Updated July 21, 2008
The report Bias Literacy: A Review of Concepts in Research on Discrimination co-authored by Ruta Sevo of the AAAS Center for Science and Engineering Capacity and Daryl E. Chubin provides a good resource for anyone looking for clear and up-to-date explanations of common terminology and key concepts used when assessing evidence of discrimination. The paper summarizes concepts such as personal versus institutional bias, mommy track, occupational segregation, and accumulative advantage. The paper also includes a list of national and international gauges of whether discrimination is occurring, a dictionary of common discrimination vocabulary, and a list of major organizations currently working for diversity.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for July 21, 2008.
The House passed (402-15) a bill Wednesday which redefines the legal meaning of “disabled,” intended to rectify a narrowing definition of the term imposed by the U.S. Supreme Court. The ADA Amendments Act (H.R. 3195) would counteract the effect of several court rulings which created a category of disabled workers who could be fired because of their disability, while at the same time be deemed “not disabled enough” to qualify for protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The new definition under the act changes the language from a description of a physical or mental impairment that “substantially limits” one or more major life activities to one that “materially restricts” such activity. The bill had strong support from both sides of the aisle. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said the vote is meant to restore the intent and broad protections of the ADA. AAUW has long fought to end discrimination on the workforce, and AAUW showed support for H.R. 3195 by signing on to a coalition letter advocating for the bill.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for June 28, 2008.
A suit aimed at challenging an anti-affirmative action law in Michigan was dismissed by a federal judge on Tuesday, the Detroit News reported. The law, which was passed as a ballot initiative in 2006, bans affirmative action based on race or gender in government hiring and university admissions and was being challenged because it targets minorities and, according to a lawyer for the case, was designed to exclude black, Latino, and Native American students from higher educational opportunities. The judge in the case ruled that the pro-affirmative action group failed to show that the measure was enacted “because of, not merely in spite of, its adverse effects” upon any particular group.
AAUW supports affirmative action programs that establish equal opportunity for women and minorities and improve gender, racial, and ethnic diversity in educational institutions and in workplaces. AAUW believes that affirmative action programs have begun to break down the barriers that confront women and minorities in education and employment, and these programs remain essential to ensure equal access to all professions at all levels through recruitment, outreach, and training. For more information, read AAUW’s position paper on affirmative action. AAUW's Affirmative Action Resource Kit contains information on state-based anti-affirmative action initiatives and a variety of useful resources for taking action against them. It also contains step-by-step suggestions to help you plan a counter campaign and turn out voters to defeat such measures.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for March 21, 2008.
While AAUW is not having a national convention this year, policy activists and member leaders can still participate in a convention and lobby day in Washington, D.C. with AAUW’s coalition partners. The Women’s Equality Summit and Congressional Action Day will bring together hundreds of women leaders and their allies for two days of issue briefings, training sessions, and face-to-face meetings with members of Congress and national women leaders. The Summit will be held in Washington, D.C. on March 10-11. The Summit is a project of the National Council of Women’s Organizations, the largest coalition of women’s groups in the country, and the Younger Women’s Task Force, the grassroots movement that engages women in their 20's and 30's to act on the issues that matter most to them. For more information, visit the NCWO’s website. AAUW is a member of NCWO.
Since AAUW’s founding over 125 years ago, women have made great strides toward achieving equality of opportunity, and AAUW has long been a key catalyst for such change. Despite gains made in the areas of civil rights, economic security, and education, there is still unfinished business–because equity is still an issue. AAUW members recognize and are proud of the important gains women have made and remain steadfast in the commitment to creating a level playing field for all women and girls. The work of AAUW builds upon a century of responsible public participation, and AAUW encourages women to get involved and take action on issues important to them. This Summit is a great opportunity to make your voice heard on Capital Hill on issues you care about, and represent AAUW to other women leaders from around the country.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for January 25, 2008.
Following the holiday celebrating the work of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) introduced the Civil Rights Act of 2008 (H.R. 5129) this week. According to a statement released by Sen. Kennedy’s office, the bill will “ensure accountability for violations of our civil rights and fair labor laws and give individuals the right to challenge practices that have unjustified discriminatory effect based on race, color, national origin, disability, age or gender.” It will also provide students with protection from harassment in schools and hold employers accountable for age discrimination.
AAUW advocates equality, individual rights, and social justice for a diverse society. The 2007-2009 Public Policy Program states, “AAUW supports constitutional protection for the civil rights of all individuals, including the right to privacy.” For more information, read AAUW’s position papers on civil rights issues, including affirmative action, federal judicial nominations, hate crimes prevention, and reproductive rights.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for January 25, 2008.
On Thursday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee held a hearing on the Supreme Court’s decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and the Fair Pay Restoration Act (S. 1843). Witnesses included Lilly Ledbetter Margot Dorfman, the CEO of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, testifying on behalf of the legislation. Titled “The Fair Pay Restoration Act: Ensuring Reasonable Rules in Pay Discrimination Cases,” the hearing was a big development, and the synergy of it and additional cosponsors should help move the bill towards passage. AAUW Director of Public Policy and Government Relations Lisa Maatz led hill meetings to key senate offices for Ledbetter and Dorfman, and AAUW state and branch public policy leaders have been holding in-state meetings with their senators' offices to move the legislation forward.
