(All-Women) Powder Puff Girls: The Women’s Air Derby, 1929

APPROXIMATE COMMITTEE SIZE: 25 delegates

The early 20th century saw the emergence of a new push for women’s equality and liberation. This, combined with an uptick in aviation appreciation, which stemmed from the onset of World War I, led to a growing trend of female pilots and aviation enthusiasts. The National Women’s Air Derby was the first official all-women aviation race in the US, held in 1929. It was organized after almost two decades of men’s air races and was given the name “The Powderpuff Derby” by male journalists. During the race itself, the pilots were sabotaged by other pilots as well as non-competitors and faced the natural threats of the race, flying over cities, deserts, and mountains and dealing with hazards such as heat and dust, uncertain navigation, and obstacles like telephone lines and buildings.

As a committee, delegates will be tasked with planning the race, identifying and debating its rules and attributes. Delegates will follow the race through its conclusion, working to ensure the success of the derby, not just as an air-race, but as a model for gender inclusivity and empowerment. As they navigate the natural problems and concerns that come with planning a race of this scale, delegates will also have to combat the misogyny and sabotage of male journalists and pilots of the time.

Note: NAIMUN’s “all-women” crisis committee is designed to amplify and empower the voices of women in a unique crisis setting. Delegates in this committee will exclusively represent women as they debate and simulate a topic specifically chosen to center the experiences of women. In the spirit of this committee, NAIMUN asks that all those participating in the all-women committee are female or gender non-conforming delegates.

ISSUES TO CONSIDER

Women in the Emerging Field of Aviation

The Rules of the Derby

Official Race Responses and Reactions to Sabotage

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Learn about the beginnings and proliferation of aviation, especially regarding women in aviation.

• Understand how to pursue a common goal amongst people you are in direct competition with.

• Develop strategy and game theory skills as it pertains to planning a competition.

About the Chair

Emily Vincent is a member of the Class of 2027 in the McDonough School of Business, majoring in International Business and Accounting. She is from New Hampshire, where she competed briefly in Model UN before coming to Georgetown. Emily has staffed Georgetown’s college conference for the past three years, and had a short stint on the collegiate circuit. She is also thrilled to be reunited with Theodora for this committee after they served on Secretariat for NAIMUN together last year. Outside of Model UN, Emily serves as Director of Training for Hoya Taxa, a club which provides free tax preparation services to low-income families in the DMV, and is a member of Georgetown’s Small Town and Rural Students Association. In her free time, she enjoys exploring DC’s many museums, going on walks, and watching mediocre romantic comedies. Emily is so excited to serve as the Chair for this wonderful committee!

About the Crisis manager

Theodora Lyne is a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Government and minoring in Italian. She is from New York City, and has been involved in Model UN since the 7th grade. She has staffed NCSC crisis backrooms for the past two years, staffed NAIMUN LXI in the backroom, and was a crisis manager at DistrictMUN V. She served on the Secretariat of NAIMUN LXII, with the spectacular Emily Vincent, as the Under-Secretary-General for Contemporary Crisis. Outside of Model UN, she tables for an advocacy club on campus, and is a member of the Philodemic Debate Society. In her free time, she likes procrastinating with her friends in the library, going for walks around DC, and binge-watching The West Wing. She is so excited to see what new heights this committee can reach!