Women's Voices. Women Vote. - News Articles

Senate Passes Bill Giving U.S. Troops Abroad More Time to Vote

2009-10-26T13:12:00Z

The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act ensures that American women and men in uniform receive ballots a minimum of 45 days before an election in order to ensure there’s enough time to complete and return them.

The bill, which takes effect before the 2010 national elections, was approved on a 68-29 vote.

The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act requires that American women and men in uniform receive ballots a minimum of 45 days before an election in order to ensure there’s enough time to complete and return them.

The bill, which takes effect before the 2010 national elections, was approved on a 68-29 vote.

Click here to read the full story from The New York Times.

Reflections on Marriage

2009-10-23T20:03:00Z

Melissa Harris-Lacewell has written an interesting and provocative piece on marriage at The Nation.

She writes: “We must do more than simply integrate new groups into an old system. Let’s use this moment to re-imagine marriage and marriage-free options for building families, rearing children, crafting communities, and distributing public goods.”

Melissa Harris-Lacewell, an associate professor of politics and African-American studies at Princeton University, has written an interesting and provocative piece on marriage at The Nation.

Using as a springboard the issue of gay marriage and several recent events – including the marriage of feminist author and blogger Jessica Valenti, Frances Smith Foster’s forthcoming book, ‘Til Death or Distance Do Us Part: Love and Marriage in African America, and the Louisiana justice of the peace who refused to marry an interracial couple—Harris-Lacewell covers a lot of history and interesting territory. Along the way, she writes:

Marriage is now a minority lifestyle among black people. African American women in all socioeconomic categories are the group least likely to marry, most likely to divorce, and most likely to bear and rear children alone. And although marriage has fallen most precipitously among black people, it has declined throughout the United States. Since 1970, marriage rates in the United States have dropped more than 15% overall, and divorce rates have climbed steadily during this same time.

Fewer people who can marry are choosing to do so. More people who do marry are choosing to exit. This is not solely about selfish individuals unwilling to sacrifice for joint commitment. Marriage itself is still bolstered by a troubling cultural mythology, a history of domination, and a contemporary set of gendered expectations that render it both unsatisfying and unstable for many people.

In short, despite the fierce battles for marriage, contemporary heterosexual marriage is a bit of a mess. The current state of straight marriage is a reminder that simply having the right to marry is not sufficient to generate social equality, create economic stability, or ensure personal fulfillment. Marriage is a crucial civil right, but not a panacea. Even as progressives fight for marriage equality for same-sex couples, we need also to reflect on marriage as a social and political institution in itself.

Our work must be not just about marriage equality, it should also be about equal marriages, and about equal rights and security for those who opt out of marriage altogether.

Be sure to read the entire essay.

A gender gap on health care

2009-10-21T17:33:00Z

According to a recent NBC/WSJ poll, women care more about health care than men do; women also support Obama’s health-care plans more than men do.

From MSNBC’s First Read:

“According to last month’s NBC/WSJ poll, both men and women rank the economy as their top concern (56% of men and 55% of women had it as their No. 1 or No. 2 issue). But then there’s a fascinating disparity: 46% of women rank health care as one of their top-two concerns, versus 34% of men who think that—a 12-point difference. On the other hand, a combined 39% of men rank the deficit and spending as a top-two concern, versus 29% of women who do— a 10-point difference. So women care more about health care than men do, while men are more concerned about the deficit and spending. What’s more, women overall support Obama’s health-care plans more than men do. Per last month’s poll, women support Obama’s plan by a 40%-38% margin. By comparison, men oppose it by a 44%-38% clip. So here’s your battle of the sexes: Women are more inclined to be health-care voters, while men are deficit/spending voters.”

WVWV is looking into whether or not there is also marriage gap – and we’ll report back on whether there is any difference in concerns about health care and Obama’s plans between unmarried and married women.

The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Changes Everything -- A closer look at unmarried women workers

2009-10-21T16:25:00Z

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics annual averages for 2008:

There are over 33 million unmarried women (18+) in the labor force.
Unmarried women (18+) represent 22% of the total labor force in the United States.
Almost 60% of all unmarried women (18+) are in the labor force.

As noted in the recently released report from Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progress, “for the first time in our nation’s history, women are half of all U.S. workers.” The changing makeup of the labor force has widespread implications across a broad spectrum of society, including the economy, the family, our communities, and our social, faith-based, and political institutions.

