“I’ve never met a woman executive.”
“Can you get the coffee?”
“Women can’t handle that.”
“You’re so pretty, people have a hard time taking you seriously.”
“Women aren’t natural leaders.”
“Don’t you feel bad not being home with your kids?”
Heard any of these before? The Spring 2016 issue of AAUW Outlook magazine explores the facts and solutions around gender bias and women’s underrepresentation in leadership. Read it now.
April 12 is Equal Pay Day.
Equal Pay Day marks the symbolic day when women’s pay finally “catches up” to men’s pay from the previous year.
You’ve probably heard that men are paid more than women are paid over their lifetimes. But what does that mean? Get the facts, and take action to close the gender pay gap. Every woman deserves equal pay!
21 Hashtags That Changed The Way We Talk About Feminism
Twitter “hashtivism” has its critics, but there’s no denying that hashtag culture has changed the way we talk about some of the most pressing social issues of our time.
Your Guide to Awkward Family Conversations about Sexism
You’ve survived Thanksgiving, but you might not be past all the awkward family discussions yet to come. But don’t worry — we’ve got your back! Here’s your handy guide to responding to common misperceptions about gender and advocacy that might come up this season.
Your dad says, “We don’t even need Title IX anymore. Women get to play sports already. Plus, no one watches women’s sports anyway!”
First things first, let’s remind dear old dad that this summer’s Women’s World Cup final was the most-watched soccer game in U.S. history!
Title IX, which has been credited with helping develop the Women’s National Team itself, plays a critical role in ensuring equity in school athletics. But it’s about so much more than that! The crucial law prevents discrimination in all areas of education, including admissions; recruitment; access to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields; campus sexual harassment and assault; tenure; and more.
Your cousin says, “The gender pay gap doesn’t exist. Women are paid less because they take lower-paying jobs and take time off. Duh!”
We wish the gender pay gap didn’t exist! But the reality is that the pay gap is all math, not myth. Altogether, women working full time, year round in the United States in 2014 were paid only 79 percent of what men were paid. But that’s not the whole story: Mothers and women of color make even less.
According to AAUW’s research, the pay gap occurs in nearly every occupation, including both low– and high-paying jobs. And it can’t be explained away by women’s choices. Our 2012 report found that women face a pay gap even after accounting for (are you ready for this?) college major, occupation, economic sector, hours worked, months unemployed since graduation, GPA, type of undergraduate institution, institution selectivity, age, geographical region, and marital status. Phew!
Your sister says, “I wouldn’t vote for a woman president. They’re too sensitive!”
Whether it’s commenting on women leaders’ looks or likability or questioning their abilities, sexism is common when discussing women political candidates. Language matters. Calling assertive girls “bossy” or confident women “bitchy” reinforces negative stereotypes and biases about women’s leadership. Women are qualified to run for office. And when they do run, they win at the same rates as men. It’s critical to challenge gender bias and empower young women to run for office!
Your aunt says, “Millennials are so lazy. All they do is play on their phones.”
Sorry, auntie, but research suggests otherwise! According to one study, young adults throughout the United States are volunteering at higher levels than ever before. Student activists, including AAUW student leaders, are consistently taking action to challenge the status quo and lead the fight for social justice. From serving as U.N. youth representatives to (successfully) fighting to establish campus sexual assault crisis centers, young people across the country are making a difference.
If some feminist wisdom doesn’t help, we have your back if you literally can’t even.
Sometimes, people just can’t be persuaded by the facts. In those moments, we recommend a strong dose of Adele.
Read the full blog.
Not OK! Renowned scientist and Nobel Prize winner Tim Hunt said recently that female scientists cause “trouble” for men in the lab. He even went as far as to express support for sex-segregated labs. His remarks are just the latest public example of sexism facing women in science.
Researchers from Yale University asked more than 100 science faculty members at academic institutions across the country to evaluate one of two student résumés. The résumés were identical except for one small part: The candidate’s name was either John or Jennifer. Despite both candidates having the exact same qualifications and experience, science faculty members were more likely to perceive John as competent and select him for a hypothetical lab manager position.
And it didn’t stop there. Female and male science faculty members alike offered John a higher salary than they did Jennifer and were more willing to offer him mentoring opportunities.