Women with Opinions

It all adds up.

Melissa Harris-Perry on equal pay

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

 

David Cay Johnston on Equal Pay for Women

 

Eric Schneiderman, my hero

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

 

Rochester NOW Chapter presents at GeoFest-RACSS Conference 2011

The Greater Rochester Chapter of NOW was asked to organize a workshop to be presented at the annual conference of the New York Geographic Alliance and the Rochester Area Council for the Social Studies.  Our topic was "Challenges Facing Today's Women."  The conference was held on Saturday at Monroe Community College.

We focused on the six  issues that the National Organization for Women considers the most pressing for women today.  I discussed the ongoing efforts to finally ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. NOW member Alberta Roesser addressed the issue of Economic Justice.  KaeLyn Rich, Director of the Genesee Valley Chapter of the NY Civil Liberties Union, took on the issue of Reproductive Rights.  Rosanne Fabi, who is active in the Anti-Racism Coalition at Spiritus Christi Church in Rochester, talked about Racism.  Anne Tischer, founder of Equality Rochester, discussed Lesbian Rights, and NOW member Carole Hoffman tackled Violence Against Women.  Carole is the NOW representation on the Rochester/Monroe County Violence Against Women Consortium.    

 

Terry O'Neill on Democracy NOW!

NOW President delivers petition to member of House of Representatives

 

Rochester's Women Giving Circle

This past week the Rochester Women's Giving Circle announced that it gave 7 Rochester area organizations $55,000 in grants. These grants will impact over 850 Rochester women and girls. As a member I give the Circle $1,000 each year. This money then goes out to grants. No growing an endowment. Your money has an immediate impact.  Look into it.

The grant recipients were:

AAUW - Girls Taking Charge.  $8,000 for a mentoring program that helps girls stay in high school with the ultimate goal being attending college.

Ausangate's WOW Program.  $10,000 for Opportunities for Women which gives women in drug/alcohol recovery job training in a coffee shop. Stop in at 681 South Ave. not only for great coffee but to support this wonderful program.

Women Deserve Equal Pay

Tomorrow is Equal Pay Day - the day women work four months into 2009 to make the same amount as men make in 2008. Join me in an Equal Pay Day protest:

Tuesday, April 28, 5 - 6 pm
200 block of East Ave. (across from Spot Cafe)

Women, on the average, earn 78 cents to every $1.00 earned by men. (2007) It is even worse for women of color - African American women earn only 69 cents and Latinas just 59 cents.

A wage disparity exists even when controlling for women's education levels or life choices.

If women were paid equal to men, each woman would earn approximately $210,000 in additional income over her working life. That's a lot of money. This is a serious topic.

See NOW's Equal Pay Fact Sheet for more information.