Ledbetter is the namesake of the landmark Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that President Obama signed. The measure ensures that those who experience work discrimination on the basis of gender or race have a fair chance to sue their employers.
Detailing her rise to become one of the few women at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company positioned in a supervisory role, Ledbetter, 73, stressed how everyone can play a part in combating discrimination. “It’s not easy; it’s been a long, hard road,” said Ledbetter. “A person who does this has to have three things—they have to be tough as nails, have strong faith and, above all else, have a family who supports you.” Photos courtesy of the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network