November 13
AAUW’s Christianne Corbett to Appear Thursday, Nov. 13 on WPSU TV’s “Common Ground Lobby Talks” to Talk About Where the Girls Are
Watch the program online, beginning at 7pm. Visit www.wpsu.org click on the “Common Ground, Lobby Talks” banner.
Corbett will appear on a panel with Terri Vescio, assistant professor of psychology at Penn State; and Kimberly Griffin, assistant professor of education at Penn State. They will discuss the impact of gender, social, economic, and ethnic background on scholastic achievement.
Related: http://blog-aauw.org/2008/11/13/where-the-girls-are-panel/
State Law Threatens Gender-Equity Programs
Higher-Education Officials Say Nebraska's New Affirmative-Action Ban Could Hurt Efforts to Bring More Women Into Technical Fields
ESchoolnews.com (Monday, November 10)
AAUW was asked to comment on the Nov. 4 decision by Nebraska voters to ban affirmative action. Lisa M. Maatz, AAUW’s director of public policy and government relations, said: “We believe it is bad for Nebraskans – not just women and minorities, but all citizens. Nebraska was unfortunately the target of out-of-state forces seeking to divide communities and deny equal opportunities to our friends and neighbors. Affirmative action has opened a lot of doors for women, and AAUW is very concerned that enactment of [the ballot initiative] will likely slam them shut.”
Local Woman Heads AAUW of Michigan
The Enquirer (Sunday, November 9)
In 1971, a 19-year-old Kathy Banfield, now Shaw, broke her first glass ceiling, but she didn't shatter it with a brick. Instead, she laser cut a perfect circle and steadily removed it before climbing through. A lifelong football fan, the young woman became the first female football statistician at Central Michigan University. As a woman in a male-dominated field, she knew she would have to work hard to prove her skills. Her two-year term as AAUW president began in July. She first joined the Marshall AAUW in 1995, and is active in both the Marshall and Battle Creek branches
Feinstein Leads Pack of Possible Candidates for Governor
The Press-Enterprise (Wednesday, November 12)
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has a big head start on several real or potential candidates for California governor in 2010, according to a poll released today. The poll shows that she would likely win that year's fall election and become the state's first female governor. Feinstein is also on the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies which is warning the public that no website or other ticket outlet actually has inaugural swearing-in tickets to sell, regardless of what they may claim.
Related: http://inaugural.senate.gov/media/releases/release-11062008-inauguralwebsite.cfm
November 7
Seminar Urges Women to Prepare for their Financial Futures
Naples Daily News (Saturday, November 1)
The Greater Naples branch of the American Association of University Women hosted a presentation titled “2008 Election & Our Financial Decision.” Vi Steffan, president of the Greater Naples branch of AAUW, said: “It’s of vital concern to women – especially considering what’s been happening with the stock market lately. When women move on in years, it’s important that they know what to do in order to ensure their financial security.”
Obama to Visit White House
The New York Times Politics Blog (Thursday, November 6)
President-elect Barack Obama will make his first post-election visit to the White House on Monday, accepting an invitation that President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush extended to his family upon his election as the nation’s 44th president. AAUW’s Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE, issued the following statement regarding the election: “Tuesday saw the biggest voter turnout since women won the right to vote, and once again women’s votes played a key role in the outcome of the presidential election…. In addition, Congress will have a record number of women in both chambers – which AAUW believes will translate into stronger voices and real change on the issues that matter most to women and their families.”
Related: AAUW Congratulates President-Elect Barack Obama
Profiles of new US senators (includes stories on Senators Kay Hagan and Jeanne Shaheen)
Equal Work, Equal Pay: Congress Seeks to Make Gender Pay Discrimination a Thing of the Past
Black Enterprise (Saturday, November 1)
Lisa M. Maatz, AAUW’sdirector of public policy and government relations, is quoted in an article about pay equity. Maatz said the House passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act earlier this year sent a strong message, that “gender-based pay discrimination will not be tolerated.” AAUW is urging the Senate to pass HR 1338.
