(Speech excerpt) The Women’s Movement: Where It’s Been, Where It’s At, Where It’s Going
by Sonia Pressman Fuentes, Co-founder of National Organization for Women (NOW) and Federally Employed Women, and author of “Eat First–You Don’t Know What They’ll Give You, The Adventures of an Immigrant Family and Their Feminist Daughter”
Longboat Key Education Center, In Commemoration of Women’s History Month
Longboat Key, FL
March 3, 2015
Excerpt (Surrogacy, no. 19):
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, SOMEONE SAYS TO ME, “HOW COME YOU’RE STILL WORKING ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS? HASN’T THAT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF?” MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE ACHIEVED ALL THEIR GOALS—BUT THAT IS VERY FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
THERE ARE MANY ISSUES THAT REMAIN FOR US TO DEAL WITH AND MANY OF THEM ARE INTERRELATED. I’LL JUST ENUMERATE AND SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT TWENTY OF THEM, BUT THIS LIST IS BY NO MEANS EXHAUSTIVE.
1. POVERTY, HUNGER, AND HOMELESSNESS.
POVERTY IS A WOMEN’S ISSUE. IN 2013:
- NEARLY SIX IN TEN POOR ADULTS WERE WOMEN,
- MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF POOR OLDER ADULTS (SIXTY-FIVE AND OLDER) WER WOMEN, AND
- NEARLY SIX IN TEN POOR CHILDREN LIVED IN FAMILIES HEADED BY WOMEN.
POVERTY RATES ARE ESPECIALLY HIGH FOR SINGLE MOTHERS, WOMEN OF COLOR, AND ELDERLY WOMEN LIVING ALONE.
IN FLORIDA, ABOUT SIX IN TEN MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS ARE WOMEN, AND THE MINIMUM WAGE IS $8.50.
14.5 PERCENT OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS STRUGGLE TO PUT ENOUGH FOOD ON THE TABLE. MORE THAN FORTY-EIGHT MILLION AMERICANS–INCLUDING 15.9 MILLION CHILDREN–LIVE IN THESE HOUSEHOLDS.
MORE THAN ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN IS AT RISK OF HUNGER. AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS AND HISPANICS, NEARLY ONE IN THREE CHILDREN IS AT RISK OF HUNGER.
ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENTS OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION IS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. FAMILIES NOW MAKE UP 40 PERCENT OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION, AND ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR HOMELESS PEOPLE IS A CHILD.
2. THE CONTINUING GENDER WAGE AND SALARY GAP. BASED ON STATISTICS RELEASED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE LAST WEEK BASED ON U.S. CENSUS FIGURES, THE MEDIAN EARNINGS OF WOMEN WHO WERE FULL-TIME WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS IN 2013 WERE 78 PERCENT THAT OF MEN. WHILE OCCUPATIONAL CHOICE ACCOUNTS FOR SOME OF THIS GAP, STUDIES SHOW WOMEN EARN LESS THAN MEN EVEN IN THE SAME OCCUPATIONS.
IF THE PACE OF CHANGE IN THE ANNUAL EARNINGS RATIO CONTINUES AT THE SAME RATE AS IT HAS SINCE 1960, IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER FORTY-THREE YEARS, UNTIL 2058, FOR MEN AND WOMEN TO REACH PARITY.
CONGRESS HAS SO FAR FAILED TO PASS TWO BILLS AIMED AT CLOSING THE WAGE GAP: THE FAIR PAY ACT AND THE PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT.
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014, THE INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN’S POLICY RESEARCH GRADED EACH STATE ON WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS. THE GRADES TOOK INTO ACCOUNT FOUR FACTORS:
- WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN THE LABOR FORCE,
- MEDIAN ANNUAL EARNINGS FOR WOMEN,
- THE EARNINGS RATIO BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN, AND
- THE PERCENT OF WOMEN IN MANAGERIAL OR PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS.
FLORIDA RECEIVED A C TO C- GRADE.
3. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION RELEASED THE RESULTS OF A 2011 SURVEY THAT SHOWED THAT AN ESTIMATED 19.3% OF WOMEN HAVE BEEN RAPED AT ONE POINT IN THEIR LIVES–ALMOST ONE OUT OF FIVE WOMEN.
A MAJORITY OF SEX CRIMES, WHETHER RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR NON-CONSENSUAL SEXUAL CONTACT, WERE COMMITTED BY SOMEONE THE WOMEN KNEW–WHETHER AN INTIMATE PARTNER OR AN ACQUAINTANCE.
