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Personal Narrative Essay On Jan Wade's Life

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Bright red embroidered cherries were scattered all over Jan’s sapphire blue cardigan. She sat on her son’s inky black couch as she recounted what job she wanted to have when she was young, “My father was an architect and he used to talk about how we could set up an architectural practice together. I thought about that although, I think that was a lucky escape. I don’t think I have the spatial ability for it.” Jan Wade was born on the 8th of July 1937 and grew up with her father, mother and younger brother Michael in Sydney. One morning when she was 14 changed the course of her life.
“I don’t feel so well” Jan’s father had suddenly said one morning at breakfast. Her father, a World War II veteran, stood up and went to go lie down. The rest of the …show more content…

Around that time someone suggested that she should apply for a job at the Department of Victorian Crown Law which is now the Department of Justice. She wrote to them and they told her to try the Parliamentary Counsel instead. She then applied to them and said “I know I won’t be paid as much as I’m a woman but I don’t mind.” Throughout her life Jan never let sexism stand in her way. After starting at the bottom of the Parliamentary Counsel she worked her way up to becoming assistant chief and then applied for the position of commissioner for corporate affairs. There were 5 other people, all of whom were men, that applied for the position of commissioner as well. When Jan got the recommendation for the job all the other applicants objected and there had to be an appeal. Jan still got the job. There had never been a woman in a senior position there until Mrs Wade. Jan feels that as a woman she stood out and her achievements were acknowledged. The media thought that it was extraordinary. She still has the front page of the newspaper with the title “Woman appointed to the

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