One important dynamic here is the specific impact of unmarried women in the labor force.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics annual averages for 2008:

There are over 33 million unmarried women (18+) in the labor force.
Unmarried women (18+) represent 22% of the total labor force in the United States.
Almost 60% of all unmarried women (18+) are in the labor force.

While many unmarried women are educated, career-oriented professionals, many more do not have a college degree and are stuck in low-wage jobs. Moreover, unmarried women make on average barely more than half of what a married man makes, and unmarried women with children earn less than women without kids.

The fact that almost 60 percent of all unmarried women now work creates specific challenges for public policy in terms of employment opportunities, education and career training, childcare, healthcare, and other issues.

In 2008, together with the Center for American Progress Action Fund, WVWV published a groundbreaking report on unmarried women’s unique needs and priorities and how public policy has yet to catch up to the new reality of unmarried women workers and heads of households.

This November, we will be releasing a follow-up report on the status of legislation and public policies that have a unique impact on the lives of unmarried women, assessing how far we have come on a public policy agenda that works for unmarried women.

Be sure to check back for the release of that report.

California and other states move to allow preregistration for young voters

2009-10-19T19:19:00Z

California joins three other states to allow young citizens to preregister to vote so that they will automatically registered when they turn 18. Other states may soon follow suit.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed legislation that will allow all 17-year-old citizens to preregister to vote so that they will be automatically enrolled as legal voters once they turn 18.

This newer trend in legislation, which boasts bipartisan support, has recently passed in North Carolina and has been successfully implemented in five other states, including Florida.

Three other states permit citizens as young as 16 to preregister, including Florida, Hawaii, and North Carolina, where the newly passed law will become effective in January 2010.

According to FairVote, a member of the Massachusetts statehouse leadership announced last week that a similar measure is her top priority in coming weeks. And the Washington, D.C. City Council last week unanimously backed pre-registration legislation.

To follow preregistration bills and other election reforms, visit www.ElectionLegislation.org.

Shriver Report Highlights Role of Unmarried Women in One of the Greatest Social Transformations of Our Time

2009-10-16T19:26:00Z

The Center for American Progress (CAP), in partnership with Maria Shriver, has broken new ground with the publication of “The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Changes Everything.” The report takes a hard look at how women’s changing roles are affecting our major societal institutions, from government and businesses to our faith communities, and examines how our society is responding to one of the greatest social transformations of our time.

One of the dynamics highlighted in the report is how unmarried women are affecting and being affected by this social transformation. There are currently more than 51 million single, separated, divorced, or widowed women in the United States. There are almost as many unmarried women as there are married women, and unmarried women are one of the fastest growing demographic groups. Unmarried women are also increasing their participation in electoral politics, but are still under-represented in relation to their share of the population.

“The book discusses the challenges that unmarried women workers face, especially single moms and female-headed households. Unmarried women need good jobs to support themselves and their families, and they need a system that supports them in taking care of their families,” said Page Gardner, founder and President of Women’s Voices. Women Vote (WVWV). “At WVWV, we are finding ways to both engage and inform women on issues that matter most in their lives. Theirs is an important voice to be heard in the national conversation about modernizing public policies and business practices to better meet their circumstances.”

Gardner’s essay in the report, “Single in a Married-Centered World,” explores the unique challenges facing unmarried women in these times. You can read the essay here.

In conjunction with the report, WVWV also released a video with Gardner and Heather Boushey, a CAP senior economist and co-editor of the report, discussing how unmarried women are faring in the economy and the workplace. You can see the video of the interview here at WVWV’s website.

Bebe notes importance of women voters in NJ and VA gubernatorial races

2009-10-15T22:06:00Z

Syndicated columnist Bonnie Erbe has a column today entitled “Women in the Political Spotlight,” in which she notes some surprise that “[w]omen voters are the most coveted demographic in not one but two gubernatorial races this year.” But there is something else surprising about the role of women in those two races that, unfortunately, no one in the media—despite several articles looking at the role of women voters - has yet to report. It’s the marriage gap!

Of course, there is something else surprising about the role of women in those two races that, unfortunately, no one in the media—despite several articles looking at the role of women voters - has yet to report.

Recent polling shows just how important unmarried women and the “marriage gap” are to the races in New Jersey and Virginia. An October 6-7 poll by Democracy Corps shows that the biggest difference in the New Jersey election is the “marriage gap”—the difference in support among married vs. unmarried women. While Corzine has a small lead over Christie among married women, Corzine leads Christie among unmarried women: 57-25, with Daggett at 10. In Virginia, the story is the same. By far the biggest difference in the election is the support of unmarried women. According the most recent poll from the Washington Post (released October 8), while Deeds and McDonnell are basically tied among married women (50-48, respectively), Deeds is winning among unmarried women 61-36.