SEXUAL ASSAULT IS RAMPANT ON CAMPUSES AND COLLEGES HAVE FAILED TO RESPOND ADEQUATELY. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ONE IN FIVE UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN WILL HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL ASSAULT BY THE TIME SHE GRADUATES, BUT FEWER THAN 5% OF RAPE VICTIMS REPORT THE ASSAULTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
ON JANUARY 22, 2014, PRESIDENT OBAMA ISSUED A PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM TO ESTABLISH THE WHITE HOUSE TASK FORCE TO PROTECT STUDENTS FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT. IN APRIL OF 2014, THAT TASK FORCE RELEASED GUIDELINES ON HOW CAMPUS RAPES ARE TO BE TREATED. IN MAY OF 2014, THE WHITE HOUSE RELEASED THE NAMES OF FIFTY-FIVE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT WERE UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THEIR HANDLING OF RAPE ACCUSATIONS. AT ISSUE IS WHETHER THEY VIOLATED TITLE IX, WHICH BANS GENDER DISCRIMINATION AT SCHOOLS THAT RECEIVE FEDERAL MONEY.
LAST MONTH NEW YORK MAGAZINE RAN AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE CRITICISMS LEVELED BY PROFESSORS AT THE HARVARD AND PENNSYLVANIA LAW SCHOOLS AND BY PROMINENT LIBERAL FEMINISTS THAT THE PROCEDURES DEALING WITH CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULTS PUT IN PLACE AT VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS DO NOT PROVIDE DUE PROCESS TO MALE COLLEGE STUDENTS.
YOU’LL WANT TO SEE A DOCUMENTARY FILM ON SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON CAMPUS CALLED THE HUNTING GROUND THAT OPENED IN NY CITY THIS PAST FRIDAY. IT WILL BE SHOWN IN MOVIE THEATERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ON CNN BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
IN OUR MILITARY, WE ALSO HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE PENTAGON ESTIMATED THAT 19,000 MEN AND WOMEN WERE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN 2014.
SPEAKING OF THE MILITARY, LAST MONTH SWAN (SERVICE WOMEN’S ACTION NETWORK) AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FILED SUIT AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SEEKING ACCESS TO THE RECORDS WITH REGARD TO ADMISSIONS AND RECRUITMENT POLICIES OF THE THREE MILITARY ACADEMIES. THE SUIT ALLEGES THAT THE POLICIES OF THE THREE ACADEMIES HAVE RESULTED IN STUDENT POPULATIONS IN WHICH WOMEN ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERREPRESENTED AND IN CAMPUS ENVIRONMENTS WHERE MISOGYNY AND HARASSMENT PREVAIL. SWAN STATES THAT WOMEN’S UNDERREPRESENTATION IN THE ACADEMIES CONTRIBUTES TO THE DEARTH OF WOMEN OFFICERS IN THE ARMED FORCES. OVERALL, WOMEN COMPRISE LESS THAN 17 PERCENT OF ALL OFFICERS IN THE MILITARY SERVICES.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN. ONE IN EVERY FOUR WOMEN WILL EXPERIENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN HER LIFETIME. EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS ARE WOMEN, AND MOST CASES ARE NEVER REPORTED TO THE POLICE. ALMOST ONE-THIRD OF FEMALE HOMICIDE VICTIMS THAT ARE REPORTED TO THE POLICE ARE KILLED BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDERS, ESPECIALLY FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS, OFTEN WALK AWAY WITH LITTLE MORE THAN COURT-ORDERED COUNSELING. HOWEVER, DUE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE FOOTBALL PLAYERS, OUR NATION HAS RECENTLY FOCUSED ATTENTION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
LAST MONTH, THERE WAS AN IMPORTANT OP-ED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE WRITERS POINTED OUT THE FOLLOWING:
- BOYS WHO GROW UP IN HOMES WITH ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE NEARLY FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO PERPETRATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAN THOSE WHO GROW UP IN HOMES WITHOUT IT.
- AN ANALYSIS OF CRIME STATISTICS IN WASHINGTON STATE SUGGESTS THAT A FELONY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONVICTION IS THE SINGLE GREATEST PREDICTOR OF FUTURE VIOLENT CRIME AMONG MEN.
- IN 35 STATES, THOSE CONVICTED OF MISDEMEANOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRIMES AND THOSE SUBJECT TO RESTRAINING ORDERS CAN BUY AND CARRY GUNS. AND
- THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS THE MOBILIZATION OF STRONG, INDEPENDENT FEMINIST MOVEMENTS. SUCH MOVEMENTS HELP TO SHAPE PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT AGENDAS AND CREATE THE POLITICAL WILL TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
4. WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND CONTINUING EFFORTS TO WHITTLE DOWN ROE V. WADE
ABORTION IS A COMMON EXPERIENCE. AT CURRENT RATES, ABOUT ONE IN THREE AMERICAN WOMEN WILL HAVE HAD AN ABORTION BY THE TIME SHE REACHES THE AGE OF FORTY-FIVE.
