bar exam since upon marriage, she lost her Hawaiian territorial residency. Mink fought this sexist statute and prevailed; however, she could not find work because she was married and had a child. However, she later opened her own firm in 1953. She would eventually enter politics to change discriminatory practices through the law. Mink was a major contributor of Title IX.

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