Women in the News

June 25, 2010—Mother Jones Depression, Abuse, Suicide: Fishermen's Wives Face Post-Spill Trauma by Mac McClelland http://motherjones.com/rights-stuff/2010/06/louisiana-fishermen-suicide-depression-abuse Synopsis: This article looks at the way that the combined devastation of the oil spill and the long-lasting results of hurricane Katrina are affecting women in the Gulf. While many receive food stamps, they are useless for buying necessary toiletries. In Bayou La Batre, Alabama the mayor says that there have been 320% more incidents of domestic violence since the oil spill and child abuse calls are also on the rise. Because many people were never able to fully recover from hurricane Katrina the effects of the oil spill are hitting them twice as hard.    June 28, 2010—Huffington Post More Women Executives: It's Time for a Different Approach by Marcia Reynolds http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcia-reynolds/more-women-executives-its_b_626675.html Synopsis: Reports have shown that companies with a more gender balanced leadership do better, so why aren’t there more women in high-paying leadership positions? This article suggests that in order to increase the number of women in leadership positions we need to talk to the shareholders of the company. They are the ones investing their money and if they knew that companies with more women leaders typically do better financially, they would likely be willing to stand up and demand more women in higher positions.    June 22, 2010—Her•meneutics Q+A: Selling Girls on Craigslist by Davita Maharaj http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/2010/06/qa_selling_girls_on_craigslist.html Synopsis: An interview with Malika Saada Saar, who founded the Rebecca Project for Human Rights, highlights major issues with the “adult services” section of Craigslist. Many of the women listed in this section are minors forced into prostitution. Craigslist is often favored by those looking for prostitutes because it is discrete and is not surrounded by the same stigma of many other websites of this nature. The Rebecca Project works on policy reform to ensure that women and girls are protected from violence.    June 21, 2010—Politics Daily Feminists' Job One: Electing More Women to Office by Sandra Fish http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/18/feminists-job-one-electing-more-women-to-office/ Synopsis: In 1916 Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to Congress and almost 100 years later women still only make up 17 percent of Congress, despite accounting for almost 51 percent of the U.S. population. Sandra Fish argues that regardless of their politics, more women need to be elected to office. The trainings provided by The White House Project are encouraging women to run for office in any and every capacity; from local school boards to the U.S. Presidency. Hopefully their efforts will soon result in an equal representation of women in Congress.    June 21, 2010—Change.org Buy an iPad, Fund Rape and Violence in the Congo? by Alex DiBranco http://womensrights.change.org/blog/view/buy_an_ipad_fund_rape_and_violence_in_the_congo Synopsis: Materials used to make electronics like ipods and the ipad are used to fund organized armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As a tool of war many of these groups are raping women. While many companies have taken steps to ensure that their products are conflict-free, Apple is not one of them.    June 18, 2010—MomsRising.org Who Needs More Women in Government? Dads. by Erin Cutraro http://www.momsrising.org/blog/who-needs-more-women-in-government-dads/ Synopsis: More women in government would likely mean better policies for all parents. In 1993, when the number of women in Congress doubled to over 10%, women helped write and pass more laws benefiting the family than in any previous year. Today, women make up just 17% of Congress and much work still needs to be done to help benefit families in our country.    June 17, 2010—IPS Muslim Women Explore Opportunity in Non-Traditional Fields by Ranjita Biswas http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51854 Synopsis: More Muslim women in India are learning computer technology and starting their paths towards independent careers. Swayam, city-based NGO advocating women's rights, offers short term classes that teach women (ranging in age from 16-28) how to use computer programs such as Desktop Publishing, Adobe, PageMaker, and Photoshop. These young women are enthusiastic and determined to continue their education and hopefully have their own careers; they no longer see marriage and homemaking as their only paths in life.    June 14, 2010—Newsweek If It's Sunday, It's More Men in Dark Suits by Jessica Bennett http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-gaggle/2010/06/14/if-it-s-sunday-it-s-more-men-in-dark-suits.html# Synopsis: An overwhelming number of the voices we hear in the media are men's. This article gives statistics for the number or percentage of women in multiple news outlets and the results are quite shocking. For instance, even though women have been outnumbering men in journalism majors since 1977, the ratio of male to female bylines is 7:1. Even though NPR has a CEO, head of news department and three out of five hosts who are all women, only 26 percent of the people they paid to appear on air in 2009 were women.    June 8, 2010—Legal News Supermodel joins Assam women to create lifestyle products by IANS http://blog.taragana.com/law/2010/06/08/supermodel-joins-assam-women-to-create-lifestyle-products-22850/ Synopsis: Bodo women in India are learning new ways to be economically independent from former supermodel and fashion designer Bibi Russell. These women are a part of Weaving Destination project and are learning new design techniques that will allow them to create their own line of clothes that incorporate traditional Bodo motifs. The garments they are making will be used by them individually as well as used industrially. Through this program the women are learning to support themselves and their families as well as gain more self-worth.    