Women Misbehavin'

Well behaved women never make history

Archive for February, 2009

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Sicko’s for Paid Sick Leave

Posted by businesswom on February 12, 2009

My minor was biology in college: I know way more than you ever wanted to know about the germiness of pump soap or how to culture bacteria from your mouth…This in-depth bacterial knowledge has led to a deep germophobia that I struggle with every day.

sick

For a germophobe like me there’s nothing worse than having a germ-spreader in the office! Well, I take that back. Taking the crowded metro in D.C. during flu-season, frigid December sends my anxiety into overdrive. Sometimes you can feel the breeze of someone who has achoo-ed (!) in the seat behind you hard enough to blow your hair a bit.  It’s waaaay worse than being around the office sicko of the week.  

So why do tons of bundled up city-dwellers make their way to work every day with fevers, coughs, and runny noses?  No paid sick leave. Or, a boss who makes them feel bad for using it.  Many working women feel obligated to continue being super woman by going to work at the expense of restoring their health. Not only will the illness last longer if we don’t rest, we also risk spreading our illness to colleagues. And, they WILL know who did it. So, here’s how to solve that problem: Just Stay Home.

We wish it were this easy. Some women don’t have a choice. Right now, not everyone gets to enjoy paid sick leave. Salaried and hourly working women all deserve to recover from illness without sacrificing financial stability. Furthermore, someone has to take care of the kids if they’re sick too. Paid sick leave should be adopted by all employers, and it starts with getting the support of your legislators on The Hill.  For the sake of all germophobes, and of course, for the well being of working women, I hope they do something soon! photo credit

Posted in Health, Politics, Successful Workplaces, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Link Love: Girl Crush

Posted by gansie on February 12, 2009

If you couldn’t already tell, we love Mrs. O here on YWM. In fact, we have many crushes on the powerful women trying to make this country a better place.

We look up to their intelligence.
We look up to their accomplishments.
We look up to their fashion choices.

Heather Boushey, Center for American Progress

“The recession is not going away any time soon, ” Heather Boushey gently, yet firmly explained to a recent work-life group meeting, which I attended. Of course that statement scared me. But as a strategic-thinking economist, Boushey knows how to best spin it to achieve our goals. And she delivers econ-jargon in a way that every liberal arts major can understand.

Boushey explains: While this may not be the best time to pursue legislation regarding paid sick days, this may be the time to chug ahead on paycheck fairness issues. “Women are now more of the breadwinners and pay equity and paycheck fairness are now as much about the recovery as the stimulus package.”

Because when a man finds out that not only is he unemployed, but his wife – the only source of the family’s income – is making less than she should, well, that makes the situation totally unacceptable*.

It’s only when things get super, super miserable are we able to overhaul the system.

[Terrible Fox News Video, featuring Ms. Boushey]

patsummittPat Summitt, Lady Vols

Take notice: Pat Summitt became the most winningist coach in Division I basketball with ONE THOUSAND WINS. Yes, this record hoovers over women’s and men’s leagues. Sports writer Christine Brennan noted the gravity of the situation: “The entire world of basketball — male and female — stopped and took notice. And that hasn’t always been the case for the male basketball world, to give credence and respect to the female basketball world.”Well, Pat, Young Women Misbehavin’ is not only noticing this magnificent achievement, but we’re spreading the gospel.

Women in sports = only good things.

[The World Newser /photo credit]

mobama3

Michelle Obama, First Lady

Michelle. Looks. Fabulous.

And you know what, it’s okay to appreciate that. Because Michelle is more than a body on which to hang beautiful clothes. And I can’t wait until her welcome tours of the various departments are over and she really gets down to business.

So, don’t shoot the messenger.

[ Jeanne McManus @WaPo / photo credit]


*Sorry to use this hetero example

Posted in Economy, Feminism, Lifestyle, Worklife Balance | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

A Tale of Two Generations: X and Y

Posted by joyinhome on February 9, 2009

tomorrowsleaderstoday

Many myths persist regarding younger generations, such as Gen Y or Millennials (born 1981-1999) and Gen Xers (born 1965-1980), which can have a negative effect to how X and Y (Young Careerists) are perceived and treated in the workplace.

Employers and managers must recognize that these young workers are the future of organizations, and acknowledge that these emerging leaders have a lot to offer a burgeoning, global labor force.

ONE

MYTH

The playing field has been leveled: women and men have essentially the same opportunities to secure successful, profitable careers.

FACT

Women are still over-represented in low-paying jobs.

