Women Studies Blog

  #prochoice & #equalpayforequalwork 

[njn293]

10 posts!

All contain very informative information!

[njn293]

Testimony of Piper Kerman, Author, "Orange is the New Black"

[WASHINGTON, DC] Piper Kerman, author of "Orange is the New Black," testified at a hearing on "Reassesssing Solitary Confinement" before the Senate Judiciary...

Witness testimony from Piper Kerman - chilling and informative 

[njn293]

Hearing on Use of Solitary Confinement

Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Charles Samuels testifies at a hearing on the use of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons. The U.S. now holds more prisoners in isolation than any other…

Take a look  - some shocking testimony by males AND females alike

[z4howard]

Meet the Senate’s newest odd couple: Sens. Cory Booker and Rand Paul. The duo of high-profile, first-term senators — one a New Jersey Democrat who came to Capitol Hill on Twitter-fueled national fame, the other a Kentucky Republican mulling a presidential bid in 2016 — will roll out legislation that comprehensively overhauls the U.S. criminal justice system.

The measure, called the REDEEM Act, has several pillars: It encourages states to change policies so children are directed away from the adult criminal justice system; automatically expunges or seals — depending on their age — criminal records of juveniles who committed nonviolent crimes; and limits solitary confinement of children, except in rare circumstances. The legislation also creates a path for adults with nonviolent offenses to seal their criminal records and restores food stamp and welfare benefits for low-level drug offenders who have served their sentences. The senators touted the legislation as a smarter use of taxpayer funds while more effectively focusing rehabilitation efforts for young individuals to help them avoid committing future crimes. “I will work with anyone, from any party, to make a difference for the people of New Jersey and this bipartisan legislation does just that,” Booker said in a statement to be released Tuesday. In his own statement, Paul said the existing criminal system has kept scores of young men and women in a “cycle of poverty and incarceration.” “Many of these young people could escape this trap if criminal justice were reformed, if records were expunged after time served, and if nonviolent crimes did not become a permanent blot preventing employment,” Paul said. Paul, in particular, has made reforms to the criminal justice system one of his signature issues. Most recently, he introduced legislation that would restore voting rights for nonviolent felons in federal elections — a move that was praised by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). He is also working on reforms to drug sentencing laws and ways to aid nonviolent criminals seeking employment.

[njn293]

Off topic - END SOLITARY CONFINEMENT: instead of just INCARCERATE - REHABILITATE! 

[underthemountainbunker-deactiva]

…

SENATE DEMOCRATS will soon hold a vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would update and strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963, a senior Democratic Senate aide confirms to me. “This vote is going to happen,” the aide says. The vote means this will likely be the next major battle in the war over women, and it could put Mitt Romney in a delicate political spot. It will force a choice: Either he supports the measure, which would put him at odds with the Senate GOP caucus (which voted against the bill two years ago), or he opposes it, which would put Romney at odds with his own rhetorical support for equal pay for women, potentially damaging him further among crucial female swing voters. —Greg Sargent

[njn293]

Some campaign literature from the presidential election. "The War on Women"  - key phrase in the progressive push for reform!

[ppaction]

Today, women make up about half of the US workforce, and are the primary breadwinners in almost half of households with children. But they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns—and for women of color, the pay gap is even wider. That’s not just wrong; it’s embarrassing. To succeed in the workplace and in life, women need a fair chance to earn what they deserve and they need. It’s time to close the gap: Here’s to next Equal Pay Day being January 1, 2015!

[njn293]

Notice the difference in African-American Women as well as Latina Women 

[beyoncevoters-blog]

[prochoiceamerica]

We’re loving this new Tumblr - and this graphic in particular! :) 

[njn293]

- A woman's choice to go on birth control is a discussion between her and her doctor... not her and her boss!!

[prochoiceamerica]

We couldn’t agree more with Justice Ginsberg. For more Notorious R.B.G., watch her interview with Katie Couric → http://nar.al/2dd 

[prochoiceamerica]

Our hearts are heavy with the news of Robin Williams’ passing. The world lost not only a great actor, but also a great humanitarian who spoke out for equality and reproductive freedom. We were proud to count him as a supporter.

[njn293]

RIP - a voice for equality 

[iggyazazel]

Graph by me based on this table.

No data found on other groups (Asian people, Desi people, transgender people, etc).

[njn293]

A visual guide to inequality 

[plannedparenthood]

It’s Equal Pay Day – a day that shows how far into 2013 women must work to earn what men earned in 2012. After all, women still make just 77 cents to a man’s dollar. This gender gap affects women (and their families) from all backgrounds, ages, and at all levels of education – and it’s unacceptable. 

Re-blogging because (unfortunately) this is still a thing.

[night-catches-us]

"Black women have had to develop a larger vision of our society than perhaps any other group. They have had to understand white men, white women, and black men. And they have had to understand themselves. When black women win victories, it is a boost for virtually every segment of society."

- Angela Davis, activist, author, educator

Happy 70th birthday to one of my favourite sheroes ever! 

(via night-catches-us)

[obamawhitehouse]

This week, President Obama signed an Executive Order that prohibits federal contractors from discriminating against their employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

On Friday, join a conversation on the new Executive Order and steps the President has taken to expand opportunity for the LGBT community. Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, will host for a Tumblr Q&A this Friday, July 25 at 1pm ET.

Right now, you can ask your questions here on the White House Tumblr, and Valerie Jarrett will answer a bunch on Friday, July 25 at 1pm ET.