The Economy

Women dropping out of the labor force [New York Times]

Mancession fades as more men than women are finding jobs [Forbes]

Women are not getting their fair share of jobs in the latest economic recovery [Forbes]

HERvotes Blog Carnival calls for extension of Unemployment Insurance [HERvotes]

Successful Workplaces

Study says women in Calif. are a century away from breaking the glass ceiling [Los Angeles Times]

Women won’t see pay equity until 2056 unless we act now [Unions.org]

Empowered Workforces

Women in government; help a sister out [Washington Post]

Women spend more time multitasking but pay an emotional toll [Tennessean]

Working moms multitask and stress more than dads [NPR]

Why women leaders need self-confidence [HR]

Do women need to learn to take more risks to get ahead? [CBS News]

Mentoring and manicures: Are women’s networking intended to provide fashion or business tips?  [Forbes]

Gen Y

Gen Y Women: Challenges for attraction and retention [Evolved Employer]

What employers need to know about Gen Y Women [Diversity Executive]

Don’t believe all you read about Gen Y women [ShEO]

STEM

Women in the technology industry lack prominent female role models and mentors, makes it challenging for a woman to envision herself at the top [Blogs.amd]

Veterans/Military

The VA videos with women veterans telling stories of their military experiences [US Generation]

A Sundance film: The Invisible War—is about the rape of soldiers within the U.S. military, the cover-up, and the consequences  [Bleeding Cool]

Women veterans get their due at VA [Saipan Tribune]

C.O.D.E. gives $100,000 to BPW Foundation to support women veterans [Veterans Enterprise]

VA issues guidelines for handling sexual trauma [Navy Times]

Saluting Misbehavin’ Women

CA female teen takes $100,000 science prize [Paper.Li]

First female to lead Miss. Air Guard [Clarion Ledger]

High school’s first female  ROTC program leader no stranger to breaking barriers [Clarion Ledger]

Of interest

Gender Intelligence: Why wiring makes a difference we should embrace [The Glass Hammer]

Advertisers and marketers set their sites on Latina women [New York Times]

U.S. Department of State announces Women in Public Service project [State Department]

Men may support reproductive health, equal pay for equal work, and ending violence against women but some take issue with the way some feminists choose categorize all men as the enemy [Fem2Pt0]

Small Business

Why women have to work harder to do start ups [Venture Beat]

Every day there are new twists and turns to the never-ending budget and debt ceiling debacle.   The debt crisis our country faces will impact each of us as Congress makes decision to slash trillions of dollars away from vital programs and services that impact every facet of our society.  In order to address the looming federal deficit, legislators have proposed cutting social safety net programs to reduce spending. 

Programs big and small are on the chopping block, however the bigger ones such as Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare are the big goliaths that everyone is afraid of touching, but know it has to be done.  The problem is that if poor decisions are made about these important programs now it could be devastating for years to come, especially for women.

Various proposals are swirling around, and many could be quite scary for our seniors.  For example, Social Security benefits could be deeply cut by increasing the full retirement age above 67, possibly to 70, and reducing the Cost-of-living Adjustment (COLA) by switching to the chained Consumer Price Index (CPI).  Unfortunately using the “chained CPI” would cut benefits for everyone immediately and would cumulate over time, so that those who live the longest would suffer the deepest cuts.

Social Security is essential for older women’s economic well-being.  Women disproportionately depend on Social Security because their life expectancy is five years longer than men, they rely more on survivor benefits, they are less likely than men to have income from their own pensions, and because women have lower earnings on average across their lifetime they benefit from Social Security’s generous benefits to lower earners.

Women who are most economically vulnerable, including those with disabilities, live alone or have limited means, face the greatest risk as a result of these proposed cuts.  They face hurdles to gain financial stability on their own because many women cannot find employment at older ages, do not have pensions, and have been unable to save sufficiently because of wage discrimination and time taken out of the paid workforce for care-giving.

