A Woman's Nation
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.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
While you are at it, don't forget all the female musicians, who are discriminated against more than any male artist/musician. Female artist have proportionally been playing second fiddle to male artist ever since music began.
This nation should never be a woman's nation or a male's nation. The USA is one nation for all regardless of gender or color.
--end
What a really weird turn this conversation has taken!? I am disappointed to read some of the comments as posted here. Why must it all boil down to some kind of competition? As one poster succinctly stated, we all need each other. I don't think that women are out to take over the world; we just want and need and deserve to be more represented in the decisions made about our world. During my career, the focus on women's issues has changed dramatically. Women's issues are society's issues. By looking at them from a different perspective, our society may be able to better accomodate and address them. In that case, we will all win.
Men are still the ones who do the heavy lifting-Police, Fire Department, EMTs, and the Military.
And why is that, WL, when women can fly, drive, shoot and perform with level heads under pressure just as well if not better than men?
What point are you trying to make? That men on average still have stronger bodies? In general terms, yse that's true and I adore you all for that but there are women who can do these jobs and may be stronger than some men. It's okay for both to do these jobs.
Is your masculinity threatened here? Be assured that there is still room for men to be manly even if woman's lives in society improve. Did you happen to notice how manly Marie's husband is? I don't think he feels at all emasculinated by Maria.
Men and women are not the same; and not equal in all catagories. There are things women do better, and there are things that men do better, and there are things that men and women do equally.
And women are still the ones who do most of the thankless (and unpaid!) cleaning, cooking and childcare. What's your point? That men get paid for their "heavy lifting" jobs and women don't? Thanks for underscoring that.
I join in congratulating Maria on this important new initiative. But I do find it intesting that as a member of one of American's most powerful poltiical families, scant mention is made of women's dismal and disproportionately imbalanced representation in elected government. Women represent a scant 17% of our nationally elected representatives. Until that changes, we can't hope to see substantive change in important economic and family issues such as pay equity, healtchcare, etc. I think I echo the sentiments of most women when I say that ,hopefully, this wonderful new effort will effect such change.
Just shows that most women are too smart to play the politician game. They would rather accomplish something important or work in a job that provides some benefit to someone.
In a Republic, being a representative of the people has to be just as important, and beneficial to others, than all the other jobs to be done. Unfortunately the political game has to be played to get the job. Perhaps if enough women make to government they can eliminate the political game?
I join with others in applauding Maria's important initiative and look forward to seeing it a it rolls out. But I do find surprising that, as a member of one of the most powerful political families in American history, scant mention is made of American women's dismal - and, compared to the workforce, disproportionatly unbalanced - representation in elected government. It's hard to call this a "Woman's Nation" when women hold only 17% of the seats in House and Senate. Hopefully, this new effort will affect substantive change.
I went to all boys schools. It was a brutalising envioronment, especially if you were at the bottom of the heap.
My daughters went to all girls schools. I was surprised to learn it was a brutalising environment, though in a more psychological way. I had dreamed it would be all sweetness and light.
I later sent them to a co-ed school which they reported as being much more civilised! I was stunned, and my daughters thrived.
We need each other! Men and women, lawyers and laborers, artists and engineers, each bringing a different perspective to thrash out inclusive policy.
At the moment, men are way too numerous in decision and policy making roles and that imbalance urgently needs redressing. But I wouldn't like the pendulum to swing too far the other way.
I am dubious of any forum that discusses women's evolving role without significant discussion of men's role. In fact such a discussion would be meaningless. Any change in role, that is activity or function that women perform, immediately impacts men's role. Somebody has to take up the slack.
I applaud the effort to explore and redefine gender roles, but you cant clap with one hand.
You have said it so well. I sincerely hope that women understand that men are a complimentary component to this universe, not just an afterthought.
MormonChick, many women believe that men are only necessary because sex toys cannot buy drinks. Women resent being viewed as sex objects, but view men as financial objects. That is how it works since the beginning of time
Same deal. we are all in this world together. Equal rights and equal wrongs.