HELP Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-MA) said the Senate would consider the bill after completing their work on an economic stimulus package and predicted a floor vote in the next two months, Women’s eNews reported. President Bush issued a veto threat when the House passed the companion bill, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 2831), in July. ACTION: AAUW believes the outcome in the Ledbetter v. Goodyear case is fundamentally unfair to victims of pay discrimination, which is responsible for a significant portion of the wage gap experienced by women and people of color. Although the wage gap has narrowed over the years, success in closing the gap remains elusive, and the Supreme Court's recent decision in the Ledbetter case will only make it more difficult. Even if you have done so previously, please use AAUW’s Two-Minute Activist online to urge your senators to support the Fair Pay Restoration Act.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for January 25, 2008.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee will be holding a hearing on the Fair Pay Restoration Act (S. 1843) on Thursday, January 24. Lilly Ledbetter and others will be testifying on behalf of the legislation. This is a big development, and the synergy of the hearing and additional cosponsors should help move the bill towards passage. AAUW has been leading grassroots coalition efforts to move the bill forward, and AAUW state and branch public policy chairs in key states have been contacted and have been working on setting up meetings with their senators’ staff to express our support for this critical legislation. Several meetings have already been held.
ACTION: AAUW believes the outcome in the Ledbetter v. Goodyear case is fundamentally unfair to victims of pay discrimination, which is responsible for a significant portion of the wage gap experienced by women and people of color. Although the wage gap has narrowed over the years, success in closing the gap remains elusive, and the Supreme Court's recent decision in the Ledbetter case will make it even more difficult for women workers and employees of color to close the wage gap. Even if you have done so previously, please use AAUW’s Two-Minute Activist online to urge your senators to support the Fair Pay Restoration Act.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for January 11, 2008.
The provisions of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which had been added to the Department of Defense authorization bill (H.R. 1585) in the Senate in September, were removed from the conference report on Thursday. House leaders felt that a combination of factors, including opposition from Republicans who were against the hate crimes provision, opposition from Democrats who were against the war language in the report, and reluctance of other members to risk a veto that would delay the military pay raise would have caused them to be short of the votes they need for passage. The House passed the measure as a stand-alone bill (H.R. 1592) in May, but President Bush issued a veto threat at the time.
Hate crimes legislation supporters vowed to continue to find a way to get the bill through Congress and to the president. According to Congressional Quarterly, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said she is “strongly committed” to getting the measure passed, saying “House Democratic leaders will work with our Senate colleagues to make certain that a hate-crimes bill passes the Senate and goes to the president’s desk.” However, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Carl Levin (D-MI) were not as optimistic, saying in a statement, “We’ve lost the best opportunity to enact hate-crimes legislation in this Congress.”
AAUW members and our Capitol Hill Lobby Corps were in the thick of things calling and visiting senators to push this legislation through the House and Senate. AAUW and coalition partners also recently sent letters to the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees urging them to retain the Senate-passed hate crime provisions as part of the final Department of Defense authorization conference report.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for November 30, 2007.
According to Inside Higher Ed, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported last week that 12.2 percent of hate crimes in 2006 took place at schools or colleges, down from 13.5 percent the year before. However, the overall number of hate crimes was up 8 percent, to 7,722.
As reported in the September 28 edition of Washington Update, the Senate passed the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act as an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill (H.R. 1585) on Sept. 27 and passed H.R. 1585 on Oct. 1. While the House passed similar stand-alone hate crimes legislation (H.R. 1592) in May, the House version of the defense bill did not contain these provisions. When Congress returns next week, House and Senate conferees will meet to reconcile the differences in the defense measures, and there is concern about whether or not the hate crimes language will be retained. The bill could come to the House floor as early as the first week in December.
AAUW members and our Capitol Hill Lobby Corps were in the thick of things calling and visiting senators to push this legislation through the House and Senate. AAUW and coalition partners also recently sent letters to the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees urging them to retain the Senate-passed hate crime provisions as part of the final Department of Defense authorization conference report.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for November 30, 2007.
On Thursday, the Senate confirmed (53-40) former District Judge Michael Mukasey as the 81st U.S. Attorney General. Mr. Mukasey’s nomination received initial bipartisan support, but his confirmation did not go as smoothly as was originally thought. The Center for American Progress Action Fund released an article on Mr. Mukasey, including information on his past rulings and reactions to his nomination.
AAUW worked with other groups to make sure senators were aware of the issues and concerns facing women and girls as they evaluated Mr. Mukasey’s nomination and the impact the justice department can have on these issues.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for November 9, 2007.
Washington, DC -- AAUW congratulates the Senate for passing the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act as an amendment to the defense authorization bill (H.R. 1585). The amendment, based on the Senate version of the hate crimes bill (S.1105), was added by voice vote after a successful cloture vote (60-39) today. The measure will strengthen the federal response to hate crimes and provide grants to support states and local communities in combating violent crimes. The House passed its hate crimes bill in May.