The National Council of Women’s Organizations has launched a new initiative to call on Congress to RESPECT women, PROTECT Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and REJECT any budget plans that threaten the economic security of women.  The goal of this campaign is to get the message across to key lawmakers that budget decisions should not be made at the expense of vulnerable women.

My mother is a perfect example of the critical need for Social Security.  I distinctly remember when she turned 65, a year after she was widowed and two months after Hurricane Katrina devastated my hometown, and she lost her job because of the storm.  She and I repeatedly said how thankful and lucky we were that the timing of her birthday coincided with that hard year otherwise the devastation to our home, on top of her job loss, could have put my family in financial straits.  I can’t imagine what we would have done if we had to wait another 5 years until she turned 70 for her to begin receiving benefits.

My mother stayed at home while I was growing up and didn’t starting working full-time until I was in highschool, and never made a great salary.  Therefore her Social Security benefits were fairly dismal and she was thankful she could receive my father’s benefits.  Over the past 6 years Social Security has been at the heart of my mother’s income and given her the means to stay in the home I grew up in, and have the modest lifestyle she wants and deserves.  Therefore I have seen firsthand how Social Security is truly a lifesaving foundation for older woman, and must be protected.

The reality is that our country needs to tighten its belt.  And all of us will have to make some level of sacrifice to make that happen.  However there are common sense ways to accomplish these goals without causing undue detriment to our citizens susceptible to hardship.  I just hope our leaders heed that warning.

Non profit gender gap spurs project [Post Gazette]

Top 100 websites for women [Forbes]

Female trade workers run special safety risks [Womens eNews]

Women dominated fields should be women led [SignOnSanDiego]

Gen X women put careers before having children [Fox LA]

Philly approves sick-leave bill [Philly.com]

Dads under more pressure at work and at home [Fortune]

Younger women desert female candidates [US News]

Do women ask for what they need? Often not. [PsychCentral]

Woman home builder deals with hard times [NPR]

Inside the world of female web moguls [Fortune]

Are women partially at fault for wage gap?  Need to ask for more [Forbes]

Between mothers and daughters it is still a man’s world [Huffington Post]

Study finds that in the workplace women are often held to different standard than men [US News]

Is LinkIn a gender equalizer? [Fast Company]

Mika Brzezinski Talks about Her Battle for Equal Pay At MSNBC [Mediaite.com]

Women need mentors at work [Huffington Post]

More women are in combat [New York Times]

Female soldier of the year reflects on her last 8 months [Ledger]

VA addresses growing demands of women vets needing care [Star Telegram]

Walmart women vow to continue fight in lower courts [Bloomberg]

Walmart ruling set back for workers [Time]

Walmart needs to work harder to advance women [Newsok]

Walmart decision inspires reintroduction of Equal Rights Amendment [Ms Magazine]

How one woman won a $2 million discrimination suit against Walmart [Huffinton Post]

Ending bias over flextime works: judging quantity of quality [Glass Hammer]

Apache 8: A documentary on a team of women firefighters [NativeTelecom] [NPR]

Managing Workplace diversity [Chicago Now]

MBAs no longer just for men [New York Life]

Super Moms wear blue collars too [Pasadena Star News]

Gender pay gap by industry [New York Times]

First Lady pushes breast feeding, employers need to act [bnet.com]

Pregnant women harassed and discriminated against at work [PRWeb]

Editorial: True Grit and Title IX [New York Times]

Voice pitch and gender equality [About]

Women under represented in academic medicine [UPHS.UPenn]

Ask for a raise? Most women hesitate [NPR]

Business plan contests: Where are the women? [Business Week]

Sexual Harassment: At work, home, play and school [Examiner.com]

National Women’s Law Center: Spending cuts will devastate women, families and the economy [The Hill]

Workplace equity [Examiner.com]

Three tips for work flexibility success [WorkLifeFit]

False choice: Good job or flexible job [Huffington Post]

Turn over lower at companies with established flexibility programs [WorldatWork]

Case announced against sexual assault in the military [Ms Magazine]

Women veterans diving back into school [Examiner.com]

Female Marine Drill Sergeant shares combat experiences to help other women [Live5News]

“At this rate, women will not achieve parity for another 500 years.”

