To achieve our mission of raising public awareness of the benefits of gender equality, regardless of age, race, class or sexual orientation, through education and advocacy we have partnered, and will continue to partner, with key individuals and organizations. Here are our partners to date.
The 2012 Project.png)
The 2012 Project is a campaign of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. It is a national, non-partisan effort to inspire women over 45 to run for federal and state legislative office.
Because of the U.S. Census being done this year, in 2012 congressional and state legislative districts will be redrawn to reflect the demographic shifts occurring across the country. This will create newly drawn and open seats.
We know that when women run, women win at the same rate as men – but not enough women run. Women over 45 are the most qualified pool of potential candidates. They are typically advanced in their professions, have fewer family responsibilities, are more likely to be financially stable, and have deeper roots in their communities. The 2012 Project will recruit these “third act” women from eight industries critical to the nation’s future: health, science and technology, finance, energy and environment, international relations, and small business.
We hope that you will join with us in supporting this coordinated national effort and help spread the word by passing this along to as many people as you can.
ACTION:
- Visit the 2012 web site to learn more about the campaign.
- Click here if you are part of a professional organization that would be interested in having 2012 present at its conference.
- Attend a briefing on The 2012 Project in your area.
- Contact 2012 if you are considering running for office. Remember: “Why not me?”
- Donate to The 2012 Project.
- Follow The 2012 Project on Facebook and Twitter.
Rising International
Rising International promotes ownership of craft-based businesses by women in impoverished areas of developed nations and globally in developing nations. Their focus is primarily on women in the highest risk situations such as female refugees, those with HIV/AIDS, displaced families, former slaves, or those in war-torn regions, as well as women here in the United States trying to make a better life for themselves and their children.
Rising's Rwanda Basket Project brings together survivors of genocide and the mothers and wives of genocide perpetrators to work in peace and improve their standard of living through the art of traditional basket weaving. Rising provides training, technical assistance, and most importantly access to an export market for their baskets. In the first year alone, members of the Rwanda Basket Project achieved an average annual income of US$370 - almost $100 more than Rwanda's per capita income! Purchase beautiful baskets from Rwanda.
Sylverine, an artisan from Rwanda, survived the 1994 genocide by hiding in a hole for 3 months. Today she owns a plot of land thanks to her income from Rising.
American Rising representative, Susana, lost her brother to a drive by shooting. Today her income from selling Sylverine's baskets allows her to live in a safer neighborhood.
Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world. 87 percent of Afghan women are illiterate, 70-80 percent of women are subject to forced marriages and one in every three will experience physical, psychological or sexual violence. Rising's Afghan Dolls Project has raised the status of Afghan widows by providing them with a source of income. These highly individual dolls constructed of scraps of cloth are traditional toys made by Afghan mothers for their daughters. Each doll is labeled by the artisan that made it and includes a story card. Purchase a unique, one-of-a-kind doll from Afghanistan.
By selling their handmade crafts and sharing their life stories,
impoverished women can reach out to the rest of the world
not for charity but for a chance.
Campaign for Gender Equality is proud to support Rising International's work to help women worldwide gain financial independence.
ACTION:
- Envision a brighter future for all of humanity. Join with Rising International to help end poverty. Your interest and support are the cornerstones to bringing the women, and the world, out of extreme poverty. Make a purchase through their online store and please identify Campaign for Gender Equality when making your purchase.
Courage Campaign
The Courage Campaign is an online organizing network that empowers nearly 700,000 grassroots and netroots activists to push for progressive change and equality in California.
Campaign for Gender Equality has partnered with Courage Campaign in the fight for marriage equality in California and stands with them in supporting the fundamental right of Equality for All.
Rick Jacobs of the Courage Campaign said,
“The California Supreme Court's decision to uphold Proposition 8 is extremely disappointing, but we don't have time to mourn their failure to restore marriage equality to California.
These are fundamental constitutional rights that cannot be abolished by a ballot initiative. While we were hoping the Court would rule in favor of equality, we have been building the infrastructure to win marriage equality rights at the ballot box. Our members are ready to do the hard work needed to win."
ACTION:
- The Courage Campaign hit the California airwaves with a 60-second TV ad version of "Fidelity" Watch the ad here. The ads are in English and Spanish. The questions they pose are - Would it be acceptable for voters to decide to deny people from being married because of their race; or would it be acceptable to pay people less because of their gender? Obviously the answer is NO!
- Please go to www.couragecampaign.org/equality to sign the pledge to support marriage equality and send it to your friends.
Feminist Majority Foundation
Title IX has been one of the most successful federal civil rights acts and has withstood many challenges. As stated in The Triumphs of Title IX:
Title IX is the first legislation that specifically prohibits sex discrimination in education. It reads:
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
By offering legal protection from hostile work and learning environments, it helped draw attention to sexism in the classroom and opened the door for change.
As Jennifer Hahn writes in Schoolgirl Dreams:
“Before Title IX, if you were discriminated against, all you could do is maybe transfer to another school - if they would let you,” says Bernice Sandler, the woman considered the “godmother” of the law. “Title IX [allowed students to] say, ‘This is not only wrong; this is illegal.’” … In the last 35 years, Title IX has successfully changed the lives of girls and women educators by protecting their rights, broadening their horizons and setting them up for success in later stages of their education and careers.
Separate is never equal especially in public education. Whether we are talking about facilities, quality of instruction, levels of expectations, treatment of students, or preference for a particular teacher, it is very difficult to provide even ‘substantial’ equality in sex-segregated schools, classes, or activities (Feminist Majority Foundation). As in race or ethnic discrimination, the less prestigious or valued group often receives less favorable resources.
Title IX opened doors to educational opportunities for girls and women in all areas of education, from kindergarten through graduate school.