AN EDITORIAL IN THE NEW YORK TIMES THIS PAST JANUARY STATED: “THE START OF 2015 FINDS NO LETUP IN THE ATTACKS ON A WOMAN’S CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED RIGHT TO MAKE HER OWN CHILDBEARING DECISIONS. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND ORGANIZATIONS DEVOTED TO DISMANTLING REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM HAVE SUCCEEDED IN SHRINKING THE ALREADY INADEQUATE NUMBER OF ABORTION PROVIDERS, MAKING IT EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, FOR WOMEN–ESPECIALLY YOUNG AND POOR WOMEN–TO OBTAIN SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION SERVICES IN LARGE SWATHS OF TEXAS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.”
STATES PASSED MORE THAN SEVENTY RESTRICTIVE LAWS IN 2014, ON TOP OF HUNDREDS MORE PASSED IN 2013 AND 2012. AS OF 2011, THE MOST RECENT YEAR FOR WHICH DATA IS AVAILABLE, 89 PERCENT OF U.S. COUNTIES HAD NO ABORTION CLINIC AND 38 PERCENT OF AMERICAN WOMEN LIVED IN THOSE COUNTIES AND HAD TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THEIR COUNTIES TO GET AN ABORTION.
WE MAY, HOWEVER, BE ENTERING “THE DAWN OF THE POST-CLINIC ABORTION” AS AN ARTICLE IN THE AUGUST 28, 2014, NEW YORK TIMES SUNDAY MAGAZINE STATED. THERE ARE TWO DRUGS, MIFEPRISTONE (ALSO KNOWN AS MIFIPREX AND AS RU-486 IN TRIALS) AND MISOPROSTOL (ALSO KNOWN AS CYTOTEC), WHICH A WOMAN CAN TAKE IN COMBINATION IN HER OWN HOME AND HAVE AN ABORTION. THE COST RANGES FROM $5 IN INDIA TO $120 IN EUROPE. IN THE U.S., THERE ARE LEGAL OBSTACLES TO PROMOTING THE USE OF THESE DRUGS FOR WOMEN IN THEIR HOMES. OVERHAULING THESE LAWS IS SOMETHING ON WHICH PRO-ABORTION GROUPS NEED TO FOCUS.
THIS PAST JUNE, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IN THE HOBBY LOBBY CASE EVEN RESTRICTED WOMEN’S RIGHTS TO CONTRACEPTION. IN THAT CASE, THE COURT ALLOWED OWNERS OF CLOSELY-HELD, FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS (WHICH MOST COMPANIES ARE) TO IMPOSE THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ON WORKERS BY REFUSING TO PROVIDE CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE FOR EMPLOYEES WITH NO CO-PAY, AS REQUIRED BY THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
ON AUGUST 22, 2014, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED NEW REGULATIONS FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE HOBBY LOBBY DECISION AND A RELATED CASE INVOLVING WHEATON COLLEGE.
THE ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED A RULE, WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY, PROVIDING THAT A RELIGIOUS COLLEGE OR OTHER NONPROFIT GROUP WITH A RELIGIOUS OBJECTION TO CONTRACEPTION COULD NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS) OF ITS OBJECTION. HHS AND THE LABOR DEPARTMENT WOULD THEN COORDINATE CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE WITH INSURERS TO ENSURE CONTINUING CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE AT NO COST TO THE EMPLOYER OR ITS EMPLOYEES.
THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO PROPOSED SIMILAR ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CLOSELY-HELD FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES THAT OPPOSE CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS. THAT PROPOSED RULE WAS OPEN TO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SIXTY DAYS, AFTER WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WAS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO MAKE THE RULE FINAL. TO DATE, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT MADE THE RULE FINAL ALTHOUGH OVER FOUR MONTHS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE COMMENT PERIOD ENDED.
5. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION INVOLVING PREGNANCY. IN JULY OF 2014, THE EEOC (THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION) ISSUED NEW GUIDELINES FINDING THAT PREGNANCY-RELATED CONDITIONS WOULD NOW BE CONSIDERED DISABILITIES COVERED BY THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. THAT MEANS THAT EMPLOYERS HAVE TO MAKE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN JUST AS THEY DO FOR EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES. HOWEVER, WE DON’T KNOW IF THIS WILL REMAIN THE LAW BECAUSE YOUNG V. UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, A CASE INVOLVING A PREGNANT TRUCK DRIVER WHO WAS DENIED LIGHT DUTY WORK AND LET GO, IS AWAITING A DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO COME DOWN BY THE END OF THE COURT’S TERM ON JUNE 29, 2015.