· Forty-four percent of employed women work in technical, sales and administrative support jobs. [i]

· Men are much more likely (43%) to have higher paying blue-collar jobs in production, machine operation and repair than women (10%).

· Women are more likely to have white-collar jobs as professionals (23% versus 16% for men) and in administrative support (22% versus 8% for men), [ii] which typically offer a lower wage.

TWO

MYTH

The percentage of female students enrolled in higher education now outnumbers that of males.

FACT

Higher enrollment rates of women at the undergraduate level—57% of bachelor’s degrees are obtained by women, versus 43% by men, according to the Department of Education’s latest statistics—have not translated into equal graduate enrollment rates. [iii]

THREE

MYTH

Current young careerists are, on average, the most educated generation to enter the workforce, and particularly in light of their skills with technology, it is not difficult for young people to obtain secure jobs within the labor force.

FACT

53% of all temporary or intermittent workers are under age 35.

· Temporary jobs on average pay lower wages.

· Temporary employees are more likely to suffer periods of unemployment and be poor than are permanent workers. [iv]

FOUR

MYTH

Female young careerists have many more opportunities to attain high level positions, because men and women typically have the same prospects to achieve management positions. [v]

FACT

While the occupational profile of employed women has diversified and improved since the late 1970s, this progress has failed to translate into similar growth within the upper levels of management.

FIVE

MYTH

Young careerists are apathetic and self-centered.

FACT

Young careerists tend to be accepting of multiculturalism and the broadest definitions of diversity, while exhibiting a willingness to fight for social justice both within the workplace and the broader community and world.

Read more Gen  X & Y myths in BPW Foundation’s Successful Workplace Digest

Career Resources for Gen X and Y

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Diversity, Global, Research, Successful Workplaces, Worklife Balance | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

Lest We Not Forget

Posted by joyinhome on February 6, 2009

I am disheartened and frankly a little pissed that people are never satisfied. Women’s needs are finally being listened to and considered at the top level in this country and we have already turned our backs on him.

Minutes ago, I heard an excerpt of an interview with a member of the women’s community slamming Obama for not keeping his word to women. People puhlease! He just took office like an hour ago!

And we’ve previously had such strong advocates at 1600. Penn Ave…

Give me a break.

Posted in Advocacy, Feminism, Pay Equity, Politics | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Show Off Your Red

Posted by egehl on February 6, 2009

reddressDid you know that heart disease is the number 1 killer of women?

It’s a stark statistic that will not change unless we do something about it. Today, Friday, February 6th is National Wear Red Day, which is sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA).

AHA’s annual National Wear Red Day is a chance for women nationwide to show that they care about their heart health, and will take action towards preventing heart disease through healthy eating, exercise and regular check ups with their doctor.

National Wear Red Day is just one way to get involved in the heart health movement.  You can be involved with AHA’s Go Red For Women campaign all year long.  In fact, BPW/USA has joined forces and partnered with AHA’s Go Red For Women movement. Together BPW/USA and AHA have created the Healthy Heart Makeover Program so women can learn how to lead heart-healthy lifestyles – and encourage others to do the same – through your personal, professional and political actions.

On National Wear Red Day and throughout the year you can spread the heart health message at work!  By approaching women at your workplace, you can reach women who may not understand how to prevent heart disease and its symptoms.  Therefore BPW/USA and AHA have created “Paint Your Worksite Red!“, which is a program to educate you on how you can incorporate Go Red for Women ideas and goals into your workplace.  Learn more on the BPW/USA website.

By participating in National Wear Red Day today and promoting heart health in your workplace through “Paint your Worksite Red!”, you can help raise awareness of heart disease and prevent more women from being a victim of this pervasive disease.

Start by wearing red TODAY!

photo credit

Posted in Health | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Misbehavin’ Notification: We Gotta Fight For Our Rights

Posted by gansie on February 4, 2009

policyaction-f2

Posted in Advocacy, BPW, Misbehavin' Notification | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

She Blinded Me With Science

Posted by sailorcindy on February 4, 2009

America is behind the rest of the world in science and math competency.

Not only is the U.S. ranked 21 of 27 countries for high school completion rates, but the U.S. ranks 21st of 30 countries in science competency and 25th of 30 countries in mathematical literacy. Even more startling, 24.4% of American students do not even reach the baseline competency for science performance and 28% do not reach the baseline for math.womenscience

Is it possible that America can catch up to the rest of the world in terms of math and science competency by encouraging more women to enter scientific careers?

