On International Women's Day: Closing the Gender Gap

As you know, today is International Women’s Day, a day designed to celebrate women and their progress and accomplishments. Yet as much progress as women have made, it is important that we continue to be given equal opportunities to grow and succeed. To help with this, I want to highlight one of the key inequalities currently afflicting our gender: opportunities in STEM education. Below, this infographic, created by NJIT’s Civil Engineering program, highlights the STEM industry’s gender gap, as well as celebrates women who have transcended this gap.


NJIT Online

HuffPost Women: 48 Things Men Hear In A Lifetime (That Are Bad For Everyone)

Earlier this month, HuffPost Women's viral video "48 Things Women Hear In A Lifetime (That Men Just Don't)" showed the subtle sexism women are subjected to throughout their lives. However, since sexism doesn't exist in a vacuum, the same team is turning the idea around with a new video entitled "48 Things Men Hear In A Lifetime (That Are Bad For Everyone)."

This video shows that the messages men (young and old) hear - "be a man!" "boys don't cry!" "pink is a girl's color!" - all boil down to the same idea: "don't be a woman." Telling men they're not "real men" unless they're tough, financially successful, strong and authoritative not only hurts those that don't fit into these confined parameters but hurts women too. 

The cycle of sexism will never end if we continue to equate traditionally "feminine" qualities as "bad." To hear from the men themselves check out HuffPost Women's video here .  

Spread Awareness About Women Facing Crisis

Today is International Women’s Day, an occasion to celebrate women and girls’ remarkable potential,
inherent worth and vital contributions to our communities. It’s also a day to recognize that millions of
women and girls still confront threats to their safety, their health, their livelihoods and their dignity - and
to advocate for solutions that can improve their lives.

Are you concerned with these issues? Then join the International Rescue Committee (IRC)’s Wake Up
campaign. At rescue.org/wakeup, you can read stories of real women facing crisis – like Fatuma, whose
daughter was assaulted on the daily trek for clean water in Somalia; Francine, who is working to
overcome the wounds of sexual slavery in Congo; and Angele, a Cameroonian asylee who fled political
turmoil in her home country and is slowly rebuilding her life in the United States. You can sign a pledge
affirming your support for women and girls like these all over the world who are fighting for survival and

Image via Wikipedia

struggling to endure. When you do, you’ll join the ranks of such notables as IRC Voice and “The Walking
Dead” star Sarah Wayne Callies and actresses Téa Leoni, Alyssa Milano and Morena Baccarin. And you
can use the tools in the IRC’s handy social action kit to share the pledge and raise awareness about
what can be done to help – which makes you a part of the solution.

The IRC works to protect and empower women and girls in more than 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities,
from Burundi to Baltimore. We’re joining with them on this special day, to take a stand for women and
girls. We hope that you will, too. Sign the Wake Up pledge and pass it on!

Related articles

• International Women's Day 2012 (umsuwomyns.com)
• International Women's Day 2012. (radicalglasgowblog.blogspot.com)
• Women of the Revolution (radioadelaidebreakfast.wordpress.com)

Nation's Katha Pollitt on How Budget Cuts Affect Women

In light of what's happening in Washington DC this week with a looming government showdown and the proposed GOP budget calling for dramatic cuts, as well as what's taking place around the country as states brace for dramatic cuts to public services, Nation Columnist Katha Pollitt examines how these proposed cuts will adversely impact women.

In the piece, Pollitt addresses:

-A huge proportion of working women are employed by government or government contractors, in areas that are facing the most dramatic cuts: education, health care, social services, libraries, legal aid and office work.

--In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo's plan to cut $300 millions in human services, which would adversely affect women by cutting domestic violence programs and summer youth employment programs; defund 105 New York City senior centers; cut $7 million in childcare services for welfare recipients; eliminate transitional jobs programs and childcare for low-income college students; and reduce funding for after-school programs as well as the Nurse-Family Partnership home visiting program.

Related articles

• Obama calls budget talks as shutdown looms (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Boehner: No deal on budget after Obama meeting (cbsnews.com)