6. INADEQUATE MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH CARE.
MATERNAL DEATHS RELATED TO CHILDBIRTH IN THE U.S. ARE NEARLY AT THE HIGHEST RATE IN A QUARTER CENTURY, AND A WOMAN GIVING BIRTH IN AMERICA IS NOW MORE LIKELY TO DIE THAN A WOMAN IN CHINA. THE U.S. NOW RANKS 60 FOR MATERNAL DEATHS ON A LIST OF 180 COUNTRIES, AND BELOW VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER DEVELOPED NATION. RANKING 60TH MEANS THAT THERE ARE 59 COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD WHERE THE RATE OF DYING IN CONNECTION WITH CHILDBIRTH IS LOWER THAN OURS. THE U.S. IS THE ONLY DEVELOPED NATION WITH A RISING MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE.
SADLY, THE GROWING NUMBER OF U.S. WOMEN DYING FROM PREGNANCY-RELATED CAUSES HAS FAILED TO CATCH PUBLIC ATTENTION.
WITH REGARD TO MATERNITY, WE NEED TO PROMOTE BREAST FEEDING, THE GREATER USE OF MIDWIVES, CUT BACK ON INDUCING LABOR, AND STOP PERFORMING UNNECESSARY CAESAREANS.
THIS PAST JANUARY THE POPULATION INSTITUTE ISSUED “THE STATE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS: A 50-STATE REPORT CARD.” FLORIDA WAS ONE OF NINE STATES RECEIVING A D. THAT INDICATES THAT FLORIDA IS FAILING TO MEET THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEEDS OF WOMEN, AND THAT FAILURE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO HIGH RATES OF UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES, INCLUDING TEEN PREGNANCIES.
7. THE ABSENCE OF LAWS MANDATING PAID SICK AND PARENTAL LEAVE. THE U.S. IS THE ONLY INDUSTRIALIZED NATION IN THE WORLD THAT DOESN’T MANDATE PAID MATERNITY LEAVE.
THE U.S. IS ALSO THE ONLY COUNTRY AMONG TWENTY-TWO RICH NATIONS THAT DOESN’T HAVE A NATIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR PAID SICK PAY.
THIS PAST JANUARY, PRESIDENT OBAMA DIRECTED FEDERAL AGENCIES TO GIVE THEIR EMPLOYEES UP TO SIX WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE AFTER THE BIRTH OR ADOPTION OF A CHILD OR TO CARE FOR AN AILING RELATIVE, A BENEFIT HE WANTS TO EXTEND TO ALL AMERICAN WORKERS. SIX WEEKS OF SUCH PAID LEAVE IS ACTUALLY VERY LITTLE COMPARED WITH OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES. BRITAIN, FOR EXAMPLE, GIVES UP TO FIFTY-TWO WEEKS.
THE PRESIDENT WILL ALSO CALL ON CONGRESS TO PASS A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW WORKERS ACROSS THE U.S. TO EARN UP TO SEVEN PAID SICK DAYS A YEAR. CURRENTLY, ONLY THREE STATES AND MORE THAN A DOZEN CITIES HAVE SIMILAR LAWS OR ORDINANCES.
8. THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE AND COMPETENT CHILD CARE. IN MOST U.S. FAMILIES, ALL OF THE ADULTS WORK. FEWER THAN ONE IN THREE CHILDREN TODAY HAS A FULL-TIME STAY-AT-HOME PARENT. IN 1975, ONLY A GENERATION AGO, MORE THAN HALF OF ALL CHILDREN HAD A STAY-AT-HOME PARENT, USUALLY THE MOTHER.
THE ANNUAL COST OF CHILD CARE FOR AN INFANT IN A CHILD CARE CENTER IS HIGHER THAN A YEAR’S TUITION AT THE AVERAGE FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC COLLEGE IN MOST STATES.
MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICANS AGREE THAT THE GOVERNMENT OR BUSINESS SHOULD BE DOING MORE TO HELP FUND CHILD CARE FOR WORKING PARENTS.
THIS PAST JANUARY PRESIDENT OBAMA UNVEILED PLANS TO GREATLY INCREASE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO WORKING AMERICANS FOR CHILD CARE. HE CALLED FOR AN $80 BILLION EXPANSION OF A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES TO LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES THREE AND UNDER. HE ALSO PROMOTED HIS PLAN TO NEARLY TRIPLE, TO $3,000 PER CHILD, THE MAXIMUM CHILD CARE CREDITS. AND HE SAID HE WOULD PUSH TO PUT MORE FEDERAL MONEY INTO EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS, FOCUSING ON LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN CONGRESS HAVE ALREADY SAID THEY WILL NOT SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS.
9. WOMEN AND PRISON. IN FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, 70% OF GUARDS ARE MALE AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICIALS HAVE SUBJECTED FEMALE INMATES TO RAPE, OTHER SEXUAL ASSAULTS, SEXUAL EXTORTION, AND GROPING DURING BODY SEARCHES.