June 8, 2010—The Washington Post Health-care law improves insurance coverage for pregnant women and new mothers by Michelle Andrews http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/07/AR2010060703188.html Synopsis: New changes in health care will provide more coverage to pregnant women. Some of these changes include: providing preventative care at no cost to the patient, paid time off to express breast milk in a place that is not a bathroom, and pregnancy assistance funds. Though these changes will likely not kick in until 2014, they will result in better health for both mothers and children.    June 7, 2010—The Huffington Post Women and Philanthropy By Tabby Biddle http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tabby-biddle/women-and-philanthropy_b_601522.html Synopsis: The idea that men donate more money to charity than women is a myth, and this article provides great evidence as to why. As women are gaining more education and economic power they are also growing as philanthropists. It has also been shown that creating economic stability for women and girls will improve the lives of those around them as well. If a woman is economically stable and self-sufficient, then her children will likely be as well. Women philanthropists donating to other women will create a better world for us all.    June 7, 2010—National Women's Law Center (womenstake.org) New Data Show Senate Must Act to Protect Jobs for Women (Not Tax Loopholes for Investment Managers) By Joan Entmacher, Vice President for Family Economic Security, National Women's Law Center http://www.womenstake.org/2010/06/new-data-show-senate-must-act-to-protect-jobs-for-women-not-tax-loopholes-for-investment-managers.html Synopsis: While national unemployment rates were at 9.7 percent in May, many women are facing even higher rates of unemployment. Unemployment rates are over 10 percent for both Black and Hispanic women. Women who head families are experiencing unemployment rates of 11.6 percent.    June 4, 2010—Time Women's Cricket: Afghanistan's Secretive New Sport By Abigail Hauslohner http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1993442,00.html Synopsis: Since 2002 women's teams in Afghanistan have been registered to play in over 21 sports. The latest sport to gain a women's team is cricket which has gained tremendous popularity in Afghanistan in recent years. Though the team faces many challenges such as only having the whole team available to practice in the same city once a month, having to find a practice field that shielded the women from the view of outsiders, difficulty getting sponsorship from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (due more to issues of race than gender), and funding issues, the women are determined to make a name for themselves.    May 31, 2010—Winnipeg Sun News Canada Feds fund 'quit smoking' programs for Inuit By Christina Spencer http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/canada/2010/05/31/14200881.html Synopsis: In Canada, $350,000 in federal funding will go to programs to help expectant mothers, and others in the Inuit community, stop smoking. Women and girls in Nunavut are almost three times as likely to smoke as other Canadians. Part of the reason for this higher rate is the peer pressure felt in such small communities as well as the harsh winters which result in many more people smoking inside and therefore exposing those around them to secondhand smoke. These programs will benefit the health of many women and girls in the area.    May 31, 2010—Global Geopolitics & Political Economy PAKISTAN: Women Intensify Push to Pass Law Against Acid Attacks By Zofeen Ebrahim http://globalgeopolitics.net/wordpress/2010/05/31/pakistan-women-intensify-push-to-pass-law-against-acid-attacks/ Synopsis: In Pakistan new laws are being written to hopefully protect women from all too common acid attacks. In the southern part of Punjab, acid is used in the cotton industry and costs about 23 U.S. cents per liter. The Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) is working with three women parliamentarians to make existing laws against violence stronger. However, the new laws should also include men because they account for approximately 39% of victims. In 2009 there were 48 recorded acid attacks, up from 30 in 2007.    May 29, 2010—Health News Digest Women Find A Way To Pay For Care At Home By Staff Editor http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Women_s_Health_260/Women_Find_A_Way_To_Pay_For_Care_At_Home.shtml Synopsis: Many Americans are now considering long-term care insurance. Long-term care may be especially important among women who make up more than 70% of the nursing home population, though long-term care may be needed at any age. Additionally, women are usually the ones to take care of other family members, particularly elderly relatives.    May 29, 2010—New York Times In Camouflage or Veil, a Fragile Bond By Elisabeth Bumiller http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/world/asia/30marines.html Synopsis: Women in the US Marines now have a new mission in Afghanistan: talk to the women of Afghanistan. These women are part of "female engagement teams" that work closely with women in Afghanistan to diagnose medical ailments and to make them feel more comfortable with the Americans who are there. Since many women in Afghanistan refuse to be seen by male US marines with medical training, the female engagement teams are filling a vital gap.

