Anne Ewing

Anne Ewing (November 19, 1930 – April 11, 2011) was an American biologist and activist for women's rights. She is known for her advocacy for women's rights and her role in removing racist and sexist language from primary school readers in California.

Early life and education Ewing was born Ann Drayton Heuser on November 19, 1930, in the upstairs bedroom of her family's home located in Wytheville, Virginia. As a student she wanted to study chemistry but was told that subject was only for men. She earned her undergraduate degree in biology from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, and a master's degree in botany from the University of Tennessee in the 1950s.

Career Researcher Ewing worked as a research fellow for three years (1972-1975) at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, Later, she worked in the Planning and Land Use Office of the County of San Diego (1975-1995).

Activist Ewing began her activism as a college student and participated in the civil rights movement in the segregated south when she was 20 years old. After moving to San Diego in 1968, As part of that organization, she worked hard in support of Title IX, an amendment to the 1965 Higher Education Act securing equal access to educational programs—including sports programs—regardless of sex, until its passage in 1972. Under Ewing's leadership, a coalition of women's and minority groups, including California NOW, presented a report to the California State Board of Education that clearly showed that the readers being used in the primary schools contained sexist and racist themes.

Personal life Ewing was also a strong supporter of women's rights to choose an abortion (pro-choice), In 1976, she founded the San Diego County Chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus, and served as its president from 1976 to 1978.

Ewing died on April 11, 2011, of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder at the age of 80 in her home in San Diego, California.