IN ADDITION, WOMEN IN PRISON HAVE BEEN DENIED ESSENTIAL MEDICAL RESOURCES AND TREATMENT, ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES OF PREGNANCY AND CHRONIC OR DEGENERATIVE DISEASES.
A PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS PRACTICE IS THE SHACKLING OF PREGNANT INMATES DURING AND AFTER LABOR. A NUMBER OF STATES HAVE ENACTED ANTI-SHACKLING LAWS BUT IN MANY CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS, DOCTORS, GUARDS, AND PRISON OFFICIALS ARE NOT TOLD ABOUT THESE LAWS OR ARE NOT TRAINED TO COMPLY.
THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE INCREASE–646 PERCENT–IN THE INCARCERATION OF WOMEN FROM 1980 TO 2010. MANDATORY SENTENCING HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF WOMEN BEHIND BARS.
SEVENTY-FIVE TO EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT OF WOMEN IN PRISON HAD PRIOR HISTORIES OF PHYSICAL, INCLUDING SEXUAL, ABUSE OR MENTAL ABUSE OR ALL THREE. THEY COME TO PRISON AND ARE ABUSED AGAIN.
THERE ARE ABOUT 205,000 WOMEN DOING TIME, MOSTLY, FOR NONVIOLENT CRIMES. SEVENTY PERCENT ARE MOTHERS.
1.3 MILLION CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE MOTHERS IN PRISON.
WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN PRISON FOR DRUG AND PROPERTY OFFENSES, WHILE MEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE THERE FOR VIOLENT OFFENSES.
LAST MONTH I LEARNED AN ASTOUNDING STATISTIC FROM THE ORGANIZATION ULTRA VIOLET. THERE ARE TWENTY-NINE STATES WHERE ABUSED WOMEN CAN BE JAILED FOR “FAILING TO PROTECT” THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE. AS OF THIS PAST FEBRUARY 9, THERE WERE AT LEAST TWENTY-EIGHT WOMEN AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO WERE SERVING SENTENCES OF TEN YEARS OR MORE UNDER SUCH “FAILING TO PROTECT” LAWS. IN SUCH CASES, THE ABUSER MAY WALK FREE AFTER A SHORT PRISON SENTENCE WHILE THE ABUSED WOMAN REMAINS IN PRISON.
10. HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THE UNITED STATES IS A SOURCE, TRANSIT, AND DESTINATION COUNTRY FOR MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WHO ARE SUBJECTED TO FORCED LABOR, DEBT BONDAGE, INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE, AND SEX TRAFFICKING. BETWEEN 14,500 AND 17,500 PEOPLE ARE TRAFFICKED INTO THE U.S. ANNUALLY.
THIS PAST JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, PBS PRESENTED A SERIES OF THREE DOCUMENTARIES BASED ON A 2014 BOOK WRITTEN BY NY TIMES OP-ED COLUMNIST, NICHOLAS KRISTOF, AND HIS WIFE, JOURNALIST SHERYL WUDUNN. THE BOOK AND THE SERIES WERE CALLED A PATH APPEARS AND DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF WOMEN GLOBALLY. THE FIRST FILM IN THE SERIES DEALT WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE AMERICANS AND ARE TRAFFICKED INTO PROSTITUTION BY FAMILY MEMBERS OR OTHERS.
ON NOV. 14, 2014, THE 2014 GLOBAL REPORT ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS WAS ISSUED BY THE UN OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME. AMONG THE FINDINGS WERE THAT ONE IN THREE HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS IS A CHILD, MOST VICTIMS ARE FEMALE, TRAFFICKERS OPERATE WITH WIDE IMPUNITY, AND THE BUYING AND SELLING OF HUMANS IS GROWING DESPITE LAWS PASSED IN AN INCREASING NUMBER OF COUNTRIES TO TOUGHEN PENALTIES.
WHILE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION REMAINS THE PREDOMINANT REASON FOR TRAFFICKING, VICTIMS ARE ALSO INCREASINGLY BEING USED FOR FORCED LABOR.
GIRLS AND WOMEN ACCOUNT FOR 70 PERCENT OF ALL TRAFFICKING VICTIMS.
11. GIRLS AND WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES. ABOUT 27 MILLION WOMEN IN THE U.S. HAVE DISABILITIES–AND THE NUMBER IS GROWING. MORE THAN 50% OF WOMEN OLDER THAN SIXTY-FIVE ARE LIVING WITH A DISABILITY.
GIRLS AND WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES FREQUENTLY FACE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS IN ACCESS TO EDUCATION, TRAINING, HEALTH CARE, AND HOUSING AND IN SECURING EMPLOYMENT.
BOTH IN THE U.S. AND WORLDWIDE, GIRLS AND WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES ARE THREE TO FOUR TIMES AS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE AS THEIR NON-DISABLED SISTERS, TO EXPERIENCE THE ABUSE OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEIR CARE GIVER MAY BE THE ABUSER.
