LONG BEACH, Calif. (Oct. 27,2008)--The Economists' Policy Group for Women's Issues gave a progress report on how well Barack Obama and John McCain are addressing the 10 issues they feel are most important to women, on Thursday.
The issues ranged in topics from health care to poverty.
The EPGWI was formed in 1992 and are committed to evaluating presidential candidates on how they address issues considered to be major concerns for women, according to their Web site.
In the evaluation McCain trailed significantly behind Obama in every category. Earning a failing grade in both pay and employment equity and reproductive rights.
Women and children are going to be the hardest hit by the current recession because they already account for the majority of U.S. citizens living in poverty,the EPGWI said on their Web site, that is why it is important to look at how these candidates are planning on helping American women.
Neither candidates did outstanding, but Obama received a B overall, while McCain averaged out at a D.
Related article: Economists Grade McCain and Obama on Issues ‘Vital to Women’.
This article was published online by Grace L. Williams for the Wall Street Journal. It goes more in depth into were the EPGWI got their information, and how they feel about the presidential candidates.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Suicide rates increase for women
LONG BEACH, Calif. (Oct. 27,2008)--A 2005 study shows that suicide rates for middle-aged white women have increased significantly over the past decade.
The report by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health found that suicide rates overall have increased for the first time since 1999.
Traditionally self help groups have targeted teens and elderly males who have previously held the highest rates of suicide, but now the research shows that a new group has rates on the rise, according to Johns Hopkins Web site.
There has been no explanation by the institute for this change, but they did say that the rise in mid-life crisis' could be a factor in the statistics.
The report by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health found that suicide rates overall have increased for the first time since 1999.
Traditionally self help groups have targeted teens and elderly males who have previously held the highest rates of suicide, but now the research shows that a new group has rates on the rise, according to Johns Hopkins Web site.
There has been no explanation by the institute for this change, but they did say that the rise in mid-life crisis' could be a factor in the statistics.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Domestic violence month at CSULB criticized by faculty
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Originally uploaded by heraldpost
One expert suggests prevention is key in stopping the violence.
LONG BEACH, Calif. (Oct. 26,2008)--Clotheslines cluttered with hanging T-shirts crowded the lawn space in front of the 49er Bookstore at Cal State Long Beach last week. The shirts which appear to be drying laundry, tell the stories of domestic violence victims.
This exhibit is only part of a month long attempt by the Women's Resource Center to bring awareness and give students a forum to discuss and learn about domestic violence, according to the calender of events posted on the WRC Web site.
While candle light vigils and clotheslined shirts put a face on domestic violence victims, women's studies teacher, Shira Tarrant, said that the impact of these programs fall short of her hopes.
" Because men are responsible for 95 percent of assaults", Tarrant said, "the best way to prevent sexual assault is to rethink masculinity."
Awareness is important but more focus needs to be put towards prevention, Tarrant said. Men are the prominent perpetrators so it makes sense to get them involved, she added.
The exhibits will continue for the remainder of the month, for a calender of events click HERE.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Women's Conference suggests glass ceiling is finally broken
A recent article for the Daily 49er said that one theme of the 2008 Women's Conference, hosted by Maria Shriver, was the glass ceiling.
Indra Nooyi, chief executive officer of PepsiCo and Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice both spoke out saying that the glass ceiling is now breakable for women.
This is encouraging news to females nationwide. Up to this point I was beginning to worry that women would never completely rise above the discrimination in the work place.
However, I am still not sold.
During my interview with Shira Tarrant, she explained that there are no legal barriers creating inequality in the workplace, but that doesn't mean things are equal.
Bottom line is that women are still earning less then men, according to Tarrant. She explained to me that you have to tease the data out before you can clearly understand trends.
Women enter education and the workforce equal with men, but as you look at the higher paying jobs, that is where you see the absence of women.
Rice and Nooyi both said the ceiling was able to be shattered, but still put emphasis on the fact that it still exists.
Their solution to the problem was a greater investment in higher education and positive mentors.
To read the full article click Women breaking through the glass ceiling.
Related article: The Press- Telegram also featured an article online that talked about the convention and its emphasis on the glass ceiling.
Indra Nooyi, chief executive officer of PepsiCo and Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice both spoke out saying that the glass ceiling is now breakable for women.