Miss Representation by Jennifer Siebel Newsom

Chai Feldblum, EEOC Commissioner

Just before Christmas, Chai Feldblum was confirmed for a full term as the first openly LGBT Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Obama’s choice for a woman in this role is key as more and more women enter the workplace, and as such, need the proper protections.

However, there is a sad irony in the appointment of Feldblum. For if she was discriminated against at work for being gay, she wouldn’t have any rights.

The EEOC enforces laws that make it illegal to discriminate in the workplace. Discrimination – whether during hiring, firing or promotions – can not be because of: “race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.” (Source: EEOC)

What it lacks, however, is the ability to protect workers that are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. According to the Human Rights Campaign, a whopping 29 states allow legal firings if an employee is lesbian, gay or bisexual and 38 states allow the firing of transgender people.

With the much needed repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell behind us, shouldn’t the rest of the country finally decide that it is wrong to not allow LGBT Americans to become productive workers in this country? If the military, known for its conservative values, makes it illegal to fire LGBT citizens, than it is surely time for the private sector to follow its lead. And for Congress to enact the appropriate laws. (>>>Learn More about Employment Non-Discrimination Act)

This is also one more hurdle placed on women veterans. Besides the host of other issues that women veterans face when transitioning to the civilian workplace – such as unequal pay, as women and men are paid equally in the military – allowing lesbians to safely work in the military, and then be wrongly fired in the civilian world, is another setback.

While Felblum as a Commissioner of the EEOC does not have any power to make laws, she does have a pulpit. And as a gay woman she should make it her priority to advance the cause to end LGBT discrimination in the workplace.

photo credit

10. Remembering a Woman Who Made History

9. Surviving Divorce by Becoming Your Own Best Friend

8. Top 20 Jobs Held By Women

7. Cool Ways to Make Friends in Your New City

6. The Woman Protecting the Man of Steel

5. Womanism + Feminism= The Color Purple

4. This Day in Our History

3. Debunking the So-Called “Louisiana Purchase”

2. “Men, Babies, It Doesn’t Matter: We’re Soulmates”

Drum roll please…

1. The Fun of Zodiac Signs

I am ashamed that our country will not allow open gays and lesbians to serve in our armed forces. What a truly sad day for all of America when hatred wins over humanity.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Procedural Vote Fails [WaPo]

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Obama made some serious and far reaching decisions last night on taxes and unemployment insurance. Still curious about they whys, hows and whats? Please join in on this special call hosted by the White House senior staff to explain the agreement framework.

When: Today, December 7th at 2pm EST
Call Number: 800-288-8967
Title: White House Briefing Call (in lieu of passcode)

Read more for a fact sheet on the agreement framework.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 7, 2010

FACT SHEET on the Framework Agreement on Tax Cuts and Unemployment Insurance:

A Win for Our Economy, Jobs, and Working Families

The framework agreement announced by the President secures vital tax relief and investments in our workers that will create jobs and accelerate economic growth. The plan has three key accomplishments:

• · Working families will not see their taxes go up. A typical working family faced a tax increase of over $3,000 on January 1^st. That’s avoided under this potential agreement, and working families won’t see their total taxes go up next year.

• · Focused on high impact job creation measures. The potential agreement includes some of the best measures for jumpstarting growth and job creation, including a full year of emergency unemployment insurance benefits, an about $120 billion payroll tax cut for working families and a continuation of tax credits for working families. This is on top of growth generated by extension of the middle-class income tax rates.