Hill article highlights the potential impact of RAE drop-off voters in 2010

2009-10-15T18:47:00Z

In yesterday’s The Hill, reporter Aaron Blake wrote about the potential for a “precipitous drop” in voting by two RAE groups: African Americans and youths. While Blake was specifically analyzing potential turnout in November’s elections in New Jersey and Virginia, concerns about potential drop-off voting extend to the 2010 midterms.

Consistent with WVWV’s research, Blake quotes analysts noting there could be a significant change to the composition of the electorate in 2010 compared to 2008.

Yet to be told, however, is the story of how drop-off voting among unmarried women could affect the 2010 elections. Based on our nation-wide projections, there are likely to be 35.3% fewer unmarried women voting in 2010 than in 2008. That’s 10.8 million voters. By contrast, we project there will be 19.4% fewer married women voting in 2010: 7.8 million fewer voters.

You can read Blake’s article here.

Women’s Voices Women Vote Congratulates Lifetime Networks

2009-10-13T17:53:00Z

Women’s Voices Women. Vote congratulates Lifetime Networks for being nominated by the Association of Cable Communicators (ACC) for its Golden Beacon Award. Lifetime received the nomination for its “Every Woman Counts” campaign, the entertainment industry’s only ongoing public advocacy campaign dedicated to amplifying women’s voices in the political process, encouraging them to register to vote, and to run for political office.

The Golden Beacon award is the ACC’s highest honor and recognizes a communications and public affairs campaign for making an impact on the cable industry and enhancing the image of cable television.

Women’s Voices Women Vote was proud to be a partner in the Every Woman Counts Coalition and applauds the ACC for recognizing Lifetime’s contributions toward inspiring women nationwide to make their voices heard in the 2008 elections.

“Lifetime is truly deserving of this nomination,” said Page Gardner, President of Women’s Voices Women Vote. “Lifetime’s Every Woman Counts Coalition was an unprecedented effort to bring women into the political process and to make their voices heard in our democracy. It was also a tremendous success, reaching out to millions of women across the United States.”

“There is nothing funny or serious about repealing women’s right to vote.”

2009-10-08T19:31:00Z

Statement by Women’s Voices. Women Vote President and Founder Page Gardner

As noted by Think Progress, National Review columnist John Derbyshire recently told radio show host Alan Colmes that he “wouldn’t lose a minute’s sleep” if “female suffrage [were to] be repealed” and stated that the United States would “probably” be a better country if women did not vote. Mr. Derbyshire’s comments are as sexist as they are anti-democratic. Women now makeup a majority of the electorate in this country (they accounted for 53.7% of the votes cast in the 2008 election), but Derbyshire would be fine if they stayed at home on Election Day.

“There is nothing funny or serious about repealing women’s right to vote.”

Statement by Women’s Voices. Women Vote

President and Founder Page Gardner

Under the guise of a serious intellectual argument, Derbyshire made this case against female suffrage: “women lean hard to the left,” which means that “women voting is bad for conservatism” and therefore “bad for society.” I wonder what the 29.6 million women who voted for John McCain in 2008 think about that. You see, Derbyshire is simply wrong when he states that “women lean hard left.” While there is a gender gap, with women tending to vote more Democratic, the more important difference is the marriage gap, with unmarried women voting overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates. Indeed, in 2008, McCain won the married women’s vote by 1.6 million votes, while President Obama won the unmarried women’s vote by 12.8 million votes.

Unable to win the hearts and minds of progressive women, Derbyshire would prefer they simply not vote. So much for the marketplace of ideas or the principles of democratic deliberation and choice. Based on Derbyshire’s logic, African Americans and young people should not be allowed to vote either because they tend to prefer more progressive candidates. Perhaps Mr. Derbyshire would like to return to the days when only white men voted, but I’m guessing most Americans wouldn’t think that good for society, and I’m pretty sure they would not find it democratic.

