California NOW

Listen Up Advocates!

The CA Commission on the Status of Women will be holding public hearings throughout California on all issues regarding women. They want to hear from you about what issues women and girls are facing and how the state should address them. The hearings will be comprised only of testimony from individuals and organizations, so it’s a great time to get your voice heard by those who recommend policy to the state regarding women and girls.

There will be three hearings:

June 19, 2008
1:30 to 5:30 PM
Hiram Johnson State Building
Milton Marks Auditorium
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102

June 26, 2008
1:30 to 5:30 PM
California Western School of Law
Moot Court Room
225 Cedar Street
San Diego, CA 92101

July 23, 2008
1 to 5 PM
Lewis Library and Technology Center
Steelworkers Auditorium
8437 Sierra Avenue
Fontana, CA 92335

For more information visit: www.women.ca.gov

No, There's No Sexism in the Media Coverage of Hillary Clinton

Mark Morford Nails it

As a long-time bay area resident, I love Mark Morford's column for the SF Chronicle because of his irreverent tone and because, whether I agree with him or not, he always makes me think.

Coming on the heels of an AP poll showing Hillary leading against McCain in a potential head-to-head matchup and a Clinton win in the Pennsylvania primary, Morford's column this week pokes at the political conservatives who seem to equate passionate and committed women with bitchiness, and unobtrusive women with "class."

We all know what that distinction between "bitchy" and "classy" means. It's a linguistic code that means women should know their place and not speak up too loudly, at the risk of offending anyone.

Even someone in the powerful position of First Lady isn't supposed to actually use that power to accomplish anything, because that would be "unladylike" or "domineering" or any of the other terms that have been
thrown at Hillary Clinton over the last 16 years.

Hillary isn't the only one who takes the hit here. As Morford points out, the same kinds of accusations were used against Teresa Heinz Kerry and are currently being lobbed against Michelle Obama. I don't think anyone would expect Bill Clinton to idly play host as First Gentleman, but somehow the
idea of a First Lady who does more than serve tea and bake cookies is intimidating to a lot of people.

What is it that makes them so nervous of women?

It makes me think of a slogan I've seen for years on buttons and bumper stickers: "Men of quality respect women's equality." I've always figured that a truly powerful man, one who is secure about who he is, doesn't get scared of powerful women. It takes someone pretty insecure to say, "I'm going to restrict your power because I can't claim my own."

So here's to Hillary Clinton and the great candidates for the California state legislature recently endorsed by the CA NOW PAC, and every other person out there working to help us create a world where a powerful, intelligent woman can speak her mind and not automatically be written off as an overpowering, aggressive hindrance. And here’s to every woman who isn't afraid to go head to head with her critics for speaking her truth and claiming her power. These are the women who get things done!

Secretary of State, Debra Bowen Salutes CA NOW

Speier Election Marks History

Women's eNews points out that with the election of California's Jackie Speier, the number of women in Congress reached a new record high! With eighty-seven women now serving in Congress!

Wahoo! Eighty-seven out of 535! That's like 16 whole percent!

(Do you smell that? That's the sarcasm vaporizing off the screen .)

Go Jackie, Go!

Jackie Speier was sworn in yesterday after an overwhelming victory in Tuesday's special congressional election. Speier secured the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives with 77 percent of the vote, avoiding a run-off in the race to finish Rep. Tom Lantos' term, giving a good indication that Speier will be reelected in November.

With ten years in the CA Assembly and eight years in the CA Senate, Speier has been a powerful policy maker with a deep dedication to women's rights here in California. I can't wait to see what she does for us in D.C.!

Say it isn't so, Randi Rhodes!

In the teeny tiny pool of progressive talk radio show hosts, Randi Rhodes stands out as one of the few women out there. And now she's gone and pissed me off.

Rhodes, during a recent appearance in San Francisco, called Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton "f*@#ing whores."

Air America Radio suspended her for the comment, but it's ugly talk about Hillary like that has really gotten under my skin. Not just because she is my candidate, but because it is such unwarranted vitriol and a sure indicator of the fundamental sexism in this country. Even some of our most progressive voices aren't immune to it.

Inspiration in a Movement

I haven’t posted much lately, because I just haven’t been inspired. Sex scandals, negative campaigns and political infighting just haven’t inspired me much lately. But today, I was truly inspired. I spent the day at the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom Lobby Day, where high school and college students told their own personal stories about how cutting Medi Cal by 10%, as called for in the Governor’s budget cuts, would threaten their own families health and financial security.

After the lobby visits, I was blown away by the stories told by these young women.  The assembly members, senators and staffers they met really listened to them, and you could see the excitement in their eyes as they realized they were participating in making a difference for women and children in California!

After that inspiring day, I was privileged to give a Lifetime Achievement Award to Senator Sheila Keuhl, and the Legislator of the Year Award to Speaker-Elect Karen Bass, at the California NOW Legislative Reception at the State Capitol. I was very touched to be given the honor of recognizing two women I respect and admire so much. As the former Field Director of California NOW, I am comfortable with planning events, organizing volunteers, making the arrangements and moving the furniture around for events like this, but as the recently elected President, I am still not accustomed to standing among women like Senator Kuehl and Speaker-Elect Bass, who have given up private life to serve the women and men of California and pave the way to a more just, safe and equal society. Pioneers in Californian politics, Kuehl was the first openly lesbian in the legislature and Bass will be the first woman and African American Speaker.

Surrounded by allies from the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, supportive legislators and the hardworking staff, interns and membership of California NOW, I got that warm cozy feeling of being a part of a movement. Tonight I am really inspired.

Listen to Gloria Steinem...

That is always sage advice. Here she is on NPR talking about the elections, race and gender and uniting under the common belief that something big has got to change.

She clarifies some points from her NY Times op/ed, and talks about the meeting she had with Kimberly Crenshaw, and other feminists, seeking common ground. Check it out.

If a law firm can do it...

As a working mom, I’m grateful for the opportunity to work from home and care for my child at the same time. California NOW has worked to stay at the front of the pack on worker-friendly policies, but we just got passed by a law firm, and I couldn’t be happier!

The law firm Morrison & Foerster has extended its parental leave benefits for attorneys to 18 weeks for maternity leave and adoption, and 10 weeks for paternity leave. They also allow employees to have a reduced-time schedule for the first year after they return from leave. No wonder they’ve been honored 13 times by Working Mother magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies.”

Now we need to work on encouraging other companies to follow suit, and on expanding these kinds of policies to cover everyone and not just those who choose to be parents! More companies need internal groups like Morrison & Foerster’s Women’s Initiative Committee. I’d also like to see maternity and paternity leave benefits equalized; fathers are full-time parents too!

Mothers in France get 10 weeks and mothers in Germany get 14 weeks of fully paid leave. American parents are left to cobble together some sort of paid leave using sick days, vacation days, disability leave, and employer-provided leave. A full 51% of new mothers lack any paid leave at all.

Whether it’s used to care for a new child, aging parent, or sick relative, paid family leave is needed by most workers at some point in their lives. MomsRising is working on bringing this issue to the attention of the Presidential candidates, and here’s somewhere that Hillary can really shine, since she was a working mother herself. Tell the candidates that American workers need paid family leave!