• · Does not worsen the medium- and long-term deficit. These are responsible, temporary measures to support our economy that will not add costs by the middle of the decade. The President does not believe it is affordable to make the high-income tax cuts permanent and will continue to have that debate in the years ahead.

Overview of the Potential Agreement:

• · Extending the 2001/2003 Income-Tax Rates for Two Years. The potential deal includes a mutually agreed upon solution to the impasse over taxes by extending the 2001/2003 income tax rates for two years and reforming the AMT to ensure that an additional 21 million households will not be hit with a tax increase. These measures will provide relief to more than 100 million middle-class families and prevent a tax increase of over $2,000 for the typical family.

• · Additional Provisions Designed to Promote Vigorous Economic Growth. In addition to the 2001/2003 rates, the Administration secured several provisions that are vital for our economy’s growth, which would not have been possible without this potential deal: $56 billion in unemployment insurance, an about $120 billion payroll tax cut for working families, about $40 billion in tax cuts for our hardest hit families and students; and 100% expensing for businesses next year.

1. 1. GROWTH-ORIENTED PAYROLL TAX CUT FOR WORKERS:

The framework agreement reached by the administration includes an about 2%, employee-side payroll tax cut for over 155 million workers – providing tax relief of about $120 billion next year. This tax cut will have a major impact on jobs and growth – creating substantial numbers of jobs. It is widely recognized by economists across the political spectrum as a high bang for the buck way to boost growth and was cited by both major deficit reduction commissions as consistent with long term fiscal discipline.

A payroll tax cut has been endorsed by experts and commentators from across the political spectrum. Just last month, both the President’s Fiscal Commission and the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Debt Reduction Task Force described a payroll tax cut in 2011 as an effective way to spur growth and job creation. The tax cut legislation would provide for a transfer of General Revenues to the Social Security Trust Fund, ensuring no negative impact on Social Security solvency. And, as economist Nouriel Roubini wrote earlier this year, a payroll tax cut would spur growth because “for employees, the increased take-home pay would boost much-needed economic consumption and advance the still-crucial process of deleveraging households.”

1. 2. HIGH IMPACT, JOB CREATING TAX CUTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES

Economic studies consistently find that lower-income households are the most likely to spend additional money, creating jobs and helping overall growth. That’s why the Congressional Budget Office, for instance, has concluded that “policies aimed at lower-income households tend to have greater stimulative effects.” The President fought to secure a two-year increase of the full Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. These provisions will, together, provide ongoing tax cuts to 12 million lower income families, with a total of 24 million children. In addition, the deal fully extends the American Opportunity Tax Credit for two years.

• o Child Tax Credit: The $1,000 child tax credit will be extended for two years with the $3,000 refundability threshold established in the Recovery Act. This extension will ensure an ongoing tax cut to 10.5 million lower income families with 18 million children.

• o Earned Income Tax Credit: The Recovery Act included an expansion of the EITC worth, on average, $600 in additional assistance to families with 3 or more children. It also helped working married families by reducing the marriage penalty in the EITC. Continuing this tax cut  for two years will benefit 6.5 million working parents with 15 million children.

Illustrative Family: A working family with three children making $20,000 will continue to receive a tax cut of more than $2,000 as a result of the EITC and Child Tax Credit expansions in this framework agreement. The same family would receive an additional $400 tax cut from the new payroll tax cut.

• o American Opportunity Tax Credit: The Recovery Act included a new, partially refundable tax credit of up to $2,500 to help students and their families cover the cost of college tuition. This deal fully extends AOTC for two years, ensuring that more than 8 million students will continue to receive this tax benefit to help them afford college.

1. 3. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE:

The framework agreement extended unemployment benefits at their current level for 13 months, through the end of 2011. This will save millions of Americans searching for work from losing their unemployment benefits in the coming months and will help create hundreds of thousands of jobs.

