Brush Stroke
November 8, 2012
     
Greetings! 
    
Here we are two days after the election and two looming questions that were on the minds of many - "Did women impact the election? and Is the economy more productive if the President has experience in business?" were answered by voters. 
 
Take a look at the other topics covered in this issue:
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The National Association of Mothers' Centers (NAMC) provides programs that empower mothers, fathers and caregivers to find solutions that work for their families, their work lives and their personal lives.
Dc Dispatch
 
The next session of Congress will have a record 19 women in the US Senate, and possibly more, when all the votes are tallied.  The House of Representatives will see 16 new female faces in January, and across the country, more women ran for office than ever before.  The state of New Hampshire will soon see sworn in a woman governor and two women US Senators.  What's more, all of its members in the House of Representatives are women too.  Women cast more votes for President Obama (55%) than Governmor Romney (44%), and single women were twice as likely to prefer a second term for the incumbent. 
 
Women are still more than half the US population, and still more likely to vote than men.  While women hold political opinions at every point across the spectrum, no candidate can reach office without our votes.  We've got the power.  When we want to, we "can shut that whole thing down".  Here's to the effective use of the motherforce!   
housewives Are Women Better Suited To Housework?

 

Both political parties contribute to gender inequality and exploit the difference between men's and women's economic status to reinforce a political structure that fails parents and children, according to  Salon's "Devaluing Care Work - And Women".   Paid sick days legislation, and getting home health aides the same protection other workers have, continue to fail in state assemblies and still don't register in national politics.  Why?  Because care work is done mostly by women, often for free, is poorly regarded, and it's women who pay the price if a family member falls ill or child has to stay home.  We've shown a real lack of desire in pushing for national policies that would improve our status at home.  

 

As Jessica Valenti writes in her new book, "Why Have Kids, "Mommy blogs organize to take down diaper ads but are largely silent on the lack of paid maternity leave. They'll complain about unfair division of labor at home yet rarely link their husband's dirty laundry to the larger political system that tells women they're better suited for housework."

 

The NAMC, this eNews and Your (Wo)Man in Washington, at least, don't fall into this category. Another aspect of NAMC's work is making a business case that offering good work/life options is a good business practice and that it's important for women (and almost every employee) who bear the brunt of home and child-rearing responsibilities. 

parentingParenting Leaves a Lasting Impression

More data is emerging about the link between a child's earliest years and long terms effects on the brain and cognitive development.  The Washington Post's "On Parenting" blog has highlighted recent research showing that exposure to stress, for example, or language can impact brain size and development. The parents' educational level has much to do with the degree of cognitive stimulation the child will experience.   With the data mounting, ensuring that parents have access to the resources they need for economic security and effective parenting should be a public priority.  You can find the posts here and here.

 


Usually when we talk about the the "gender gap" we mean the inequality between what men and women earn at work.  But there's a whole different meaning every four years in November - the difference between how men and women vote.  It's not a new phenomenon, and it directly effects how an election turns out.  If forecasts prove correct, the gender gap in the presidential election may reach an all-time high this year.  The New York Times has a great article with fabulous graphics.  And it supports my theory that gender makes a difference in everything.

 

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