A hypothesis with legs. In the early 1990s, Arline Geronimus proposed a simple yet profound explanation for why Black women on average were having children at younger ages than White women, which she called the “weathering hypothesis.” It goes like this: Racial inequality takes a cumulative toll on Black women, increasing the chance they will have health problems at […]
HERvotes
The #HERvotes campaign for women to vote in 2012 to preserve our health and economic rights
Unions Provide the Route for a Secure Future to Women and Their Families
On September 7-10, the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) completed our 16th Biennial Convention, where we recommitted ourselves to those priorities that are so critical to working women and their families. The highest priority at our founding convention 37 years ago and now is JOBS! But when we talk about jobs we mean decent […]
“Do You Mind Taking a Short Detour So I Can Vote?”
While visiting the NCJW Section in Rochester, New York, yesterday, my host, Mollie, turned to me and asked, “Do you mind taking a short detour so I can vote?” Yesterday, September 13, was primary election day in New York state, and Mollie needed to vote in the school board primary. We entered the local elementary […]
We Need Jobs and a Voice on the Job
When I was in high school and college, I worked in restaurants. I worked for minimum wage and I worked hard—cleaning, cooking, even counting money and making bank deposits. I remember my pay going from $3.35 an hour to $3.45 an hour when I made ‘head cashier’—a job that carried a lot more responsibility than […]
Living on a Prayer? Latinas Need Jobs and the Ability to Live With Dignity
Economic security has been a major concern for everyone, but perhaps especially so for Latinas. Studies indicate that Latinas had an 11.4 percent unemployment rate in August 2011, compared to about 9 percent overall. And when they work, Latinas earn, on average, less than sixty cents for every dollar earned by a white male. That’s […]
Rebounding From a “Mancession,” Remembering the Ladies
President Obama recently laid out his new “American Jobs Act” before Congress in the hope of revitalizing our economy, putting the willing to work and finally ending one of the nation’s longest and worst recessions. With unemployment at a startling high–and making only marginal, if any, improvements monthly–the country has one thing on its mind. […]
HERvotes Takes On the Jobs Crisis
Our first #HERvotes blog carnival was so successful, we’re doing it again! On August 25-26, to mark the anniversaries of the passage of the 19th amendment and the March on Washington, Ms. joined with 21 women’s organizations to collectively publish 77 blog posts with a single harmonious message: We must mobilize women voters in 2012 […]
President’s Job Plan Benefits Women
The president’s job plan would have a positive impact on women’s jobs, woman-owned small businesses and small- to medium-sized non-profits. It also includes payroll tax savings for some 78 million employed women and an extension of unemployment insurance for those out of work, who include some 2.6 million unemployed women. Many of the proposals for […]
The Care Crisis
Job creation is the word of the day. In his speech on Thursday night, President Obama outlined his proposal to reinvigorate a stagnating economy. It included a mix of tax cuts, aid to small businesses, federal money for infrastructure projects and a commitment to the public sector. The goal, quite simply, is to put Americans […]
Editors’ Picks, #HERvotes Edition
Over the past few days, dozens of leading feminists from all walks of life have shared personal stories, compelling essays, policy solutions and calls to action in an effort to mobilize women voters in 2012. So many have raised their voices that even if you have been following the HERvotes blog carnival, there are probably […]