CAP: Unmarried Women Hit Hard by Poverty

2009-09-11T19:59:00Z

By Liz Weiss

New data released today by the Census Bureau shows a statistically significant increase in the national poverty rate in 2008. Most adults (18 and over) in poverty are women; 59 percent of adults in poverty are women; and 13 percent of all adult women are in poverty. Three-quarters of these women are women on their own—widowed, divorced, separated, or never married—despite being less than half (47 percent) of the population of adult women. These unmarried women have appreciably higher poverty rates than married women—20.8 percent versus 6.2 percent. Yet unmarried women live in a variety of situations—they may be living with partners, they may be mothers, they may be elderly—and each group has unique circumstances and needs. Indeed, poverty rates vary greatly for women by family status, age, and race.

By Liz Weiss | September 10, 2009

In 2008, 39.8 million people—13.2 percent of Americans—were in poverty, a statistically significant increase from 2007 (12.5 percent), and a marked increase since 2000 when poverty was at 11.3 percent—its lowest level in a generation. Unfortunately, we know that the poverty picture has worsened in 2009, and these new numbers reflect only the first part of the current economic downturn. Unemployment in August 2009 was at 9.7 percent nationwide and nearly 12 percent for unmarried women (seasonally unadjusted). What’s more, long-term unemployment has grown considerably and food stamp participation increased by more than 20 percent between June 2008 and June 2009.

Women are more likely even in better economic times to face poverty than men, and unmarried women have higher poverty rates than married women. Yet the marital disparity has worsened since early in the decade. The poverty rate of unmarried women was 13.4 percentage points higher than married women in 2000, but it was 14.6 percentage points higher in 2008. The risk of poverty for women of color is even greater, especially for those who are unmarried. Thirty percent of unmarried black women and 29.5 percent of unmarried Hispanic women—of any race—were poor in 2008, compared with 18.5 percent of unmarried white women.

Click here to read the full article

Labor Pains: Improving Employment and Economic Security for Pregnant Women and New Mothers

2009-08-03T16:53:00Z

Policymakers must ensure economic security for pregnant women and new mothers, write Melissa Alpert and Alexandra Cawthorne in the first of a new series from Center for American Progress.

Pregnant women have a stronger connection to the workforce than ever before, but public policy has done a very poor job of integrating them into the labor market.

By Alexandra Cawthorne, Melissa Alpert

August 3, 2009

Read the full article at the Center for American Progress.

Workplace policies affecting work and family balance are out of touch with the reality of modern family life in the United States. Worker benefits—including paid leave and health care—are modeled on a traditional two-parent household in which one parent works a single 9 to 5 job while the other manages household and childcare responsibilities. People who do not conform to this model are often left out in the cold. Part-time workers, for example, often have little or no access to benefits, including unemployment insurance when they lose their jobs.

Most households no longer conform to traditional notions of the American family. Single motherhood has dramatically risen in recent years, and unmarried women now account for nearly 40 percent of new births. Many two-parent families lack the resources to maintain a single, nonworking caregiver. More than 70 percent of children are raised in families that are headed by either a working single parent or two working parents. And with four out of every five jobs lost in this recession belonging to men, women are becoming the primary—or even the sole—breadwinner in an increasing number of American households.

The decision to have a child still complicates women’s interactions with the labor market, despite their significantly increased workforce participation and attachment. Three-quarters of women entering today’s workforce will become pregnant at least once while employed, and a significant portion of these women will be pregnant while applying for jobs. Those who become pregnant while working will generally not leave the workforce. Most of these women will continue working well into their sixth, or—more commonly—their ninth month of pregnancy. And more than 40 percent will return to work less than three months after giving birth.

Pregnant women have a stronger connection to the workforce than ever before, but public policy has done a very poor job of integrating them into the labor market. Pregnant women face even more barriers to full employment and to economic security than women who are not pregnant. Outdated and damaging gender stereotypes often lead to employer concerns about hiring pregnant women or women they think are likely to become pregnant in the near future. But in a major recession with record job losses, discriminatory hiring and firing practices have become harder to detect and address.

Denying pregnant women the opportunity to work may deprive many women and families of vital income, not to mention many of the benefits that often accompany secure employment. Bias against pregnant women sometimes also leads to discriminatory treatment against all women of reproductive age because they are viewed as having the potential to become pregnant and thus a possible burden on workforce productivity. Women need to be able to rely on the labor market and know that they will be treated fairly.

In order to follow through on the rhetoric about providing supports to pregnant women, policymakers must take action to support increased and consistent labor market participation among all women, especially pregnant workers. The policy actions we recommend include combating discrimination in the labor market; promoting flexible scheduling; improving family leave options; increasing breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace; establishing a system of quality, comprehensive childcare; and expanding access to Temporary Disability and Unemployment Insurance. Addressing these areas will ensure that pregnant women and new mothers have the economic and employment security they need to start or grow their families.