High School Girls Build Bridges to Future Careers
Princeton Times (Friday, November 7)
Fewer than 20 percent of the engineers working in America are women. In Mercer County, West Va., Bluefield State College hosted a Girls’ Day in Engineering to address the problem, which AAUW will study thanks to a $249,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Set for a 2010 release, the study has the potential to garner public support for policies to even out the disparities in the higher-paying, male-dominated STEM fields, in which women are woefully underrepresented.
Related: AAUW to Launch Major STEM Study with Funding from National Science Foundation
After Colorado Loss, Ward Connerly May Pull the Plug on Affirmative-Action Bans
Colorado Independent (Friday, November 7)
Anti-affirmative-action guru Ward Connerly will likely halt his nationwide push to end race and gender preferences. Connerly, a part-black California businessman, spoke with the Colorado Independent an hour after Amendment 46 toppled by an extremely thin margin. Colorado AAUW opposed Amendment 46. Visit http://www.coaauw.org/
N.H. First State with Female Majority in Senate
The Eagle Tribune (Thursday, November 6)
New Hampshire women made history Tuesday, too. For the first time in U.S. history, they make up a majority of the state Senate. With the exception of the years between 2001 and 2006, New Hampshire has typically been in the top 10 of states with the most women in its state legislature.
October 31
AAUW Celebrates 30th Anniversary of the Passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act
As part of the anniversary celebration, AAUW's Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF) has released a new web resource on the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
To comment, visit: http://blog-aauw.org/2008/10/30/halloween-and-pregnancy/
Vets Group Gives McCain Bad Scores for Votes He Missed
CQ WEEKLY (Saturday, October 25)
This article, which talks about how the presidential candidates voted on issues important to veterans, also takes a look at how groups score voting records. “Some, such as the American Association of University Women, provide two scores: one for the votes for which a senator or representative was present, the other for all of its votes,” Shawn Zeller writes.
Insurance Companies Charge Women More
New York Times (Thursday, October 30)
Striking new evidence has emerged of a widespread gap in the cost of insurance, as women pay much more than men of the same age for individual health insurance policies providing identical coverage, according to new data from insurance companies and online brokers. This news underscores the importance of AAUW’s work. While women are making great gains, significant barriers still exist.
Would Amendment 46 Cancel Summer Science Camp for Girls?
Rocky Mountain News blog (Sunday, October 26)
Colorado AAUW opposes Amendment 46 (the so-called Colorado Civil Rights Initiative) because passage would eliminate those modest, voluntary programs that ensure equal opportunity regarding access to education, hiring, and contracting in the public sector – despite ballot wording that seemingly promises to level the playing field. In every state where similar “civil rights initiatives” have passed, gender and racial diversity has sharply decreased in the public sector. Visit http://www.coaauw.org/
All-Male Senate in S.C.?
The Associated Press (Sunday, October 26)
South Carolina could have the only state Senate in the nation without a woman politician depending on the results of the Nov. 4 election, which may well return the chamber to an all-male membership not seen in this state for three decades. Someone with some special insight on this issue, former S.C. State Representative Harriet Keyserling, was scheduled to discuss the history of women in politics at a recent meeting of the Beaufort Branch of AAUW.
October 24
GET TO KNOW ME - Catherine Forslund
Rockford Register Star (IL)- Sunday, October 19
AAUW member Catherine Forslund is highlighted. She is working on a book, "Edith Kermit Roosevelt: Victorian Modern First Lady" for University Press of Kansas.
