The First Lady for Women: Betty Ford’s Legacy
By: Cynthia Cavendish-Carey
Women lost a powerful advocate this month when Betty Ford passed away on Friday, July 9th at the age of 93. Those of us who are old enough to remember, know her as an outspoken supporter for women and women’s health. In fact, she often took a great deal of criticism for her candor and openness at a time when things like breast cancer and addiction were not discussed openly in public. Yet, because of her willingness to bring such topics to light, Betty Ford made a tremendously positive difference in the lives of many people, including the rich, the famous and the ever day Jane or Joe.
The Betty Ford Center opened in 1982 with the sole purpose of providing effective treatment services for alcoholism and other drug dependencies as well as mental health. There is likely not a single family that hasn’t been touched by these addictions. The programs, education and visibility that the Betty Ford Center provided involved the entire family as part of the recovery process, stressing the importance of each person and helping them to identify his or her own spiritual path. There are currently more than 90,000 alumni throughout the world; and, her legacy will live on as the Center’s work continues thanks to her efforts.
Born in Chicago in 1918, Betty married Gerald Ford just after World War II. She served as First Lady from 1974 to 1977 at a time when the country was in post-Watergate turmoil. A very different kind of First Lady, she became well-known for her candor as she openly discussed women’s rights, premarital sex and abortion in television interviews. After her breast cancer diagnosis, she became a vocal champion for breast cancer research and awareness. Perhaps we will never know how important her openness was in saving women’s lives, but no one can deny the importance of bringing these issues to light and making it okay to discuss publicly. I remember how scandalous it was that she sought treatment for addiction to painkillers and alcohol. This experience led her to co-found the Betty Ford Center in California, which remains one of the most renowned substance abuse centers around.
It’s hard to imagine a time when these topics were so hush-hush they could not be discussed. Betty Ford taught us that silence is not golden … it’s toxic and can even be fatal. Ignoring these issues is not productive. If you or your family have been touched by breast cancer, mental illness or addiction, it’s likely that help is much more available thanks to Betty Ford and brave people like her who are willing to be vulnerable to criticism in order to achieve a greater purpose. Betty Ford will be missed.
Betty’s final resting place will be next to her husband, Gerald Ford, who died in 2006 and is buried in Michigan.
Cynthia Cavendish-Carey is a business and marketing consultant. She is working on her first novel, “Kachina and the Butterfly Maiden,” which is a young girl’s journey to find her own divine feminine.