Petition to Encourage Women to Run for President

by Jen Nedeau

Published November 20, 2008 @ 02:30PM PST

WomenCount has set up a petition to encourage a Presidential commission on women's leadership:

SOMETIMES THERE IS A WATERSHED MOMENT IN HISTORY WHEN IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THINGS MUST CHANGE AND LEADERS MUST ACT. THAT MOMENT IS NOW FOR THE WOMEN OF THIS COUNTRY.

THE LESSONS OF THIS CAMPAIGN WERE ABUNDANT:

• As the economy became the single most critical issue in the election, the role that women play in our economic structure has never been clearer. Women are the backbone of the nation’s workforce and control 70 percent of its buying power.

• The candidacies of Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin, while inspiring women and girls around the country to imagine what can be, exposed extreme gender bias in the media and throughout our culture.

• Women, who make up 56 percent of the voting population, were targeted as never before as the critical bloc that would determine the outcome of the election.

In 1961, as the nation grappled with the issue of women in the workplace, President John Kennedy convened the first Presidential Commission on the Status of Women and appointed Eleanor Roosevelt as its chair. Kennedy recognized the moment was right.

That was 47 years ago, and it’s time to do it again. As in 1961, women are at the forefront of our political discourse – and we are committed to keeping them there.

A record number of women are seeking ways to participate more fully in all aspects of American life, politics and policymaking. A Presidential Commission on Women is the right vehicle to initiate a national conversation on the future of women. If Not Now, When?

Documenting Women's Empowerment in the Slums of India

by Dorothee Royal-Hedinger

Published November 19, 2008 @ 11:21AM PST

A year ago, an organization called Video Volunteers launched Channel 19, an online platform showcasing videos made by 64 men and women from the slums and villages of India. These producers work full-time in what they call local 'community video units' which are based around India.

Most of the Community Producers come from disadvantaged backgrounds and make films that reflect issues in their neighborhoods such as health, sanitation, education, women's rights and human rights. Their work offers a unique look into the everyday lives of people we normally don't see in the media, especially online.

Below, Zuleka Sayyed describes her role as a community producer in a slum with frequent flooding and little electricity:

This month, Channel 19 is featuring 3-5 minute video clips portraying issues slumdwellers face everyday. The following video, "Never Too Late to Teach!" is about Mangal Thorat, a former ragpicker who is now a certified teacher in Mumbai. You go girl!

For more info about Channel 19, sign up for their newsletter or check out their Facebook Cause page.

Moms Are Motrin-fied Over Recent Ad

by Jen Nedeau

Published November 18, 2008 @ 08:56PM PST

Perhaps you've already read about the backlash against the recent Motrin advertisement that supposedly meant to identify with women, but in fact, offended about 90% of them.

Feministing called the ad just "a tad condescending" while Blogher titled it "Motringate." Queen of Spain hit the nail on the head saying that the problem with the ad wasn't so much about the company missing the [f*cking] point - it was about the fact that the wrath of the Mommy bloggers wasn't considered something to worry about:

It’s no longer us screaming to be recognized. I no longer need to lift my shirt to demand breastfeeding gets respect. I no longer need to stomp my feet and be as snarky as possible when a company obviously has no clue how to engage mommybloggers.

For those who haven't seen it yet - here is the advertisement that caused all the trouble:

As a marketing professional, I would definitely say that the negative reaction to this is a pretty big deal and it should serve as a reminder to creative agencies to do their research before setting forth into the wild wild web.

With the rise of online organizing through back channel conversations on listservs, in combination with the open channel communication on blogs and Twitter, any misstep in terms of online advertising can severely affect a brand's online and off line presence - just one bad experience can be shared and multiplied in a matter of minutes resulting in some pretty difficult PR hurdles.

Additionally, while women make up 52% of the population, they also make 83% of all purchasing decisions. Thus, this is a backlash that will not only turn off moms - but also their husbands and families. The target audience was just not well-studied, and the language in the ad is pretty offensive considering the sensitivities at hand.

Like the rest of the ladies out there - I was frankly, "motrin-fied" at the advertisement. But, what's even more shocking is that there was a whole series of ads targeting the female psyche - another of which may have also "stepped" beyond the boundaries and could create a larger headache for Motrin in the long term.