Medical Textbook Gender Bias
ConsultMagazine, Thursday, October 23
Gender bias in medicine begins at medical school; and if anatomy textbooks are to be believed, the majority of patients are heterosexual white men, according to new research from Spain. This is just the latest example of how the gender imbalance in the STEM fields can lead to serious problems. Through our various programs and initiatives, AAUW is encouraging girls to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Shriver: Palin, Clinton Candidacies Normalize Idea of Women in Power
CNN, Wednesday, October 22
The Women's Conference 2008, a nonpartisan forum hosted by California first lady Maria Shriver, was expected to draw some of the nation's most accomplished people including former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. AAUW members got to hear Albright give the keynote address at the 2005 national convention.
Women are More Likely to Outlive their Savings
The Dallas Morning News, Monday, October 20
The odds for a comfortable retirement are not in women's favor. More women than men are outliving their savings. Women are twice as likely to die in poverty as men. This is just one of the reasons why AAUW is pushing so hard for the passage of pay equity legislation.
October 17
AAUW News:AAUW has won a two-year, $249,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch a major study of the causes and dynamics behind the low participation of women and girls in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. This is AAUW’s fourth grant from NSF.
To read more AAUW news, visit the State and Branch News Coverage page. Closing the Gap for Equal Pay
The Denver Post (Sunday, October 12)
This front page story on the wage gap, which cites AAUW research, says that “women start out behind men after college and never make up the ground regardless of whether they have children.” With pay-equity bills pending in Congress, the story goes on to say that regardless of what happens in Washington, Colorado has moved ahead with a wage-transparency bill that will aid women who want to find out what their co-workers make.
In Debate, McCain Had Joe the Plumber, Obama Had Lilly Ledbetter
U.S.News & World Report (Thursday, October 16)
Lilly Ledbetter, a friend of AAUW, was mentioned in the third presidential debate. Ledbetter, perhaps the best-known face of pay equity, has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama. Meanwhile, AAUW last month released our nonpartisan voting guides as part of our Voter Education Campaign. As AAUW’s Linda D. Hallman says, “We are absolutely nonpartisan, but we are unapologetically political about the issues that matter most to women.”
Visit the Voter Guides page.
To read the full transcript from the presidential debate, visit: http://www.debates.org/pages/trans2008d.html.
Poverty Affects Education
Baltimore Examiner (Wednesday, October 15)
On Oct. 15 - Blog Action Day - “netizens” worldwide talked about one topic in an attempt to create a change. This year, the subject was poverty. Visit AAUW Dialog to read: When Will We Teach Poverty in a History Class?; Dying to Give Life; Pay Equity to Help End Poverty; and Women and Poverty
Related story: Help eliminate poverty – invest in women; When a woman prospers, a family prospers. When families prosper, communities prosper.
National Conference for College Women Student Leaders: Leadership for Today and Tomorrow
Diversity Edge Magazine (Third Quarter 2008)
The 2008 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) continues to receive great feedback. Students called the conference an amazing learning opportunity. “We want to make sure that when the students leave here they have that momentum and they have that action plan to move them forward in their next goals for their campus and community for social change,” said AAUW’s Kate Farrar, in a story about the conference which appears in the latest issue of Diversity Edge Magazine.
Visit http://www.aauw.org/nccwsl/2008/ scroll down to “In the News”
October 15, 2008
AAUW News
AAUW is proud to present a new online feature, the AAUWMember Showcase. It enables branch, state, and national events to be publicized nationwide on the AAUW website, illustrating the breadth of our community and the diversity of our programs to help break through barriers for women and girls.
To read more, visit: http://www.aauw.org/member_center/briefings/briefingMemberShowcase_092608.cfm
Camp Helps Girls Get into Math, Science
The Press-Enterprise (Wednesday, October 8)
The San Gorgonio Branch of the San Bernardino Area AAUW made headlines for sponsoring a camp that encourages girls to study biology, geology, computer science, physics or chemistry. A recent survey found that approximately 100 AAUW branches were involved in projects related to gender equity in STEM.
Visit http://media-newswire.com/release_1075006.html to see what the Salt Lake City branch is doing.