“AAUW is pleased that the Senate took this important step to protect women and others against hate crimes,” said Lisa Maatz, AAUW director of public policy and government relations. “We hope President Bush will follow Congress’ lead and sign this measure when it comes to his desk.”
Violent crimes motivated primarily by bias against a group to which the victim belongs intimidate all members of that group. Hate crimes law addresses the intimidation involved in such crimes, in addition to the act of violence itself.
“AAUW is pleased that the bill adds sexual orientation, gender, and disability to existing federal law, which includes race, color, religion, and national origin,” said Maatz. “This will increase law enforcement’s ability to respond appropriately to crimes motivated by hate, many of which have previously gone without prosecution—including hate crimes against women motivated by their gender.”
The measure strikes a unique balance between the expertise and availability of federal resources and the ability of local and state law to handle prosecution of hate crimes. This bill will provide a backstop to local efforts by permitting federal prosecution to ensure a just result.
“Hate crimes are serious, well-documented problems that remain inadequately prosecuted and recognized,” said Maatz. “AAUW has been a strong supporter of this legislation from the beginning, and we believe it is time to give the issue the attention and resources it deserves.”
- from an AAUW press release for September 27, 2007.
Last week, the Senate Democrats used a procedural move to prevent an anti-affirmative action amendment from coming to the floor for a vote, according to the Feminist Majority Foundation. The amendment, which had been attached to the Department of Transportation/HUD appropriations bill (H.R. 3074) in the House, would wipe out funding for the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program for transportation construction, an affirmative action program for women and minorities. The Discrimination Research Center has said the similar funding cuts in California reduced transportation construction contracts to women and minority-owned businesses by more than 50 percent in a ten year period.
AAUW believes that affirmative action programs have begun to break down the barriers that confront women and minorities in education and employment, and these programs remain essential to ensure equal access to all professions at all levels through recruitment, outreach, and training. To help AAUW leaders plan state-level counter-campaigns to defeat anti-affirmative action constitutional amendments when they reach state ballots in 2008 and beyond, AAUW is proud to announce the release of our new Affirmative Action Resource Kit. Use this great resource to help save affirmative action from elimination and prevent your state from rolling back efforts towards true equality of opportunity for women and minorities.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for September 22, 2007.
In May, AAUW joined more than 200 leading organizations nationwide in supporting ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The response from AAUW members through our Two-Minute Activist was phenomenal. Once again, AAUW is joining forces with coalition partners to keep the pressure on the Senate to ratify CEDAW.
Also known as the Women's Rights Treaty, CEDAW is the most comprehensive agreement addressing international women's rights. The treaty can be an effective tool in reducing violence and discrimination against women and girls, ensuring access to education and health care, and preventing other human rights abuses. AAUW has endorsed CEDAW since 1981.
Although the U.S. played a defining role in drafting the convention and signed the treaty in 1980, it remains the only industrialized country to fail to ratify it. In fact, while 185 countries have ratified the treaty, the U.S. is one of only eight countries that have yet to do so, standing alongside Sudan, Iran, Qatar, Somalia, Nauru, Palau, and Tonga. While the treaty has enjoyed bipartisan support in the U.S., it has never made it to the Senate floor for a full vote. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted in 1994 and in 2002 to send the treaty to the floor for ratification, but the Senate recessed each time before the vote occurred.
Urge your senators to advocate for basic rights for all women around the world by ratifying CEDAW.
In addition, AAUW's coalition partners are organizing delegation visits to senators' district offices across the country for the week of September 24. For more information on participating in one of these in-district meetings, please click here.
AAUW members have always been in the forefront of helping others...from our immediate families to our extended communities around the globe.
- from AAUW's Action Network for Sept. 12, 2007, 2007.
Representative Carolyn Maloney's Breastfeeding Promotion Act would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to protect breastfeeding by new mothers by providing tax credits to employers who provide a place to breastfeed and/or provide breast pumps. This makes it a lot easier for women who want to give their babies breastmilk and keep their jobs. As you may know, 82% of American women become mothers by the time they are forty-four years old, so this issue is critically important to a large portion of our nation.
- from a Moms Rising e-Alert on August 30, 2007.
The AAUW Educational Foundation will release Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on Campus at a press conference in Washington, DC on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The report is the most comprehensive research to date on sexual harassment on college campuses. It analyzes findings from a nationally representative survey of undergraduate college students and documents that the majority of college students report being sexually harassed. Nearly one-third of students report some type of physical harassment such as being touched, grabbed or forced to do something sexual. Additional resources on this issue will be available on AAUW’s website beginning on Jan. 24 to coincide with the press conference.
On a related subject, the U.S. Department of Justice has issued a report, Sexual Assault on Campus: What Colleges and Universities Are Doing About It that reports that many colleges and universities are under reporting crimes on their campuses
- from AAUW's Washington Update for January 20, 2006
As a part of AAUW’s new programmatic theme, “Education as the Gateway to Women’s Economic Security,” AAUW has developed a new campus initiative: Building a Harassment-Free Campus. Information regarding this initiative and the Campus Action Project focused on Building a Harassment-Free Campus is available online.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for October 6, 2005