MATTAPOISETT — Fifth graders at Old Hammondtown School celebrated “Women’s Rights Day” on Tuesday, May 20 in collaboration with the Mattapoisett Museum.

The day began with a presentation from Sandy Dawson and Sandy Galavotti of Dawson Real Estate, which was established in 1978.

Dawson shared the difficulties of owning her own business as a woman, such as the fact that she couldn’t install a telephone in her office until her husband signed off on the paperwork.

She also shared a few stories that illustrated roadblocks she faced, including one client telling her that since she was “just a housewife” she didn’t need to get a full commission on a property that she sold.

Galavotti said that while women are now better off in the workplace they still face pay inequality, making $0.83 for every dollar a man makes for the same job.

Students also learned how to study artifacts using primary and secondary resources, as well as a four step process: Observation, Reflection, Questioning and Further Investigation. Students were given artifacts related to women’s rights to explore and evaluate through this process.

Other students learned about Mattapoisett’s important historical women who championed women’s rights through their work, art, nursing, writing or social engagement. These women included Mary Ransom, Florence Eastman and Cecil Clark Davis.

On May 21 students visited the Mattapoisett Museum for a treasure hunt and were also given a tour around Mattapoisett to learn about the town’s history.