The Race for the White House
Blount Today (Wednesday, October 8)
Each week between now and the November election, AAUW’s Woman to Woman Voter Campaign will appear in Blount Today. The election project is a joint endeavor of the League of Women Voters, AAUW and Blount Today. AAUW has “The Power of One Vote” and “I am the Face of Pay Equity” posters, stickers, and pins available for use at AAUW events. E-mail the Public Policy and Government Relations staff at VoterEd@aauw.org to request any of these useful materials.
Major Supreme Court Cases for the New Term
Associated Press (Saturday, October 4)
Monday, October 6th marked the first day of the U.S. Supreme Court’s new term. During this term, the court will hear cases covering a number of issues important to women and families, including employment discrimination, free speech, Title IX, voting rights, and access to the courts.
Visit AAUW Dialog to read more: http://blog-aauw.org/2008/10/09/supreme-court-hears-harassment-case/
September 23, 2008
AAUW Gives Feingold Perfect Score on Women's Issues
The Reporter(Monday, September 22)
AAUW gave Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) a perfect score in the latest Congressional Voting Record. How did you senators and representatives vote? To learn more, visit:http://www.aauw.org/advocacy/issue_advocacy/voter_ed/votingrecord.cfm
McCain, Obama in Virtual Tie for Women's Votes, New Poll Finds
The Dallas Morning News(Monday, September 22)
More women will vote than men this fall – as has happened in every presidential election since 1964 – and will be a deciding factor, according to a pollster for the Lifetime Network, one of AAUW’s 2008 Get Out the Vote Partners.
Read AAUW’s Why Women Should Vote blog post:http://blog-aauw.org/2008/09/22/why-women-should-vote/
Cheers & Jeers of the Week: Rwanda Women Gain Seats; World Leaders Fall Short
WOMENSENEWS (Saturday, September 20)
Rwanda is the first nation in the world where women outnumber men in parliament after legislative elections Sept. 18. Meanwhile, governments around the world are failing to live up to their commitments to equality for women and must step up their efforts, the United Nations has said. AAUW has long been concerned about global equity issues. To learn more, visit AAUW’s International corner: http://www.aauw.org/About/international_corner/
Lilly Ledbetter, a Real War Hero, Could Help Obama Win
GloriaFelt.com (Friday, September 19)
AAUW’s New York media luncheon, featuring a speech by Lilly Ledbetter,was the subject of a recent blog post by Gloria Felt. She wanted to know how activists can get movement on pay equity legislation. AAUW urges voters to review the Congressional Voting Record, which includes pay equity votes.
September 15, 2008
Where's that Girl Power?
MPR (September 10)
AAUW Executive Director, Linda D. Hallman, CAE, joined a panel on Minnesota Public Radio that tackled the question of why success in school is not a predictor of success in the workplace for women.
Equal Before Mammon
The New Yorker (September 15)
The Lilly Ledbetter bill would more justly allow victims of pay discrimination to seek vindication, and AAUW and its members will not stop until the Senate gets it right by adopting this critical measure. Visit http://www.aauw.org/advocacy/issue_advocacy/actionpages/payequity.cfm to find that how you can help get this legislation passed.
The Cagle Post (September 9)
Jen Sorensen, who draws Slowpoke Comics, answers that question. The latest issue of Outlook has a feature on women cartoonists.
Sarah Palin: What's Sexist and What's Not Sexist?
U.S. News & World Report (September 12)
Women can be sexist, too, you know, just like persons of color can be racist. That’s how Bonnie Erbe of U.S. News and World Report starts her discussion. Newsweek’s Anna Quindlen says the right wing that trashed the women’s movement suddenly finds its inner feminist. To read her column, visit: http://www.newsweek.com/id/157543. While AAUW doesn’t endorse candidates, AAUW encourages voter activism. Visit http://www.aauw.org/advocacy/issue_advocacy/voter_ed/index.cfm.