May 28, 2010—The Globe and Mail G8 warned of 'moral betrayal' over AIDS funding By Geoffrey York http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/g8-warned-of-moral-betrayal-over-aids-funding/article1583868/ Synopsis: While the G8 may be focusing more on maternal health this year, they may be forgetting about the high number of women who must deal with HIV/AIDS. One analyst said that donors may be losing interest in funding the fight against AIDS. Reduced funding means that people in poor countries may not have access to medication that they need to survive. In countries with high rates of HIV/AIDS, maternal health will only be assured once women have the tools to fight this disease.    May 27, 2010—Ventura County Star United Women's Leadership Council awards funding for housing to Casa Pacifica Contributed by a member of the Ventura community http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/may/27/united-womens-leadership-council-awards-funding-fo/ Synopsis: In Ventura County, California young women who have been emancipated from foster care may now receive transitional housing from a partnership of Casa Pacifica and the California Youth Connection. The program will allow for subsidized housing for 8 women as well as training in money management, health care, employment opportunities and enrollment in college courses.    May 27, 2010—Women’s Radio Haitian Women Regroup, Rebuild by Women's eNews Contributors http://www.womensradio.com/articles/Haitian-Women-Regroup,-Rebuild/5245.html Synopsis: Amidst the reconstruction in Haiti, women are adding their voices. The rebuilding of urban spaces will now include design features that will help keep women safe such as places for women to meet and well-lit streets. Work is also being done to keep women safe on the streets and in the camps for those who have lost their homes in the earthquake. The goal is to create opportunities for women and girls at every level once Haiti has been reconstructed.    May 26, 2010—Winnipeg Free Press G8 must move quickly to improve women's and children's health, science groups say by The Canadian Press http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/life/health/g8-must-move-quickly-to-improve-womens-and-childrens-health-science-groups-say-94955909.html Synopsis: Scientists are urging leaders of G8 countries to increase funding for initiatives that improve the health of mothers and children. According to this group, increased access to contraception and the reduction of unsafe abortions could prevent up to 40% of maternal and infant deaths. The goal is to reduce maternal mortality rates by three-quarters and infant mortality rates by two-thirds by 2015.    May 25, 2010—Inter Press Service Making Latin America's Cities Women-Friendly by Marcela Valente http://www.globalissues.org/news/2010/05/25/5734 Synopsis: Women in Rosario, Argentina are taking a stand against street harassment. Rosario is just one of the cities in the region taking part in "Cities without Violence against Women, Safe Cities for all". Women are proclaiming that they have the right to feel safe in the streets, just as they have the right to feel safe in their own homes. Campaigns are now underway to eradicate sexual harassment on public transportation and plazas around the city are being cleaned up and turned in to playgrounds for children and safe spaces for women as well as men.    May 25, 2010—Kansas City infoZine Low-income Women Learn Skills for Green Jobs by Desmond L. Marshall http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/41300/ Synopsis: A program in Washington D.C. is training women for work in green jobs that will help improve our environment. The training and subsequent employment in this area can help women out of poverty as well. Renee Owens last worked as a waitress and was then unemployed for over a year. With this new training she is working with a cement company and making $14 per hour. The program is run by Wider Opportunities for Women which works nationally and in the D.C. area to improve economic opportunities for women.    May 24, 2010—IRIN Global GLOBAL: Women UN peacekeepers - more needed http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89194 Synopsis: More women are now included in UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, mostly in Police units but in military units as well. One of the reasons for increasing the number of women in these groups is that it creates a safer space for women and girls who have been sexually assaulted and may also encourage victims to report their assaults. The UN is hoping to increase the number of women who are sent into military troops from multiple countries. Formed Police Units that consist entirely of women seem to have a lasting effect on the people, and especially women, that they protect.    May 24, 2010—VOA News Funding Women's Empowerment http://www1.voanews.com/policy/editorials/Funding-Womens-Empowerment-92999914.html?refresh=1 Synopsis: U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has announced four new programs to support women around the world who wish to build their own businesses. These programs include pairing women from Muslim majority countries with American women for technology training, looking at policies worldwide, grants to two projects that improve the lives of women and girls, and the launch of the Secretary’s International Fund for Women and Girls which will give grants to non-governmental organizations that provide solutions to multiple issues around the world. Hopefully, these new programs will increase the chances of women around the world to be able to fund their own businesses.    