12. INADEQUATE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. EVEN SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT TAKES FULL EFFECT, 30 MILLION PEOPLE WILL STILL BE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE U.S.–AND HALF WILL BE WOMEN. INADEQUATE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IS A PRIMARY REASON THE U.S. HAS SUCH A HIGH MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE.
13. THE INADEQUATE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN STEM JOBS AND AMONG STEM DEGREE HOLDERS. STEM JOBS ARE THOSE IN SCIENCE, INCLUDING COMPUTER SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH. STEM WORKERS EARN CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN THEIR NON-STEM COUNTERPARTS.
ALTHOUGH WOMEN FILL CLOSE TO HALF OF ALL JOBS IN THE U.S., THEY HOLD LESS THAN 25% OF STEM JOBS. THEY ALSO HOLD A DISPROPORTIONATELY LOW SHARE OF STEM UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES, PARTICULARLY IN ENGINEERING. WOMEN’S LOW REPRESENTATION IN STEM JOBS AND IN STEM UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES HAS BEEN THE CASE THROUGHOUT THE PAST DECADE.
14. THE INADEQUATE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN POLITICAL LIFE. AS OF JUNE 2012, THE U.S. RANKED 79TH AMONG THE COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD WITH REGARD TO WOMEN’S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION. WE ARE STILL WOEFULLY UNDERREPRESENTED POLITICALLY IN THIS COUNTRY.
15. DISCRIMINATION IN ACADEMIA. THE HIGHER IN TERMS OF FACULTY RANK, SALARY, PRESTIGE, AND STATUS–THE FEWER ARE THE WOMEN.
16. UNDER-REPRESENTATION IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AS PROSECUTORS, JUDGES, AND POLICE OFFICERS.
17. INADEQUATE REPRESENTATION AMONG THOSE WHO RUN OUR TOP CORPORATIONS AND SERVE ON CORPORATE BOARDS. CATALYST REPORTED THAT AS OF JUNE 2014, 5.3% OF THE CEO OR TOP LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES WERE HELD BY WOMEN, AND AS OF MARCH 2014, 16.9% OF THE BOARD SEATS AT FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES WERE HELD BY WOMEN.
18. INADEQUATE REPRESENTATION AND UNEQUAL PAY FOR ACTORS, WRITERS, DIRECTORS, AND PRODUCERS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF WOMEN IN TELEVISION AND FILM AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY RECENTLY PUBLISHED THE CELLULOID CEILING: BEHIND-THE-SCENES EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN ON THE TOP 250 FILMS OF 2014. THE STUDY FOUND THAT THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO “COMPRISED ALL DIRECTORS, WRITERS, PRODUCERS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, EDITORS AND CINEMATOGRAPHERS” CREDITED ON THE TOP 250 (DOMESTIC) GROSSING FILMS WAS 17 PERCENT–THE SAME AS WHEN THE STUDY BEGAN BACK IN 1998!
19. SURROGACY, ALSO KNOWN AS THIRD-PARTY REPRODUCTION. WE’VE ALL READ ARTICLES IN THE NEWSPAPERS ABOUT SURROGACY BUT FEW OF US REALLY KNOW WHAT IT ENTAILS OR REALIZE WHAT COMPLICATED ETHICAL, MEDICAL, LEGAL, FINANCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES SURROGACY RAISES FOR WOMEN, THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, AND THE CHILDREN BORN THROUGH SUCH PROCEDURES IN THE U.S. AND AROUND THE WORLD.
THERE ARE TWO MAIN TYPES OF SURROGACY, TRADITIONAL AND GESTATIONAL. IN TRADITIONAL SURROGACY, THE WOMAN IS INSEMINATED NATURALLY OR BY ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONCEIVING FOR AN INTENDED RECIPIENT. IN THIS PROCEDURE, THE SURROGATE IS GENETICALLY RELATED TO THE CHILD.
IN GESTATIONAL SURROGACY, A WOMAN IS IMPLANTED WITH THE FERTILIZED EGG (OR EMBRYO), CREATED BY IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF) OF THE EGG AND SPERM OF OTHERS. THIS TYPE OF SURROGATE IS NOT GENETICALLY RELATED TO THE CHILD AND THE PROCEDURE INVOLVES THE USE OF EGGS SOLD OR DONATED BY ANOTHER WOMAN. GESTATIONAL SURROGACY IS THE MORE COMMON APPROACH IN THE U.S.
IF THE SURROGATE RECEIVES COMPENSATION BEYOND REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEDICAL AND OTHER REASONABLE EXPENSES, THE ARRANGEMENT IS CONSIDERED COMMERCIAL SURROGACY; OTHERWISE, IT IS REFERRED TO AS COMPASSIONATE OR ALTRUISTIC.