Women In Tech: A Dying Breed?

by Jen Nedeau

Published November 17, 2008 @ 02:46PM PST

As I have stated previously - my experience in the technology field by proxy of my career in online marketing has taught me the most about the existing gender gap. The technology field serves as a unique microcosm of the women's rights movement and today the New York Times decided to take a stab at the subject of women in technology with their piece What Has Driven Women Out of Computer Science?

The article is helpful in the fact that it helps raise the conscious level about one of the last fields where women have yet to find parity with men. In this situation, it seems that the lack of females is not due to a lack of women studying technology - but a larger and more difficult reason to pin down - the fact that machismo tech culture is not welcoming to women - which is what discourages women from studying the field in the first place:

"When one looks at computer science in particular, however, the proportion of women has been falling. In 2001-2, only 28 percent of all undergraduate degrees in computer science went to women. By 2004-5, the number had declined to only 22 percent. Data collected by the Computing Research Association showed even fewer women at research universities like M.I.T.: women accounted for only 12 percent of undergraduate degrees in computer science and engineering in the United States and Canada granted in 2006-7 by Ph.D.-granting institutions, down from 19 percent in 2001-2. Many computer science departments report that women now make up less than 10 percent of the newest undergraduates."

Lately there has been a strategic effort by women in tech to try and get more female panelists at tech conferences, confront misogynistic attitudes and thwart the perpetuation of the boys club in technology. Some great pieces came out last week on these subjects: Huffington Post Mutes Women's Voices, Cracking the Boys Club, and Most Influential Women in Web 2.0. I encourage everyone to take a read and be enlightened as well as inspired about the current failings and successes when it comes to women in the tech field.

However, even though women are pushing the envelope and trying to create a conversation on the subject, there is still a lot of work to do. Take a look at this survey written by Sylvia Ann Hewlett about the female-to-male ratios in the technology field, titled Women and Technology: The Ugly Truth:

"Women, it turns out, are excelling in science, engineering, and technology (SET). In 2007, girls won both the Siemens and Intel science competitions and walked off with 53% of graduate degrees in the biological sciences. Despite the bias and barriers that continue to exist in our culture, a surprisingly large number of young women embark on careers in science.... This rosy picture is spoiled by one calamitous fact. A little ways down the road, more than half of these women drop out-pushed and shoved by macho work environments, serious isolation, and extreme job pressures."

Hewlett expands on her thesis in The Harvard Business Review, which reports that "Athena Factor survey data show that 41% of highly qualified scientists, engineers, and technologists on the lower rungs of corporate career ladders are female."

Yikes. According to Hewlett, in addition to fewer women entering the field, the women who are in the field don't feel welcome and also don't see a clear path for success? No wonder women in tech are becoming a dying breed.

In order to save women in tech from extinction, make sure to team up with other like minded ladies and join organizations where you can find success and support in the field such as these organizations:

• National Girls Collaborative Project
• DigiGirlz High Technology Camps
• Girls In Tech
• Women Who Tech

Is Voting Pro-Choice, Anti-Catholic?

by Jen Nedeau

Published November 16, 2008 @ 07:18PM PST

Upon the election of every Christian Democrat to the White House, the Catholic Church takes it upon itself to make a political statement out of religious beliefs. This year, with the election of Barack Obama, a Protestant who belongs to the United Church of Christ, the reaction is no different.

For those who have been reading the news, you are already aware of the scrutiny that President-elect Barack Obama has faced from Catholic bishops about his pro-choice political stances. They are even recommending that those who voted for him shouldn't be able to receive communion.

Here is an excerpt of the statement from the President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago:

The recent election was principally decided out of concern for the economy, for the loss of jobs and homes and financial security for families, here and around the world. If the election is misinterpreted ideologically as a referendum on abortion, the unity desired by President-elect Obama and all Americans at this moment of crisis will be impossible to achieve. Abortion kills not only unborn children; it destroys constitutional order and the common good, which is assured only when the life of every human being is legally protected. Aggressively pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans, and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion.

Interestingly, despite the strong views from the Church, over-half of Catholic voters supported Obama in this election. Planned Parenthood President, Cecile Richards wrote a compelling narrative about the situation:

While this may come as a surprise to Catholic bishops who are meeting this week to discuss the election, it is consistent with what we know about the attitudes of Catholic voters.

In a poll commissioned by Planned Parenthood last year, Catholic voters were asked to name their largest concerns around the issues of abortion and family planning.

