Very unpopular opinion At 72, I remember when women were told whole careers were “not for us,” and some couldn’t even get a credit card without a man attached to their name. I don’t expect women, half my age or any man to understand what we have been through. If we did well, we were accused of screwing our way to the top, even though we performed our jobs admirably with no sexual favors In the United States, many women effectively needed a husband, father, or other male co-signer to get a credit card or loan until the mid-1970s. The major turning point was the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, passed in 1974. That law made it illegal for lenders to discriminate based on sex or marital status. Before that, banks could — and often did — refuse women credit unless a man backed the account, even if the woman had her own income. A lot of younger people genuinely don’t realize how recent that was. Women today can serve in combat roles, run companies, fly fighter jets, and hold office — but there are women still alive who remember being treated like legal dependents So forgive me if I don’t clap along while today’s powerful women treat politics like the bachelor or some other sexual reality show. Some of us fought to be taken seriously. Not turned into a punchline.