ON SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2014, THE SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE HAD A SPECIAL SECTION CALLED “THE COST OF LIFE.” JUSTINE GRIFFIN, A REPORTER FOR THE PAPER AND AN EGG DONOR HERSELF, DESCRIBED THE FERTILITY INDUSTRY AS “THE WILD WEST OF AMERICAN MEDICINE.” IT IS UNREGULATED BY FEDERAL LAW AND THE LAWS IN THE STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GO EVERY WHICH WAY: UNDER NEW YORK LAW, GESTATIONAL CONTRACTS ARE VOID AND UNENFORCEABLE; IN ILLINOIS, GESTATIONAL SURROGACY IS PERMITTED BY STATUTE; THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BANS SURROGACY CONTRACTS; AND IN CALIFORNIA, A STATUTE PERMITS GESTATIONAL SURROGACY. BECAUSE IT IS LEGAL IN MANY STATES AND THE PROHIBITIONS AGAINST IT ARE NOT ENFORCED IN SOME OTHERS, THE U.S. HAS BECOME SECOND WORLDWIDE–WITH INDIA BEING FIRST–IN THE SUPPLY OF SURROGATES.
OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES, ONLY A FEW COUNTRIES–AMONG THEM INDIA, UKRAINE AND MEXICO–ALLOW PAID SURROGACY. UNTIL LAST MONTH, THE U.S. AND THAILAND WERE THE TWO MOST COMMON SURROGACY DESTINATIONS. THAILAND, IN FACT, WAS KNOWN AS THE “WOMB OF ASIA.” BUT THAILAND WAS SHAMED BY TWO CASES THAT PUT IT IN THE SPOTLIGHT. IN THE FIRST, AUSTRALIAN PARENTS WHO HAD CONTRACTED WITH A THAI SURROGATE TOOK ONE TWIN BUT LEFT THE OTHER WHO HAD DOWN’S SYNDROME WITH HIS THAI MOTHER. THE SECOND CASE INVOLVED THE SHOCKING REVELATION THAT A JAPANESE MAN HAD FATHERED SIXTEEN OR MORE BABIES WITH DIFFERENT THAI SURROGATE MOTHERS. AS A RESULT, THIS PAST FEB. 20, THAILAND BANNED COMMERCIAL SURROGACY. HOWEVER, LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THAILAND IS FAMOUSLY LAX, AND IT’S POSSIBLE SURROGACY WILL CONTINUE THERE BUT GO UNDERGROUND, AS IS THE SITUATION IN CHINA.
THE GROWTH OF THE SURROGACY INDUSTRY HAS BEEN EXPLOSIVE. THE BATTLE AS TO WHETHER IT SHOULD BE BANNED OR REGULATED, AND, IF REGULATED, HOW IS CURRENTLY RAGING IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.
20. THE FAILURE TO RATIFY THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT (ERA) TO OUR CONSTITUTION AND THE CEDAW TREATY, THE INTERNATIONAL BILL OF RIGHTS FOR WOMEN. THE U.S. IS ONE OF ONLY SEVEN COUNTRIES THAT HAS NOT RATIFIED CEDAW. AND THE OTHER COUNTRIES ARE COUNTRIES LIKE SOMALIA, IRAN, SUDAN AND TWO SMALL PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES.
IN THE REST OF THE WORLD, WOMEN FACE MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS AS IN THE U.S., AND, PARTICULARLY IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD, THEY FACE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS:
- HIGH RATES OF PREVENTABLE MATERNAL, NEWBORN, CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MORTALITY;
- FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION,
- FORCED AND CHILD MARRIAGES, AND ABDUCTION AND RAPE OF GIRLS AND WOMEN INTO MARRIAGE,
- POISONINGS, ACID ATTACKS AND SHOOTINGS OF SCHOOLGIRLS,
- ABDUCTION AND FORCIBLE RECRUITMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS INTO RENEGADE GUERRILLA FORCES;
- SO-CALLED “HONOR” KILLINGS, AND
- RAPE USED AS AN INSTRUMENT OF WAR OR A TACTIC OF SOCIAL CONTROL, ETHNIC DOMINATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO BE ON THE L0OKOUT FOR AN ETHIOPIAN FILM, EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY ANGELINA JOLIE, CALLED DIFRET, WHICH PREMIERED AT THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL THIS PAST JANUARY AND WON THE AUDIENCE AWARD. IT WAS BASED ON THE ABDUCTION AND RAPE OF A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD SCHOOLGIRL, WHO SHOT HER CAPTOR AFTER THE RAPE, IN THE MID-1990S. THIS TYPE OF ABDUCTION, CALLED TELEFA, IS A 2,000-YEAR-OLD TRADITION IN ETHIOPIA. THE YOUNG GIRL WAS CHARGED WITH MURDER AND DEFENDED BY A YOUNG WOMAN LAWYER ASSOCIATED WITH THE ETHIOPIAN WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION. THE TRIAL RESULTED IN A CHANGE IN THE ETHIOPEAN CONSTITUTION CONVENTION.