The number-one response was that there are "too many unwanted children in America whose parents can't take care of them."

Second, they said government was too quick to interfere with people's personal lives and private decisions.

And third, government was not doing enough to provide education and resources to help people make responsible decisions about sexual behavior and pregnancy.

From these two narratives - when it comes to the Catholic vote - a question is presented about which entity could alienate their constituency more: an Obama Presidency or the Catholic Church.

If the Church keeps demanding that Obama criminalize abortion, could it turn away moderate Catholics from engaging with the Church? Or could Obama's support of pro-choice policies disengage those Catholics who voted for him, but still remain pro-life?

While the United States has the third largest Catholic population in the world after Brazil and Mexico, only one-fourth of Americans identify as Catholic. As a Catholic myself, I find it rather frustrating that the Church is still trying to legislate its policies into government. The separation of Church and State is something that I truly believe in for many reasons. One reason is because favoring a religious stance in government would be effectively discriminating against those who are atheist or of another religious creed. Just as I believe in equality for all human beings, I believe in the equal ability to practice your religion without government interference.

Editorial note 11.17.08: Title has been changed from "Is Being Pro-Choice, Anti-Catholic?" to "Is Voting Pro-Choice, Anti-Catholic?" as it seems to summarize the piece more effectively.

Friday Femme Fatale

by Jen Nedeau

Published November 15, 2008 @ 12:00AM PST

Some of the top stories from the past week include, but are not limited to:

A DNA Backlog by The New York Times, which says: "The measure was named for Debbie Smith, a Virginia rape victim whose assailant was finally apprehended on the basis of DNA evidence collected during the invasive exam she consented to following the attack — after her rape kit sat untested for six years. Sadly, despite tens of millions of dollar in federal grants, a significant backlog remains. When the new House and Senate take office in January, lawmakers need to address this ongoing insult to women and the intolerable loss for effective law enforcement."

Additionally, women in tech got a lot of praise this week with the Most Influential Women in Web 2.0., in addition to the piece by Allyson Kapin called Cracking the Boys Club: 10 Pioneers in Tech and Web 2.0.

In Kapin's commentary, she remarks:

Just last week Tech Evangelist Robert Scobel wrote a column about his favorite tech experts on Friend Feed. He featured everyone from Michael Arrington founder of TechCrunch to Steve Rubel, Director of Insights for Edelman Digital. Great choices, but sadly not a single woman made Scobel's list.

While there are plenty of successful women who have cracked the tech boys club, here is my list of Top 10 Pioneers in Tech and Web 2.0 that should make experts' future lists.

Finally, Tina Brown asks the question this week that has been on every woman's mind: Now that it’s all over, Sarah, who does look after the kids?

Investigating the "Demand" Side of Prostitution

by Dorothee Royal-Hedinger

Published November 13, 2008 @ 12:55PM PST

Recently, the idea of decriminalizing prostitution has come to the public's attention, especially with the recent discussion of Proposition K in San Francisco. Some activists want to make the industry legal because they believe it will protect the women involved, but others believe a solution lies in addressing the "demand" side of prostitution.

Rachel Durchslag, founder and director of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), is concerned that people don't pay enough attention to the men who buy women for sex. In the interview below, Rachel discusses her research and why she thinks it's crucial to the overall discussion of prostitution.

D: Why is the demand side of prostitution so important to look at?

R: In Chicago alone, 16,000-25,000 women and 6,500 youth are involved in prostitution each year. Studies have shown that substantial percentages of women in prostitution are homeless, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and often start selling sex at a very young age.

Many of these women also experience mental health and substance abuse issues that go untreated. These individuals face endemic amounts of violence including rape, being threatened with a weapon and physical abuse . They also face a variety of health problems resulting from this violence including migraines, memory problems, sleeplessness, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and loss of appetite. These problems add further complications to physical health problems associated with prostitution such as suffering from sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.

Research consistently concludes that the institution of prostitution is violent and detrimental to those involved. Yet men continue to prey on the vulnerabilities of individuals in the sex trade, often without knowledge of how their actions negatively impact the individuals they are viewing as commodities. It is precisely this mentality of looking at an individual in prostitution as an object for purchase, rather than a human being, that contributes to customers being the most frequently identified perpetrators of violence across all types of prostitution.

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