In the U.S., women earn 56% of degrees in science fields at the baccalaureate level. The majority of these degrees are in biology, psychology, social sciences and health. Women are significantly underrepresented in engineering, computer sciences, math and physics. At the master’s level, these levels remain the same, but women make up a very small percentage of doctoral scientists and engineers, only 25% overall. Even in the biological, psychological, and social science fields, where women were ahead of men at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels, women represent less than 50% of doctoral scientists.

Girls seem to have the same capabilities as boys when it comes to similar grades in science and mathematics. Although girls score slightly lower on standardized tests, their grades are the same or even higher than boys’ grades. Why, then, are high school girls steering clear of careers in engineering and physical sciences?

One article discusses several possibilities of why women are not entering the sciences: historical notions that women are better suited for the home than for academia, lack of childcare options for working mothers, unwillingness to spend long hours in a research lab…  But women in the field disagree over which of these considerations, if any, are the cause of womens’ reluctance to pursue science careers.

If women have just as much intellectual capacity as men in math and science, why are women so outnumbered at the doctoral level – and why are women in scientific career fields significantly underpaid compared to their male counterparts?

What can we do as a society to improve our standing in the world and encourage women to enter these important career fields? Is it a matter of changing long-standing notions of a woman’s proper place in the world? Making pay more equitable? Offering better work/life balance?

Or is the trouble simply that girls are not receiving proper education at the K-12 level, so the girls with potential to enter scientific career fields are not identified at a young age?

Regardless of the answers to any of these questions, America has a serious issue to address: low competency levels displayed in math and science. Someone in the U.S. has to step up to the plate to get the next generation educated. Why not encourage women to meet the challenge?


Posted in Education, Feminism, Pay Equity, Worklife Balance | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Finding Feminist Lessons in the Super Bowl

Posted by gansie on February 3, 2009

A version of this article was originally posted on Endless Simmer

I’m a little riled up.

I went to the Fem 2.0 conference on Monday and learned how feminists can really make an impact in society, in communities and in lives through technology. We also learned how important it is to take the feminist message to broader audiences. So even though I’m a food blogger, I want to continue the conversation and demonstrate that there can be feminist lessons everywhere. Especially in Super Bowl food ads.

But I don’t want to straight up dis the sport. I love football because it’s the best sport there is. And the Eagles will one day be recognized as the most dominant force in the league. Well, recognized and will win games against crappy teams like the Cardinals and Bangles. And one day, I will cry in the arms of my fellow fans as Donovan McNabb hands off the football to Brian Westbrook, who then dives into the end zone, for a game winning touch down. And then Brian Dawkins sprouts wings and flies around the stadium.

Anyway.

I hate the Super Bowl because every commercial is directed to what ad execs think the white male 30-year-old wants to see and hear and consume.

And I don’t even want to get into the whole Danica Patrick tasteless, tacky and completely un-feminist ad campaign. She’s an athlete! Must she stoop to the level of a Playboy Bunny?!?!

So on to Pepsi Max.

Okay, so the ad depicts stupid (mostly white) men doing stupid, stereotypical *men* things:

Male gets hit in head with golf club, proclaims, “I’m good”

Male gets bowling ball dropped on head, proclaims, “I’m good”

Male gets an electrical shock while doing male house repairs on roof and flies into trailer thirty feet away, proclaims, “I’m good”

Male announcer proclaims, “Men can take anything, except the taste of diet soda.”

And then magically Pepsi introduces a diet soda that is specifically designed so that men can still be macho while drinking this healthier option.

Here we go again.

Perpetuating the paradigm that men need not worry about their health. That men should eat manly things like red meat and potatoes – in triple the portion that they should. And men don’t have to think about their food choices because they’ll have their own Claire Huckstable ready to snag away that artery-clogging cheesy, meatball sub. Well, kids. The stigma needs to die.

Men care about their health. Which is why, in the first place, Pepsi created another line of low calorie soda. But does it really have to be marketed to the frat boy?

I understand that humor sells. And yes, my (feminist) boyfriend pointed out that this may just be self-deprecating and over the top on purpose. But I don’t care. Can we please start to break down gender stereotypes, especially such life-threatening ones as obesity. Pepsi at least started to dispel the stigma that men shouldn’t think about what they’re ingesting. But then decided to make their point by promoting machismo.

Now, Pepsi is a big ole company. And I’m not sure how to combat this ad. I’ll be going through my notes from the fem conference and sending this post to my new fem friends. And hopefully some boys will read this too. And be just a tiny bit outraged. And will pass it on. And will most definitely not drink Pepsi Max.

Full disclosure: I’m a (full fat) Coke drinker

Posted in Feminism, Lifestyle | Tagged: , | 7 Comments »

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