This is encouraging news to females nationwide. Up to this point I was beginning to worry that women would never completely rise above the discrimination in the work place.
However, I am still not sold.
During my interview with Shira Tarrant, she explained that there are no legal barriers creating inequality in the workplace, but that doesn't mean things are equal.
Bottom line is that women are still earning less then men, according to Tarrant. She explained to me that you have to tease the data out before you can clearly understand trends.
Women enter education and the workforce equal with men, but as you look at the higher paying jobs, that is where you see the absence of women.
Rice and Nooyi both said the ceiling was able to be shattered, but still put emphasis on the fact that it still exists.
Their solution to the problem was a greater investment in higher education and positive mentors.
To read the full article click Women breaking through the glass ceiling.
Related article: The Press- Telegram also featured an article online that talked about the convention and its emphasis on the glass ceiling.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Questions raised if higher education leads to a future
Female students go to school, study hard and pass their classes, all with hopes that their dedication will pay off by landing them a good job after graduation. However, is this labor all in vain?
With the economy failing how realistic is it that women college graduates will land jobs? In one report by Amy Cox, a writer of RAND, it was projected that women will fare well in the new economy. Cox wrote that Caucasian and Asian women will do the best in our economy, while Latinos and Native American women will do the worse. This is due to the fact that Caucasian and Asian women tend to reach higher levels of education, Cox said.
So, maybe an education does help females. The report by Cox was leaving me hopeful.
However, the report was not all good news. Men are still faring better then women in the economy, Cox said. Men still hold more jobs and higher pay, so, although women have come a long way in the past few decades, there are still equalities in the workplace, Cox said.
To get to the bottom of this issue I decided to call the head of the Economics department at Cal State Long Beach, Joseph P. Magaddino. Magaddino specializes in the forecast of southern California's economy. I called Magaddino on Monday for an interview, but have heard no reply.
With the economy failing how realistic is it that women college graduates will land jobs? In one report by Amy Cox, a writer of RAND, it was projected that women will fare well in the new economy. Cox wrote that Caucasian and Asian women will do the best in our economy, while Latinos and Native American women will do the worse. This is due to the fact that Caucasian and Asian women tend to reach higher levels of education, Cox said.
So, maybe an education does help females. The report by Cox was leaving me hopeful.
However, the report was not all good news. Men are still faring better then women in the economy, Cox said. Men still hold more jobs and higher pay, so, although women have come a long way in the past few decades, there are still equalities in the workplace, Cox said.
To get to the bottom of this issue I decided to call the head of the Economics department at Cal State Long Beach, Joseph P. Magaddino. Magaddino specializes in the forecast of southern California's economy. I called Magaddino on Monday for an interview, but have heard no reply.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
El Nido offers support for pregnant students
The lack of support for pregnant college students has become a concern for many women attending public universities, according to an article by a Sandy Banks writer of the Los Angeles Times. One California organization, El Nido, is taking matters into their own hands.
El Nido has offered almost 200 scholarships over the past 16 years to women struggling to both stay in school and be a mother, Banks wrote.
Even though the scholarships are only $1000, Banks article said, support is what the organization is really trying to provide. Around 60 percent of pregnant teens drop out of school and El Nido is trying to encourage young women they have other options.
To read the full article click HERE.
El Nido has offered almost 200 scholarships over the past 16 years to women struggling to both stay in school and be a mother, Banks wrote.
Even though the scholarships are only $1000, Banks article said, support is what the organization is really trying to provide. Around 60 percent of pregnant teens drop out of school and El Nido is trying to encourage young women they have other options.
To read the full article click HERE.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Cultures Clash on Methods of Child Rearing
LONG BEACH, Calif. (Oct. 4, 2008)--At the age of 25, Christie Kuo, an obedient Chinese daughter, said goodbye to her home country, Taiwan, to follow her parents dream of freedom and material wealth in America.
Even though it was not Kuo’s choice to come to the United States in Taiwan parents, “Can ask their children to do whatever they want, for a lifetime," she said. "My family all decided to move to the U.S. so I had to go with them."
Once in America, Kuo met her husband, Mike Luo, who’s upbringing was similar to her own and started a family. Together they have two children, Emily and Jordan.