Teen Seeks to Make 9/11 Federal Holiday
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (September 10)
Cory Pinkerman was in fifth grade when terrorists launched the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Pinkerman, who wants to make 9/11 a federal holiday, also shares his memories from that day. Post your thoughts on http://blog-aauw.org/2008/09/11/9-11/.
August 31, 2008
Company Says it Could Take Weeks to Restore Gulf Coast Power
CNN (Thursday, September 4)
Three days after Hurricane Gustav came ashore on the Gulf Coast, nearly 829,000 households were still without electricity, power company officials said Thursday, warning that power may be restored slowly in the hardest-hit areas.
Read AAUW's message to members in Gulf Coast states: http://blog-aauw.org/2008/09/04/aauw-message/
Girl Power at School, but Not at the Office
New York Times (Sunday, August 31)
An article looking at how women excel in school, but not necessarily in the office cites a statistic from AAUW’s Behind the Pay Gap report. In addition to sometimes facing sexism, the author says that a major roadblock for women at work is the lack of real-world skills like negotiation, self-promotion, and networking.
See AAUW blog entry, Workplace Rules for Success: http://blog-aauw.org/2008/09/02/workplace-rules-for-success/
Purdue's Program Mix Helps Explain Male Majority
Lafayette Journal & Courier (Sunday, August 31)
At Purdue, men receive 69 percent of the STEM degrees. Why are women underrepresented? Christianne Corbett of AAUW's research department has some ideas.
Gay Republicans Endorse McCain-Palin Ticket
CQ (Tuesday, September 2)
Log Cabin Republicans, a group representing gay Republicans, endorsed Arizona Sen. John McCain’s presidential bid today as the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., hits its full stride.
Should AAUW endorse Sarah Palin in her historic bid? Post your comment: http://blog-aauw.org/2008/09/03/should-aauw-endorse-sarah-palin/
Read AAUW Director of Public Policy and Government Relations Lisa M. Maatz’s blogs from the GOP convention: http://blog-aauw.org/tag/rnc/
August 18, 2008
Clinton's Journey Awakens a New Women's Movement
The Boston Globe (Wednesday, August 27)
In Denver, many women have been talking about the emergence of a new movement that would unite women across the generational divide to combat discrimination, unequal pay, and other concerns. AAUW has been uniting women and Breaking through Barriers for women and girls since 1881. AAUW is one of just a few women’s organizations — and the only major grassroots group — that will be at both conventions.
Read more: Unconventional Women
Equal Pay for Women is Due, Speaker Says
UPI (Tuesday, August. 26)
Lilly Ledbetter, the face of pay equity, addressed the Democratic national convention. Ledbetter will be one of AAUW’s guest speakers at an upcoming media luncheon meeting in New York.
Help Boys Without Hurting Girls
Tribune Media Services (Monday, August 25)
Clarence Page says “advances for boys and girls don't have to be an either/or situation.” Sound familiar? The nationally syndicated columnist referred to AAUW’s latest research in a recent column. Meanwhile a Chronicle of Higher Education reader cites Where the Girls Are in his call for a more comprehensive approach to dealing with educational inequalities.
Read more: Gender Differences Not the Most Important
Ladies' Night
The Boston Globe (Thursday, August 21)
This blog talks about American women’s accomplishments at the Beijing Olympics and how none of this would be happening without Title IX. The late Rep. Patsy Mink (D-HI), who was an AAUW member, is often referred to as the mother of Title IX. AAUW is a strong supporter of the law and opposes efforts that would weaken its effectiveness or undermine its enforcement.
Related link: Tales of the Olympics
Pell Grant Changes Will Help Students
theadvertiser.com (Monday, August 18)
President Bush signed legislation renewing the Higher Education Act, the major law governing federal student aid. AAUW applauds the move.
Read more: AAUW Celebrates Passage of Higher Education Act Reauthorization