WE’VE ALL READ ABOUT THE SHOOTING OF MALALA YOUSAFZAI, THE PAKISTANI SCHOOLGIRL, WHO WON A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAST YEAR FOR HER EDUCATION ACTIVISM.
LAST MONTH, THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED ON A UN REPORT THAT HAD JUST BEEN ISSUED FINDING THAT ATTACKS AGAINST GIRLS ATTENDING SCHOOL OR SEEKING ACCESS TO EDUCATION APPEAR TO BE INCREASING AROUND THE WORLD. ATTACKS ON SCHOOLS HAVE OCCURRED IN AT LEAST SEVENTY COUNTRIES FROM 2009 TO 2014, AND MANY ARE DIRECTED AT GIRLS, PARENTS, AND TEACHERS ADVOCATING FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN EDUCATION. THERE WERE AN ESTIMATED 3,600 SUCH ATTACKS IN 2012 ALONE.
LAST MONTH, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORTED THAT LAST FALL IN DARFUR IN WESTERN SUDAN, SUDANESE SOLDIERS RAPED MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED WOMEN AND GIRLS. THE YOUNGEST SURVIVOR OF THIS BRUTALITY WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD.
UNICEF ESTIMATES THAT THERE ARE 125 MILLION WOMEN WORLDWIDE WHO HAVE UNDERGONE FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION IN THE 29 COUNTRIES WHERE IT IS MOST PREVALENT–MOSTLY IN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST–AND ONE IN FIVE OF THEM LIVES IN EGYPT.
LAST MONTH, THE NEW YORK TIMES HAD AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF WOMEN IN AMERICA WHO HAVE BEEN GENITALLY MUTILATED DUE TO THE INCREASING NUMBER OF AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS TO THE U.S. ABOUT HALF A MILLION WOMEN IN THE U.S. HAVE EXPERIENCED FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION OR ARE LIKELY TO BE SUBJECTED TO IT BY THEIR FAMILIES. SOME AMERICAN DOCTORS AND NURSES ARE NOT PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AND, IN SOME CASES, MAY UNINTENTIONALLY TRAUMATIZE THE WOMEN THEY ARE TRYING TO HELP.
LAST MONTH, THE NY TIMES HAD AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS FOR WOMEN IN CHINA, THE WORLD’S MOST POPULOUS NATION, WITH A POPULATION EXCEEDING 1.35 BILLION PEOPLE. IN THE EARLY DECADES OF COMMUNIST RULE, WOMEN MADE GREAT STRIDES BUT THE RECENT ECONOMIC BOON THAT HAS CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN HAS ALSO FOSTERED A RESURGENCE OF LONG-REPRESSED TRADITIONAL VALUES. WOMEN MAKE UP 44.7 PERCENT OF CHINA’S WORK FORCE BUT HOLD JUST 25.1 PERCENT OF POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY. AT THE VERY TOP, THEIR SHARE FALLS STILL FURTHER. THE ALL-CHINA WOMEN’S FEDERATION, WHICH IS CHARGED WITH REPRESENTING CHINESE WOMEN, IN REALITY FOCUSES ON MAINTAINING PARTY CONTROL AND TRADITIONAL VALUES. CHINESE SOCIETY STRESSES THAT WOMEN SHOULD MARRY YOUNG AND FOCUS ON THE FAMILY AFTER A CHILD IS BORN. CHINA’S CONSTITUTION AND LABOR LAW BANS GENDER DISCRIMINATION BUT THE LAWS ARE VAGUE AND NEARLY UNENFORCEABLE. CHINESE LAW DOESN’T EVEN DEFINE GENDER DISCRIMINATION.
SO, WHILE WOMEN HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS–THEY STILL HAVE A VERY LONG WAY TO GO.
IN THINKING ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE’VE ACHIEVED AND THE PROBLEMS THAT STILL REMAIN, I CAN’T SAY IT ANY BETTER THAN AN ELDERLY AFRICAN AMERICAN SLAVE PREACHER QUOTED BY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WHEN HE REFERRED TO CHANGES IN RACE RELATIONS IN A 1959 SPEECH:
“LORD, WE AIN’T WHAT WE WANT TO BE;
WE AIN’T WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE;
WE AIN’T WHAT WE GONNA BE,
BUT, THANK GOD, WE AIN’T WHAT WE WAS.”
THANK YOU.
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©2014 SONIA PRESSMAN FUENTES.