California NOW

Why Women Should Rule the World

Dee Dee Myers, former White House Press Secretary recently wrote a book detailing how women make a significant contribution in society when they are given high-powered roles. Myers examines different biological traits between women and men, and how that impacts the workplace. She asserts that women work better cooperatively and accomplish more in comparison to men in similar positions. She also stresses the importance of motherhood and how it hones skills that are very useful in the workplace like multi-tasking and innovative problem solving. There are interesting case studies with personal stories of high-powered women highlighting the challenges they have faced in breaking glass ceiling. However, Myers emphasizes that even when women make it to the top, they are still treated differently from their male counterparts and have to fight hard to be heard and taken seriously. This is a provocative read and very timely! Good Luck today Hillary.

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

Hey Lesbians, We May Need to Come up with a New Name!

Three residents of the island of Lesbos are taking lesbians to court.  They claim that the organization Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece, in using the term lesbian to identify queer women, creates hardships for Lesbos residents. 

Sappho, an ancient Greek poet, was born on the island of Lesbos.  Many of her poems express romantic relationships between women.  From Sappho's birthplace we get out sexual identity.  In her poem, I have not had one word from her, she wrote:

"When she left, she wept
a great deal; she said to me, 'This parting must be
endured, Sappho.  I go, unwillingly.'
I said, 'Go, and be happy
but remember (you know
well) whom you leave shackled by love...'"

According to a spokesperson this is not an attack on lesbians, who create a large tourist trade for the island.  Instead, they want to be able to identify their nationality as Lesbians without having to clarify that they are not homosexual. One of the plaintiff's, however, stated that this use of the term "insults the identity" of the people of Lesbos. 

Maybe it's just me, but this stinks a bit of homophobia. Or could it be just a matter of reclaiming national identity? 

Let's Teach Kids that Beauty is only Skin-Deep!

Yes, that's sarcasm you hear. 

A new children's book, My Beautiful Mommy, is scheduled to be released on Mother's Day (reminder, it's May 11th).  The book allows you to "join a young girl as her Mommy goes through her plastic surgery experience, and learn how the whole family pitches in to help Mommy achieves her beautiful results."

Hooray!  Now young girls can start dreaming early about they day that they can become even more beautiful!  After all, that's what we truly value in our society, right?

From our friends at CodePink and Global Exchange

Anne Lamott is one of my favorite writers on the planet. Check her out at this CodePink and Global Exchange event!

Sacramento LOVES Consensual Sex

We know that sex sells. But usually when advertising executives use sex to sell something, it's for a product like a car or a hamburger or another luxury item that has nothing to do with sex. Why not use sex to sell…well, sex? That's exactly what California NOW's "I Heart Consensual Sex" campaign is doing and there are several chapters that are doing it, and doing it, and doing it well.

Recently highlighted in their local weekly publication, the Sacramento News and Review, the vivacious Sacramento chapter has taken a particularly innovative approach to the I Heart Consensual Sex campaign. Paired with a gallery-style art display, accompanied by a number of local, very talented musicians and hosted at an adult erotic toy store, the chapter is hosting sex-themed variety show. But it's not what you think. Well, not all of it.

The Sacramento chapter, affectionately known in their community as "SacNOW," has partnered with their local domestic violence prevention program, WEAVE, and their local Planned Parenthood to present a program filled with informative and sex-positive facts. The program will include the important and necessary information about sexual assault prevention and rape awareness but will additionally include a non-traditional curriculum on the latest technology for sexual pleasure and stimulation as well as poetry and spoken word ranging the topics from sexual assault to sexual desire and everything in between. The chapter published a resource book for the event that includes a number of articles including a piece on sexual harassment in the work place and a well-researched expose how poverty affects consent. The resource book is littered with amusing quotes about sex and includes an original comic by April Brayman that is a sexy instruction manual of sorts on the topic of consent and communication. The art for the event is provocative and was highlighted at the top pick by the definitive resource for Sacramento's 2^nd Saturday Art Walk, a well-known and highly trafficked monthly event in Sacramento's trendy midtown. The chapter and its hosting facility, Grind and Groove, expect a large and enthusiastic turn out for the event this Saturday, April 12^th at 6pm-10pm at 22^nd and K Street in the heart of Sacramento. Bring and friend and get ready for some consensual sex!

 

Hilary Hodge

Co-president, SacNOW

Hey Media! Here's a Story for you!