May 21, 2010—The American Prospect Women Fight for the Gulf Coast by Monica Potts http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=women_fight_for_the_gulf_coast Synopsis: After hurricane Katrina a group called Coastal Women for Change was created to give the community of East Biloxi, Mississippi a stronger voice. Now this group is speaking out about the oil spill in the Gulf coast and what needs to be done. The oil spill is hindering businesses that rely the Gulf of Mexico and community members are having to prepare for hurricane season as well.    May 20, 2010—ABC: The Drum Unleashed Born HIV free by 2015 by Carla Bruni-Sarkozy http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2904571.htm Synopsis: "In large parts of the world, the face of AIDS is a woman's face." Throughout the world there are still many people who must live with HIV/AIDS and for those in developing countries there is not always adequate care. In the last year more than 400,000 children were born with HIV. The Born HIV Free by 2010 campaign is hoping to ensure that in the next five years there will be no more children who are born with this disease.    May 19th, 2010—The Beltline Bike Shop New ways to prevent child prostitution by Rev. D. Scott Weimer Street http://beltlinebikeshop.com/2010/05/19/new-ways-to-prevent-child-prostitution/ Synopsis: Though progress has been made to end child prostitution and sex trafficking, the problem still exists. In February 2010 as many as 500 girls were victims of some form of commercial sexual exploitation, which is double the number from August of 2007. The author urges internet sites like Craigslist, hotels, airlines, and other businesses to take notice of this problem and do their part to stop it.    May 11, 2010—Voice of America Many Maternal, Infant Deaths Preventable Using Low-Tech Methods by Carol Pearson http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Millions-of-Women-in-Childbirth-Newborns-Dying-93406689.html Synopsis: A million women still die every year in childbirth. In addition, three and a half million newborns die within the first 30 days of life. There's an effort by the World Health Organization to save these lives with proven maternal and childcare techniques by 2015. They have targeted 68 countries with the highest maternal, infant and child deaths. Most of these countries are in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.    May 11, 2010—EthiopianReview.com The Walmart Foundation to Increase Women's Development Partnership with CARE to $3 Million http://www.ethiopianreview.com/news/104616 Synopsis: Globally, women make up 70 percent of the one billion people living on less than a dollar a day, work two-thirds of the working hours, produce half of the world’s food, yet earn only 10 percent of the world’s income and own less than 1 percent of the world’s property. The Walmart Foundation announced plans to increase its women’s development partnership with CARE to $3 million. The funding will empower women in Peru, Bangladesh, and India by developing new skills and creating new opportunities through education, literacy and job training programs in agriculture and factory settings.    April 18, 2010—New York Times Technology Out of the Loop in Silicon Valley by Claire Cain Miller http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/technology/18women.html?emc=eta1 Synopsis: Though the world of technology normally moves quite fast, there is still some catching up to do in regards to including women and people of color in this field. In the current economy, many investors do not want to deviate from a well tested template and often this template does not include women entrepreneurs. On top of that there are fewer women in the fields of technology and engineering to act as role models for women who want to start their own companies in these fields. As more women become active and accepted in these fields they will serve as role models to the next generation and hopefully these barriers will soon be broken.    April 16, 2010—Devex Career Advice from the Global Fund for Women's CEO by Jemila Abdulai http://www.devex.com/articles/career-advice-from-the-global-fund-for-women-s-ceo Synopsis: Does being genuinely interested in international development guarantee you success in the field? Not unless you have a repertoire of well-honed, must-have skills to complement that passion. These must-have skills are having command of a language other than your own, having a good knowledge of geography and history, and lastly having a very solid understanding of the way the current economic system works.    April 15, 2010—The Irish Times McAleese launches women's fund by Fiona Gartland http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0415/1224268372322.html Additional Blog: http://thepowerofthepurse.blogspot.com/2010/04/mary-mcaleese-president-of-ireland.html Synopsis: Irish President Mary McAleese launched a new Women's Fund stating that she was heartened to learn of the establishment of the Women’s Fund for Ireland and believed women would play an increasingly prominent role as philanthropic funders. Tina Roche, chief executive of CFI, which matches donors with charities or community groups, pledged €100,000 on behalf of her organisation to begin the fund, which they hope to grow to €10 million. She said there are only 200 women’s funds worldwide and there was clearly a need for funding specifically for women.