Kuo’s Chinese roots have taught her the tradition of obeying your elders at all times, no matter the situation, a strict rule that she sees diminishing in her own family, she said.
In America, parents and children view each other as friends and children are not expected to obey blindly to their parents Kuo said. She also said she believes that her kids fall somewhere in between these two systems.
"They are not as extreme as American Americans,” but they instead benefit from being influenced by both cultures, Kuo said about her relationship with her children.
Kuo explained that her children were brought up in American schools and society, so even though at home they still practice Chinese tradition, other factors affect the way they treat their parents.
Though she left Taiwan long ago, Kuo still keeps many traditions alive in her household today. Cuisine from Taiwan is still cooked regularly and Chinese holiday’s are celebrated each year, she said. So ,even though parts of her strict Chinese upbringing have not survived in America, she said that her family benefits from the “good sides of both cultures.”
For more information e-mail cwomenstudies@aol.com.
Even though it was not Kuo’s choice to come to the United States in Taiwan parents, “Can ask their children to do whatever they want, for a lifetime," she said. "My family all decided to move to the U.S. so I had to go with them."
Once in America, Kuo met her husband, Mike Luo, who’s upbringing was similar to her own and started a family. Together they have two children, Emily and Jordan.
Kuo’s Chinese roots have taught her the tradition of obeying your elders at all times, no matter the situation, a strict rule that she sees diminishing in her own family, she said.
In America, parents and children view each other as friends and children are not expected to obey blindly to their parents Kuo said. She also said she believes that her kids fall somewhere in between these two systems.
"They are not as extreme as American Americans,” but they instead benefit from being influenced by both cultures, Kuo said about her relationship with her children.
Kuo explained that her children were brought up in American schools and society, so even though at home they still practice Chinese tradition, other factors affect the way they treat their parents.
Though she left Taiwan long ago, Kuo still keeps many traditions alive in her household today. Cuisine from Taiwan is still cooked regularly and Chinese holiday’s are celebrated each year, she said. So ,even though parts of her strict Chinese upbringing have not survived in America, she said that her family benefits from the “good sides of both cultures.”
For more information e-mail cwomenstudies@aol.com.
Three major concerns
The list of issues at major public universities that revolve around women are endless I have come to discover, but I have finally narrowed down that long list to a few that I have seen pop up more often than the rest.
Decreasing numbers of female computer-science majors, the lack of support for student mothers and the growing gap of female-to-male ratio in the classroom are the most current concerns involving women at large public universities in the United States, according to an academic database search through the Cal State University Library.
For additional information concerning these topics. e-mail Katrina Kobzeff at cwomenstudies@aol.com.
Decreasing numbers of female computer-science majors, the lack of support for student mothers and the growing gap of female-to-male ratio in the classroom are the most current concerns involving women at large public universities in the United States, according to an academic database search through the Cal State University Library.
For additional information concerning these topics. e-mail Katrina Kobzeff at cwomenstudies@aol.com.
Friday, October 3, 2008
More discouraging news on the gender gap
While doing some research I came across some significant facts addressing the gender gap between men and women.
An anonymous writer of NEWSWATCH wrote an article on a study titled, "Pay Inequities for Recently Hired Faculty, 1988-2004." During this time it was calculated that women were payed less then men in all academic careers and that women suffer a 5 percent salary decrease in all sectors of education, the article said. Women who work at research universities take a 9 percent cut compared to men, according to the study.
I found this information very compelling. Although it didn't show that women take a pay cut in all fields of work, it did prove that inequality does exist. All these facts are very discouraging to up and coming women college graduates. One can only hope that the future holds change. Maybe the next study will show society has finally closed the gender gap!
An anonymous writer of NEWSWATCH wrote an article on a study titled, "Pay Inequities for Recently Hired Faculty, 1988-2004." During this time it was calculated that women were payed less then men in all academic careers and that women suffer a 5 percent salary decrease in all sectors of education, the article said. Women who work at research universities take a 9 percent cut compared to men, according to the study.
I found this information very compelling. Although it didn't show that women take a pay cut in all fields of work, it did prove that inequality does exist. All these facts are very discouraging to up and coming women college graduates. One can only hope that the future holds change. Maybe the next study will show society has finally closed the gender gap!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