How about a story about how feminism is not dead, is alive and well, and how feminists young and veteran work together to make the world a better place for women and girls?!

I've got it for you: The CA NOW "Women in the Public Eye" conference in Hollywood. It is a story chock full of celebrities, politics and powerhouse women. How about taking that one for a spin?

"Women in the Public Eye," at the West Hollywood Hyatt, in West Hollywood, California on April 19, 2008.

Presenters will include singer Helen Reddy, writer Jill Soloway, and lunch at Justin Timberlake’s Chi Restaurant with blogger Jessica Valenti. Each of CA NOW's issues committees will host forums with outstanding women working on that issue. These include: Vicky Barker, the legal Director of the California Women's Law Center; Ausma Kahn, editor of Muslim Girl Magazine; Mary Hunt, author of In Women We Trust; Kimberly Pinkson, founder of the Ecomom Alliance; Candis Cayne, star of ABC's “Dirty Sexy Money”; Nina Hartley, renown porn star; Susan Davis, producer of “The Invisible Women”; Frances Fisher, film actress and member of the Peace Alliance. Other speakers include Kimberly Danek Pinkson, of Eco Mom Alliance; Vicky Barkley, director of the Women’s Law Center speaking on Athletic Equity; Angela Robinson, from “The L-Word,” Alexandra Billings, from “Grey’s Anatomy” and “ER,” Peter Mensah, actor and humanitarian; Robyn Ritter Simon, president of the NWPC-LA Westside caucus; and Veronique Vial, photographer for Cirque de Soleil. Elected officials and of course all the fabulous CA NOW feminists will be speaking and rallying attendees to the call for change on behalf of women and girls.

There will also be an evening out Saturday night for the OBJECT “Lady Party” at the Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard, with singer-songwriter Nellie McKay. That's a sexy lead, don't you think?

Read the full press release here.

CA NOW Welcomes Mary Hunt

The Eco-Feminism Committee is proud to present this Woman in the Public Eye, Mary Hunt ~ Author, Speaker, Business woman at the 2008 CA NOW Conference. 

From her Blog ~

I'm a speaker, writer and business developer for sustainable products and the women's market. I TRUST IN PURSE STRING THEORY - Money talks. Women determine over 80% of all consumer buying. By purchasing and promoting fully sustainable products, they can redirect the business climate while cooling down the global climate.

In Women We Trust is a recognition of the dual roles women play in bringing about a more Sustainable world. I'm an example of that duality, behaving both as a marketing professional and as a consumer. In my lifetime I've purchased 10 cars, selected the furnishings for 3 homes & 4 apartments, and hand picked enough groceries for 24,000 meals. I'm guessing that makes me the average boomer woman.

Katoucha Niane, Activist Against FGM, Found Dead in Paris

Katoucha Niane, one of the first African women to attain international stardom as a model and a vocal opponent of female genital mutilation, has been found dead in Paris. The former top model for Yves Saint Laurent had been missing since January, when her body was found Thursday in the Seine River, near the Garigliano bridge. She was 47.

Born in Guinea, Niane ran away to Europe at 17 aiming to be a model. After international success, Niane quit modeling and became a speaker and activist against female circumcision, or female genital mutilation. She describes her own experience at age 9 in her book, Katoucha, In My Flesh, which was published last year.

Niane was a voice for the thousands of young girls and women who face genital mutilation in the world and her loss will be deeply felt.

California NOW Conference is proud to present, Helen Reddy!

California NOW is proud to announce that Helen Reddy will address our annual membership and state conference, Women in the Public Eye on her new Spring 2008 speaking tour on ~ Adapting to Global Transformation.

Helen Reddy will take us into the world of healing, encouragement and self-empowerment. At a time when many feel disjointed and unaware of how they can affect the challenges in the world, Helen, with wisdom, wit, and spiritual clarity, helps us discover a latent power within us all to help us influence our own reality with courage, truth and hope. Helen clearly demonstrates how as we progress consciously, the world around us transforms with us. Learn how to harness that perceptual power with the woman who has always been a sacred catalyst for positive change. 

Helen Reddy: the unforgettable voice that became the lightning rod for feminist consciousness in the 1970's,  celebrates with us on her cross-country speaking tour in Spring 2008, to once again bring a critical message of hope and change to all.  Join us April 19th at the Hyatt West Hollywood to celebrate Ms. Reddy.