Like most American women, I wear many different hats - mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend. I am constantly inspired by the stories, ideas and courage of the women I meet and I am reminded every single day how women are architects of change.
For the first time in our nation's history, women now represent half of all workers and are becoming the primary breadwinners in more families than ever before. These two facts have far reaching consequences to government, business, faith communities, women and even men. Clearly, this country is now what I like to call "A Woman's Nation."
This seismic shift is changing the economic and cultural landscape of our country, and in order to learn more about this development, I am partnering with The Center for American Progress (CAP) and the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy, a project that will report on the economic tipping pointing for women in America and the consequences of that shift across the institutions that matter most in American life. Together with them, I am thrilled to launch "A Woman's Nation," a national project to paint the modern portrait of the American woman. Additionally, TIME magazine will also be involved in research and reporting, as well as co-presenting discussions and roundtables around the country.
The last time a government project like this was organized was in 1961, when my uncle, President John F. Kennedy, appointed Eleanor Roosevelt to chair a commission to report on the status of women. The world has changed dramatically since my uncle launched his commission, and "A Woman's Nation" serves to update these findings to promote the new definition of who the American woman is today and what she expects and needs from our nation's economic, cultural and social institutions in order to thrive now and in the future.
"A Woman's Nation" will be a multi-year, action-oriented project, focused on capturing an accurate and up-to-date portrait of the American woman and developing next steps to remove barriers to her success. A journalist by trade, I look forward to taking "A Woman's Nation" on the road - We will host a series of roundtables with men and women on the front lines of this economic and cultural shift, and conduct frank and factual interviews with cultural icons and women leaders about their experiences and recommendations. In an effort to give people all over the country an opportunity to participate in this remarkable discussion, we will hold online town-halls to field and answer any questions about the project.
This on-the-ground reporting, combined with research data from a national poll, will result in a fresh and thorough initial report to be published in the fall of 2009. The report will be followed by a book, and we will then examine regulatory, legislative, business and cultural change that needs to take place to keep pace with the current needs of American women and families.
I am incredibly excited to begin working to understand how American women can best be supported in their ever-evolving roles, particularly as it relates to our growing economic influence in society. I look forward to sharing with you my stories and findings from this remarkable journey to uncover the modern American woman.
Follow Maria Shriver on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mariashriver
I completly agree, it's time to rely on Women, they are the best influencers, to give our children more chances to live in a safer and healthier planet than predicted by the best experts.
Because pollution, terrorist organizations and financial tsunami have no border, we have to build a Global Tribe of Powerful Women. We, at our Global NGO, only volunteers, are acting in developing and emerging countries (80% of our planet) to increase economicaly the power of women entrepreneurs, helping them to become role models for the youth and architects of change. As you easily understand our global strategy is a bottom-up one, trying to act in each small peace of our planet.
We need your help from you Maria Shriver, to be more known, in order to attract more volonteers, they are world retired executives, a faster growing unused population.
I'm the co-founder of EVE-olution foundation Inc. our motto is "The global soft power of Change"
more infos = http://www.wiserearth.org/user/papaye4/section/main
That would be something new.
Show me the "men's job fairs", the "room of HIS own", , The Men's View, the Men's Law Society, I could go on but you can add your own 20-25 special women's things when men are barred from having them.
In the workplace, everything is geared toward women including meetings where "interaction" has replaced thought as the primary goal and "diversity" has become an end rather than understood as being helpful as a means.
or www.gracejulian.com
I was a non-traditional law student and didn't go to work for a firm after law school. But perhaps because I am of a certain age, I find that in the workplace I still have to explain that I'm not a secretary.
but, better to be a champion.
it go so wrong, Maria? Take a look.
I hope you will also look at trying to build a world where all mothers can have the choice to stay home or work part-time. We need long paid leaves, a strong safety net, good part-time jobs, and ways back into the workforce.
Please, don't leave unpaid mothers out of the "women's nation."
Well more women working and the bread winners mean fewer NATIVE BORN Americans and more immigration.
Great ? Ans the long run cost to our Society and Country are ??
.
Aust what kind of "NATIVE BORN" Americans are you referring to? Because this country has a legacy of immigration and multiculturalism that needs to be acknowledged and perhaps even celebrated! I'd hazard a guess that your family members weren't in this country 200 or 300 years ago.
The tone of the article is one of competition, and on that basis I am not sure why any man would want to get married today. If there is not mpreof a sense of partnership, there will be a continuing increase in women trying to raise and support their children by themselves. We need to get beyond the War of the Sexes.
And breast cancer is more dangerous than prostate cancer, last month I actually came across an article detailing how prostate cancer screenings may do more harm than good as they save so few lives. Found it for your ease:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/health/19cancer.html?_r=1&scp=6&sq=prostate%20cancer&st=cse
Women's health has long taken a backseat. Until recent years, women were not included in pharmaceutical trials - why? Because charting data around menstrual cycles is complicated. So all medications and treatments were tested only on young men, leaving us with no information as to how women respond to them.
Don't give me this "men are oppressed" nonsense unless you have something of substance behind it. I will be the first to note that men are treated unfairly in many child custody scenarios, but somehow I don't think that was what you meant by "equal responsibilities". Other than that and family leave not being extended to men, I really can't think of much to support your bitter misogyny.