Read the full report (pdf)

Report Finds Declining Economy Disproportionately Impacts Unmarried Women

2009-04-28T22:00:00Z

Washington, D.C. – With unmarried Americans bearing a disproportionate share of the nation’s economic hard times, Women’s Voices. Women Vote (WVWV) today released a report titled, “The Economics of Unmarried America” aimed at drawing a clear and nonpartisan picture of the lives of unmarried Americans. The report’s findings were compiled by Lake Research Partners of Washington, D.C.

Women’s Voices. Women Vote, Releases Economic Findings On Unmarried Women On Pay Equality Day

“While the country’s economic decline has touched all Americans, its effect on unmarried women has been devastating,” said Page Gardner, president and founder of WVWV, a national nonpartisan organization focused on the increased participation of unmarried women in the civic process.

Gardner continued: “With the report released today, on Equal Pay Day, we hope to spotlight their struggle, outlining for lawmakers that this is a population in need — a population of single mothers and fathers struggling daily just to keep their families fed and safe.”

Among the report’s key findings:

The unemployment rate for unmarried men (15.7%) is nearly double the overall national rate (8.5%), and unmarried women are unemployed at a higher rate as well at 9.6%. [Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2009]
Unmarried women make just 57 cents on the dollar compared to married men. [U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2008]
Of all American adults who live in poverty, unmarried women account for half. [U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey , 2007]
In the last year, 21 out of every 1,000 single mothers have filed for bankruptcy — in comparison, married couples with children filed at a rate of 15 out of every 1,000. [MSN Money, “7 Ways to Fight Off Bankruptcy”]
18.6 million unmarried Americans are uninsured. [National Health Interview Survey, 2007]

In many cases, unmarried women and men are trying to support not only themselves but children, too, and stimulus legislation and programs like SCHIP can help ease their economic burden.

“Unmarried women earn less, pay more toward housing, are more likely to live in poverty … this is not about politics,” said Gardner. “It’s about millions of women finding some relief from the ever-burgeoning struggle they attend to daily — for themselves and for their children.”

The full report of “The Economics of Unmarried America” may be found at: http://www.wvwv.org/research-items/the-impact-of-a-declining-economy-on-unmarried-women.

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Women's Voices, Women Vote, is a national nonpartisan organization that promotes the participation of the nation's 53 million unmarried women in the democratic process. For more information, please visit our Web site: www.wvwv.org.

Women's Voices Women vote proudly announces the release of its 2009 report entitled "Access to Democracy: Identifying Obstacles Hindering the Right to Vote.

2009-04-20T14:00:00Z

In 2008’s Presidential election 133 million Americans cast ballots, which represents the largest number of voters to ever participate in a U.S. election. This result is certainly a great accomplishment; however, WVWV strongly believes that it is time for significant reform to ensure that the remaining 79 million Americans who were eligible, but did not cast their votes, are encouraged and able to do so in future elections.

WVWV has drawn on the substantial research efforts of leading reform groups, but takes a new look at the challenges facing voters, registration groups, and state and local officials by highlighting the disproportionate effect of existing laws on under-represented populations. While young voters, African Americans, Latinos, and unmarried women are now the majority of the population, exit polls from the 2008 general election show that in the aggregate, these groups represented only 46 percent of the 2008 electorate.

WVWV strongly believes that a key cause of such underrepresentation can be found in the confusing maze of election laws facing individuals, groups, and state officials in this country. WVWV's report focuses on five key areas where these laws pose the most significant obstacles and reform could yield the greatest positive results: (1) voter registration; (2) absentee voting and early voting; (3) voter identification requirements; (4) provisional ballots; and (5) voter lists.

Please note the following media coverage:

Chicago Sun-Times: Women's Voices. Women Vote report: Obstacles to Voting

2009-04-17T16:56:00Z

For Many, Tremendous Obstacles Remain in Accessing Democracy Comprehensive report released today by Women’s Voices. Women Vote outlines critical areas in need of election reform.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/04/womens_voices_women_vote_repor.html

For Many, Tremendous Obstacles Remain in Accessing Democracy Comprehensive report released today by Women’s Voices. Women Vote outlines critical areas in need of election reform.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/04/womens_voices_women_vote_repor.html