Sharon Barker

Sharon E. Barker
Born(1949-07-29)July 29, 1949
New Brunswick, Canada
DiedNovember 18, 2023(2023-11-18) (aged 74)
Bangor, Maine
EducationB.S. psychology, University of Maine
M.S. public administration, University of Maine
Occupation(s)Director, Women's Resource Center at the University of Maine
Years active1991–2014
EmployerUniversity of Maine
PartnerJohn Hoyt
Children2
AwardsMaine Women's Hall of Fame, 2009

Sharon E. Barker (July 29, 1949 – November 18, 2023)[1] was a Canadian-American women's rights activist, women's health advocate, and feminist. She was the founding director of the Women's Resource Center at the University of Maine and one of the founders and first president of the Mabel Sine Wadsworth Women's Health Center in Bangor. For over 30 years she advocated for women and girls in the areas of health care, gender equality, sexual assault, and reproductive rights. She was inducted into the Maine Women's Hall of Fame in 2009.

Early life and education

Sharon Barker was born in New Brunswick, Canada. She had two sisters.[2] At the age of 8 she moved with her family to Fort Fairfield, Maine.[2] In the third grade she befriended Ruth Lockhart, with whom she would co-found the Mabel Sine Wadsworth Women's Health Center.[2] She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and master's degree in public administration at the University of Maine.[1][3]

Career

Why is it only exceptional women that can succeed? Why is it only women who are willing to sacrifice their lives that are capable of working in some of these fields? ... I say we will succeed not when all exceptional women are let into these fields, but when mediocre women are let in at the same rate as mediocre men.

–Sharon Barker, 2009[4]

After graduation, Barker helped manage the Community House, an adult-education program in Fort Fairfield, and worked briefly as a taxi driver.[2] She then worked for ten years as a family planning counselor and coordinator for Penquis CAP in Bangor.[2][3] In 1984 she, Lockhart, and three other activists founded the Mabel Sine Wadsworth Women's Health Center as a private, non-profit center that would provide abortion services and lesbian health care.[5] Barker was the center's first president.[2]

In 1991 Barker was named director of the new Women's Resource Center at the University of Maine, which provides information and advocacy for students.[1][2] She filled the position on a part-time basis until 1999, when her salary was ensured by a grant.[6] Among the initiatives she oversaw were the Safe Campus project against sexual assault,[6] the United Sisters mentoring program pairing college women with high-school girls,[7] the Girls' Collaborative Project,[8][9] $tart $mart salary negotiation workshops,[10] and the annual "Expanding Your Horizons" conference that brings 500 middle school girls to campus to explore career opportunities in the STEM fields.[6][11][12] Barker was also a frequent speaker and workshop presenter on health care, gender equality, and women's rights.[13]

Memberships

Barker was a member of numerous state nonprofit boards and committees, including the Penobscot Valley American Association of University Women, Maine Women's Fund, Eastern Regional Commission for Women, Good Samaritan Agency, Bangor CUReS Project, Bangor Rape Crisis Center, Women's Business Development Corporation, the Komen Foundation, and the Maine Jobs Council.[1][8] She was appointed to Rep. John Baldacci's Advisory Committee on Juvenile Crime, Domestic Violence, Drug Abuse and Hate Crimes.[1][8] In 1995 she was named to a panel that developed ideas to reduce the threat of violence at state abortion clinics.[14] She established the Maine chapter of the National Abortion Rights Action League.[15]

Awards and honors

Barker received the Mary Hatwood Futrell Award from the National Education Association in 1997.[2] She was also the recipient of the Mabel Sine Wadsworth Women's Health Achievement Award (1997), the Woman of the Year citation from the Bangor and Maine Federation of Business and Professional Women (1999), and the Sarah Orne Jewett Award of the Maine Women’s Fund (2004), recognizing lifetime achievement in advocating for women and girls in the areas of "health care, poverty, sexual assault, juvenile justice, gender equity, education and peace", from the Maine Women's Fund.[8][16] She was inducted into the Maine Women's Hall of Fame in 2009.[1]

Personal life

Barker and her life partner, John S. Hoyt, had two sons.[8]

Barker passed on November 18, 2023.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Bloch, Jessica (20 March 2009). "Founder of UM center to join Maine Women's Hall of Fame". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Weber, Tom (9 September 1997). "A Foray Into Feminism: Sharon Barker devotes her life to advancing women's rights". Bangor Daily News. pp. A1, A7.
  3. ^ a b "Women's center open". Bangor Daily News. 23 December 1991. p. 12.
  4. ^ "Empowering Women Quote" (PDF). Beacon of Hope. Creative Partners: 3. Spring 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-01. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  5. ^ Hollowell, Joy (4 May 2015). "Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center- Part One". WABI-TV. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Harrison, Judy (31 March 2012). "Portrait of women symbolizes 20 years of work by Women's Resource Center". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  7. ^ MacCrae, Melissa (30 October 1997). "College women, high school girls work to promote gender equity". Bangor Daily News. p. WB4.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Maine Women's Hall of Fame: Honorees – Sharon Barker". University of Maine at Augusta. 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Girls Collaborative Project Kicks Off at University of Maine Oct. 10". US Fed News Service. 23 September 2008. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  10. ^ "With AAUW, I work for pay equity" (PDF). American Association of University Women. 2010. p. 13. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  11. ^ Bloch, Jessica (4 March 2010). "Getting girls in gear". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  12. ^ "27th Expanding Your Horizons to Bring 500 Middle School Girls to UMaine March 13 (press release)". University of Maine. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  13. ^ "Women's health focus of workshop". Bangor Daily News. 10 March 1993. p. 14.
  14. ^ "Panel picked to meditate abortion woes". Lewiston Sun Journal. Associated Press. 31 January 1995. p. 3.
  15. ^ "Women's Resource Center open at UM". Bangor Daily News. 23 December 1991. p. 13.
  16. ^ "Barker lauded for work on behalf of women, girls". Bangor Daily News. 14 October 2004. p. 12.
  17. ^ "Remembering the life of Sharon Barker".