• · In December alone, 2 million workers who would have lost benefits will continue to receive them because of this framework agreement. Over the next year, 7 million workers will no longer need to worry that their unemployment benefits could be eliminated as they search for jobs.

• · According to the Council of Economic Advisers, passing this provision will create 600,000 jobs in 2011 alone.

1. 4. BUSINESS TAX CUTS TO INCREASE INVESTMENT AND GROWTH:

In September, the President called for temporarily allowing businesses to expense all of their investments in 2011. This growth-oriented tax cut was included in the framework agreement.

• · According to the Treasury Department, complete expensing could generate more than $50 billion in additional investment in the U.S. in 2011.

• · The provision will provide a crucial incentive to 2 million businesses to invest and create jobs in the U.S and would be the largest temporary investment incentive in American history.

• · The potential deal also includes a 2-year extension of the R&D tax credit and other tax incentives to support business expansion.

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ATTENTION!

The Women Veterans Bill of Rights states that women veterans should have the following rights:

(1) The right to a coordinated, comprehensive, primary women’s health care, at every Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility, including the recognized models of best practices, systems, and structures for care delivery that ensure that every woman veteran has access to a Department of Veterans Affairs primary care provider who can meet all her primary care needs, including gender-specific, acute and chronic illness, preventive, and mental health care.

(2) The right to be treated with dignity and respect at all Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.

(3) The right to innovation in care delivery promoted and incentivized by the Veterans Health Administration to support local best practices fitted to the particular configuration and women veteran population.

(4) The right to request and get treatment by clinicians with specific training and experience in women’s health issues.

(5) The right to enhanced capabilities of medical providers, clinical support, non-clinical, and administrative, to meet the comprehensive health care needs of women veterans.

(6) The right to request and expect gender equity in provision of clinical health care services.

(7) The right to equal access to health care services as that of their male counterparts.

(8) The right to parity to their male veteran counterpart regarding the outcome of performance measures of health care services.

(9) The right to be informed, through outreach campaigns, of benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and to be included in Department outreach materials for any benefits and service to which they are entitled.

(10) The right to be featured proportionately, including by age and ethnicity, in Department outreach materials, including electronic and print media that clearly depict them as being the recipient of the benefits and services provided by the Department.

(11) The right to be recognized as an important separate population in new strategic plans for service delivery within the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(12) The right to equal consideration in hiring and employment for any job to which they apply.

(13) The right to equal consideration in securing Federal contracts.

(14) The right to equal access and accommodations in homeless programs that will meet their unique family needs.

(15) The right to have their claims adjudicated equally, fairly, and accurately without bias or disparate treatment.

(16) The right to have their military sexual trauma and other injuries compensated in a way that reflects the level of trauma sustained.

(17) The right to expect that all veteran service officers, especially those who are trained by the Department of Veterans Affairs Training Responsibility Involvement Preparation program for claims processing, are required to receive training to be aware of and sensitive to the signs of military sexual trauma, domestic violence, and personal assault.

(18) The right to the availability of female personnel to assist them in the disability claims application and appellate processes of the Department.

(19) The right to the availability of female compensation and pension examiners.

(20) The right to expect specialized training be provided to disability rating personnel regarding military sexual trauma and gender-specific illnesses so that these claims can be adjudicated more accurately.

(21) The right to expect the collection of gender-specific data on disability ratings, for the performance of longitudinal and trend analyses, and for other applicable purposes.

(22) The right to a method to identify and track outcomes for all claims involving personal assault trauma, regardless of the resulting disability.

(23) The right for women veterans’ programs and women veteran coordinators to be measured and evaluated for performance, consistency, and accountability.

(24) The right to burial benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Women’s Veterans Rights, HR 5953, is being debated by the House as we speak. This proposed leg would require VA facilities to display and disseminate a copy to women vets. And, of course, it’s getting push back…This Bill of Rights was created through legislation introduced last summer by chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Rep. Bob Filner (D-Ca.).

Please feel free to comment!