California NOW

Help Us Make Women are Visible!

California is the eighth largest economy in the world and the third largest oil producing state. We lead the nation in farm income and Silicon Valley accounts for one-third of all of the venture capital investment in the U.S.

But that's only side of California. You know, the side that is most often talked about.

But there's another side. For example, we also have the highest poverty rate in the nation, the fourth highest uninsured healthcare rate in the country (almost 25%) and our farm workers are not granted the same shade and water that animals receive. And while our most vulnerable communities have been pushed further into poverty as a result of the budget cuts, California tech companies have been skipping out on taxes for years, with Apple reporting $3.2 billion and Google reporting $2.07 billion in unrecognized tax benefits.

The truth is, California isn't golden for everyone.

That's why California NOW works every single day to push legislators in Sacramento to follow through with their campaign rhetoric of moving us in a better direction. We aren't sure yet if leaders will really fight for increased revenues and for passage of the minimum wage increase. We also aren't sure if they'll use their super majority to override the governor if he once again vetoes the domestic workers bill of rights. These decisions are critical to women (who have taken the brunt of the budget cuts). Two-thirds of minimum wage earners are female and domestic workers are predominately women. We can't allow women and girls to be virtually invisible this legislative cycle.

California NOW is working to make women visible – but we need your help!

We're the only feminist organization that consistently fights to ensure women are not left out of legislative and policy decisions. Maybe it's because we aren't funded by million dollar grants and we're not tied to any corporate or political interests. We're independently funded by YOU!

And even though we work with a very limited budget, we don't ask for donations often. But we're asking NOW.

Please click here to donate $5, $10 - or whatever you can afford - to make sure that we have the resources necessary to continue standing up for California's almost 19 million women and girls. They need us NOW more than ever!

Huffington Post isn't exactly cutting edge when it comes to women

California NOW Action VP, Linda Long

Ok Huff Post…you really need to “lean in” on women’s issues!

Why does nearly every article on the Women’s Voices page have to do with relationships, beauty, weight or “Girls”? Really? I get that women will only eat Haagen-Das if that is all that is offered, but it doesn’t mean that is all we want or need!

The Black Voices page offers articles on the politics of being black, the problems of being black in America, and solutions to the problems. The Latino Voices page more of the same. But, holy cow, if you believe the voices on the Women’s page, we are a shallow bunch of white 1%ers.

There’s nothing on the UN Commission on the Status of Women and the problems with passing the Violence Against Women resolution because of the Vatican’s opposition citing tradition and religion? Considering how the issue of rape has been on every woman’s Facebook page every day this week, seems like someone would have mentioned that the Vatican is more worried about controlling women than protecting them.

There’s nothing on the ongoing problems with health care implementation in states which are doing everything to exclude women because we are “expensive.” I mean, really - those darn women who want to have the children to guarantee our future. The gall of them!

There’s nothing on raising the minimum wage (that was on the Latino Voices page) even though the majority of minimum wage earners are women and a huge bunch of them are home health care workers, none of whom is protected under National Labor Relations Act! No, just the stupid “Lean In” crap which probably makes the majority of women who struggle every day to afford child care and food on their tables want to “LEAN ON” a few of the 1%er women who don’t pay their fair share of taxes, or offer their child care workers a decent salary, overtime or even health care.

Frankly, I can’t imagine how much more leaning without falling over a woman for whom one sick day can make the difference between eating at the end of the week or not can do!

There are lots of articles on makeup…most of which is toxic and can’t even be sold in Europe where the standards are much higher than in America (darn those socialists…always thinking of women’s health)!

There are articles on stay-at-home moms which fail to talk about advocating for social security to be paid into the system by the society which supposedly “values” them so much. We forget to tell those stay-at-home moms that they will get nothing for their retirement. Their work has so much “value” it’s free! Bet that is going to help them eat in 50 years.

Let’s face it, women are complex. We do care about relationships and the way we look but all of that is the Haagen Das and we only eat that after getting out of a really bad relationship. What we need is a real meal (steak, vegetables, salad and maybe some wine) and we want the media to stop trying to make us only eat the ice cream and, instead, offer us up some nutrition because that is something we can “lean in” to.

International Women's Day!

Today is International Women's Day.  In commemoration, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet spoke today at the United Nations.

Here is a portion of what she said....

"We cannot move backwards, we must keep moving forward. It is what we owe to millions of women fighting for their rights around the world.

We find ourselves at a tipping point in history. Never before have we witnessed such global momentum and mobilization by men and women, girls and boys, demanding an end to violence against women and girls.

Never before have we witnessed such open, widespread public outrage and calls for change and action.

Never before have we had the instant and global outreach that new technologies afford—to record in mere seconds, and communicate in real time, the atrocities and horrors of violence committed against women and girls.

Violence against women is pervasive and knows no borders. It does not discriminate according to nationality, ethnicity, social class, culture or religion.

This is why women, men and young people have raised their voices in every region to say one thing: enough is enough.

People demand an immediate end to impunity. They insist on the protection of the rights of women and girls to live in dignity, free of violence and discrimination.

And let me say this: There can be no peace, no progress, no equality without women’s full and equal rights and participation. And there can be no gender equality without women’s realization. Women’s realization of their full reproductive rights, their right to sexual and reproductive health, are essential to the empowerment of women and to gender equality.

As social transformations in attitudes, beliefs, and values are happening, we must keep pace with the aspirations of people everywhere in the world. Their hope, our hope is to see gender equality become reality in this, our 21st century."

Click here to read Michelle Bachelet's full remarks.

 

 

Flash Mob Scheduled in San Francisco!

If you'll be around the Bay area on Saturday, January 26th be sure to join San Francisco NOW in participating in the One Billion Rising Flash Mob commemorating the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade.

Rain or shine, hundreds of men and women from all generations and walks of life will come together at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade with a choreographed dance.

This event will mark the beginning of the One Billion Rising, a worldwide dance action event that will take place on Valentine's Day, demanding an end to violence and sexual oppression against women and girls.

Rehearsals are taking place around the city leading up to the January 26th performance. To find our more, visit www.herrising.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in Athletics Data Analysis

The Equity in Athletics Data Analysis is provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education.

This analysis cutting tool was designed to provide rapid customized reports for public inquiries relating to equity in athletics data. The data are drawn from the OPE Equity in Athletics Disclosure Website database.

This database consists of athletics data that are submitted annually as required by the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA), via a Web-based data collection, by all co-educational postsecondary institutions that receive Title IV funding (i.e., those that participate in federal student aid programs) and that have an intercollegiate athletics program.

To access data for an institution, click here.

To access data for a group of institutions, click here.