Maymi, Carmen Rosa, 1938-

Carmen Rosa Maymi headed the Women's Bureau in 1975 as the highest-ranking Hispanic woman in the Federal Government and the first Hispanic Director of the Bureau.

<p>At 35, Carmen Rosa Maymi, who was born and grew up. in Puerto Rico, is the youngest director the Women's Bureau has had. She and Elizabeth Janeway, the author of “Man's World, Women's Place,” were luncheon speakers last week at the 85th annual meeting of the National Council of Women at the Plaza Hotel.</p>

<p>Labor unions, Mrs. Maymi said in an interview have “shown their concern for women slowly, and much less aggressively than we might have hoped.” But she saw blue and white‐collar women workers as growing less resistant to the middle‐class feminist movement. These workers are “identifying their own women'srights issues and feeling of ‘sisterhood’” and the movement is growing “newly aware of responsibility for women who are ‘left out,’” she said.</p>

<p>“There is less fear of being catalogued as non‐women among those who come to see that highly feminine as well as successful women are leaders in the movement and that laws are already reflecting what the more radical women were after,” Mrs. Maymi continued</p>

<p>Concerning the Equal Rights Amendment, Mrs. Maymi said that the Women's Bureau “can't lobby in the state legislatures” where the measure still faces a battle for ratification but is “doing education on the pros and cons” of the amendment. So far, 30 of the 38 states required have ratified the amendment.</p>

<p>Mrs. Maymi described the Women's Bureau as “microscopic in comparison with its constituency,” noting that it had only 52 office and staff employes in Washington and two in each of 10 regional offices.

<p>Now the highest‐ranking Puerto Rican woman in the Federal government, Mrs. Maymi joined the Office of Economic Opportunity in 1966 and later was a consultant on the Model Cities program. Earlier she had developed programs for Chicago police, social workers and teachers who served that city's 80,000 Puerto Rican residents. She received B.A. and M.A. degrees from DePaul University in Chicago and also attended the University of Chicago Graduate School. She has a 10‐year‐old daughter.</p>

<p>The National Council of Women, which has nearly 30 member organizations, is middle‐of‐the‐road group although it was founded in 1888 by militant suffragists and worked actively for establishment of the Women's Bureau.</p>

<p>While the bureau is currently best known for its “watchdog” statistical and educational functions, Mrs. Maymi told the luncheon meeting that it had recently “been given new responsibilities” and an opportunity “to influence policy and planning within the Labor Department and within the Federal Government.”</p>

<p>Carmen Rosa Maymi (served 1973-1977)</p>
<p>The first Women's Bureau Director appointed from within the ranks and the first Hispanic Director, Carmen Rosa Maymi used her position to call attention to the unique barriers faced by Hispanic women. She also developed the Bureau's links with private organizations to help working women realize their full potential.</p>

<p>"My tenure as Director occurred at the most exciting and productive period for American women. The Women's Bureau became a true partner with minority women, union women and national organizations in the formulation of government policies that still benefit working women and their families. We were all enriched by the discovery of our strength."</p>

Born in Puerto Rico, Carmen Rosa Maymi was the Bureau 's first Hispanic director and the highest ranking Hispanic woman in the Federal Governent. A holder of an undergraduate degree in Spanish and master's in education from DePaul University, she also conducted graduate work at the Uni vers ity of
Chicago Graduate School . She began her career a an employment counselor with the Migration Division of the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico in Chicago, fo llowed by a position assistant director of an Urban Progress Center of the Chicago Committee on Urban Opportunity, and later as Urban Program
Unit Director. Ms. Maymi entered Federal service in 1966
as a Community Services Specialist in the Office of Economic Opportunity, leaving to act as a project director on Federal contracts dealing with model housing, service to Indian
reservations and migrant programs .

<p>Birthdate: March 17, 1938</p>
<p>Birthplace: Santurce, Puerto Rico</p>
<p>Parents: Luis Maymi Garcia and Socorro Sierra Maymi</p>
<p>From 1973 to 1977, Maymi focused her attention on the welfare of working women. As Director of the Women's Bureau for the Department of Labor and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment Standards, she implemented policy and legislation, such as the Equal Pay Act, that would have long-lasting positive effects on women in the work place. She also became the U. S. representative to the United Nations and held a post at the National Labor Organization in Geneva where she worked to improve the conditions of working women globally. From 1980-1986 Maymi directed the Office of Equal Opportunity within the Office of Personnel Management. Since 1986 Maymi has been the director of Equal Opportunity for the Department of the Interior where a top priority of hers has been to enforce the Disability Rights Program and to make its programs fully accessible to persons with disabilities.</p>