Campaign for Gender Equality has joined the Feminist Majority Foundation in their campaign to rescind the Bush administration's 2006 regulations weakening Title IX. We have signed on to their organizational resolution which reads in part:
The Bush Administration arbitrarily weakened the Title IX regulation in allowing increased sex segregated education in K-12 … without appropriate protections against sex discrimination …
The 2006 changes in the Title IX regulations deliberately undermine the intent of Title IX and will continually threaten the advancement of gender equity in U.S. public schools until they are rescinded or otherwise invalidated.
ACTION:
- Please sign the petition(and ask your friends and family to sign) urging the Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan to undo the damage from the Bush administration and rescind the 2006 changes to the Title IX regulation. Then email it to sklein@feminist.org. FOR MORE INFO
Media Education Foundation
Women, our Culture, and Violence
Media Education Foundation produces and distributes documentary films and other educational resources to inspire critical reflection on the social, political, and cultural impact of American mass media.
The stakes have never been higher, and the necessity for education never more crucial. The Media Education Foundation offers resources designed to help spark discussion about some of the most pressing, and complicated issues of our time. Their aim is to inspire people to think critically and in new ways about the hyper-mediated world around them.
According to the National Organization for Women, women experience about 4.8 million intimate partner-related physical assaults and rapes every year. Much to the misconception of many, victims of domestic violence come from all races, classes and ethnic backgrounds.
What makes domestic violence and other forms of violence against women so prevalent? What makes men feel they can have power and control over women? The answers are complicated and there are many. The following documentary films help us to understand how women seen in our culture and how the media influences our behavior.
ACTION:
- To better understand watch the films below.
- Host a "Watch Party" by purchasing any of the films. For "Home Use" prices call MEF at 413-584-8500 ext#1 (sales dept.) and ask for the home use price.
Jackson Katz's pioneering and influential
examination of how American popular culture
glorifies violent masculinity.
An entertaining introduction to
gender politics and gender theory
from one of the foremost authorities
on American manhood and masculinity.
How negative, hateful attitudes toward
women and femininity are being perpetuated
at the very heart of American popular culture.
Jean Kilbourne's
groundbreaking analysis
of advertising's depiction
of women and femininity.
National Women’s History Museum 
Celebrating Women’s Achievements
Last year, many women made history. In 2009, Members of Congress will have the opportunity to recognize women's successes by passing The National Women's History Museum Act giving NWHM a permanent home.
Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) re-introduced The National Women's History Museum Act (H.R. 1700) with bipartisan support on March 25, 2009. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) will re-introduce the companion Senate bill shortly. NWHM have launched the Right Here. Right Now. campaign so that the public can make their voices heard on Capitol Hill.
“Now is the time to pass legislation that will empower and inspire future generations of women” -Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Urge Congress to pass The National Women's History Museum Act immediately. Watch Meryl Streep talk about her support for the National Women's History Museum.
ACTION:
- Tell your Representative to pass The National Women's History Museum Act now.
- Show your support by displaying the Right Here. Right Now. badge online.
University of California, Santa Cruz Feminist Studies 
professor, Dr. Bettina Aptheker
Understanding how sexism permeates our society
To achieve Gender Equality in our society we must first understand how sexism, racism, classism, and homophobia are interconnected. University of California, Santa Cruz Feminist Studies professor, Dr. Bettina Aptheker has released a 17-DVD set of her acclaimed class Introduction to Feminisms. Dr. Aptheker’s "Introduction to Feminisms" emphasizes the diversity of women's lives. She talks about everything from unlearning racism, to loving ourselves, to women, immigration and the global economy, to women and body image, to the politics of rape and how they all interrelate with each other. She is engaging, tells stories and covers sexism, racism and homophobia and how they are connected and contribute to gender inequality in this country and around the world. There is a lot of information out there but it is not always available and easy to understand.
“After watching Bettina’s DVD’s I came away more knowledgeable and able to see the whole picture. I was reenergized and felt very encouraged by what I learned.”- Margaret Harrington, Boston, MA
Campaign for Gender Equality is pleased to partner with Professor Aptheker to get the word out about this amazing opportunity to see and hear her 17 lectures. The DVD set is available at: www.introtofem.org for only $20. Click here for more about Bettina.
Understanding = Action = Change!
ACTION:
- Order the DVD’s
- Host a "Watch Party", watch one DVD at a time, and talk about what you can do.
- If you know of schools, libraries, organizations or other individuals who would be interested in receiving information about Introduction to Feminisms please email us at info@campaignforgenderequality.org
- Donate to Campaign for Gender Equality to help us get this important informational tool to more people.
WomenCount
Petition for the establishment of a Presidential Commission
In September 2008, Campaign for Gender Equality met with WomenCount to discuss the idea of calling for the establishment of a Presidential Commission on Women. We worked together for three months to develop the plan of action that launched the Presidential Commission on Women petition drive. A Presidential Commission on Women would initiate a national conversation about gender inequities, and develop and recommend policy changes. We are pleased that President Obama created a White House Council on Women and Girls. We believe that The White House Council and the Presidential Commission on Women can and should work together in collaboration - the Council working within the administration and the Commission working to hear from experts, bring stories of women to light, and make policy recommendations. Campaign for Gender Equality is currenty working on the grassroots level asking individuals and organizations to support the creation of a Presidential Commission on Women.
48 years since the last and only Presidential Commission on Women
ACTION:
- Please join the call for a Presidential Commission on Women and Sign the Petition.
- Ask your friends and family to sign the petition
- HR 1887 was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. If your Congress member is on this committee please CONTACT them (type in your zip code) and ask he/she to support HR 1887 and sign on as a co-sponsor. If your Congress member is not on this committee please ask them to sign on as a co-sponsor.
- Your donation to Campaign for Gender Equality will help us spread the word.
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