Congratulations, Maria, I throw my hat in the ring with you to help in anyway Like you, I wear many hats. In my last six years, I have been fortunate to speak with thousands of parents who are dealing with changes. They are changing their role as parents Some are parents of military children, others college students, peace corp, work, training, study abroad, etc. They are called Empty Nesters. Women are seekers, care takers, negotiators, , inspirations, bread winners, pet lovers, pioneers. gardeners. We are ready and willing to stand tall, as we have been, and look at both the gift and the limitation of changes. As we mature we learn to live with paradoxes, complexities all carried by our love of life for each person. My growth has included compassion, curiosity, and humor. I think we lost the skill of learning how to deal with uncertainty and less because we have been an abundant country, not having to be "on guard" most of our life for survival as do other countries. It is innate to adapt as a human. We haven't been fully called to use those inner forces as a human and we are internally built for it. Other countries know what it means to be prepared so to speak. Our country shines and dims. I am here to join the team and pass on to my daughter, friends, family , strangers what we discover in our journey of caring and collabarating. Take care , Natalie Caine
Dear Maria,
This is a fantastic plan. Thank you. I hope you will include as much research and commentary as possible about eating disorders in this status of women project. Much has been written about the dangers of eating disorders and the symptoms of eating disorders But not much is presented about what it means to live with an eating disorder and... especially... why uncountable numbers of women do not reach out for help.
Self condemnation? Certainty they can find will power to stop behaviors? Shame? Fear of loss of status or position? Fear of criticism from others? Ignorance about the true nature of the disorder?
If I can be part of your exploration of this aspect of women's condition, please let me know. I would be glad to be able to help in any way.
Thank you again for this project. You continue a great legacy!
Maria:
I am thrilled to see you taking the lead on the economic status of women in our nation! Hopefully, the time is ripe for this issue to become a major component of the response to the economic downturn. As women continue to occupy an increasingly larger proportion of the workforce, perhaps they will, once again, organize to be heard and taken seriously.
I have been working on these issues over the past 50 years. Just last night, I wrote an article for www.silverplanet.com recalling our efforts to develop the Colorado Women's Economic Development Council and Women's Business Office in the 1980s when Roy Romer was our Governor.
For focus on the issues of the "third third of life", please see my new (2008) book, A Time of Our Own: In Celebration of Women Over Sixty, which has been on the Denver Post Best Sellers List twice.
Many thanks for your work on behalf of women. I will be pleased to join you. ellie
I look forward to hearing about what is going on with women economically around the country.
The gender thing, when used as a label, becomes a horrible dividing mechanism. It triggers all sorts of things that do not serve the purpose. Like race tags, labels need to be thrown out with other stale ideologies. We are entering the era of UNITING - post-racial, post-gender bias, post DIVISION. It's a concept that many of us have been working toward for decades.
* WHEN WILL WE ALL JUST BE PEOPLE ?* Humans being
Look how many women have "male energy" and vice versa. As soon as you slap a label on, you waste precious energy having to define that label. I say scrap the labels and concentrate on the mission.
Difference is good...It helps us evolve. One of the things I love most about men is their difference from us women. It's a beautiful thing. You know, yin/yang. We should never try to blend into one thing, we just need to respect each other's differences.
I love diversity, it helps make me appreciate who I am.
Peace.
What an exciting initiative! I am so thrilled to see a dialogue launching around all of this, especially led by Maria Shriver who has so much to offer on this subject.
As an author, business owner, wife and mother, I look forward to watching this evolve. Women have more options today, and with that comes more responsibility. I have stopped using the term "work-life balance" because it sounds like we are teetering on the edge of cliff (and sometimes feels that way).
I would love to see more focus brought to what women contribute to this world. I often feel like I should march through life in a super hero cape as I juggle clients, manage my business, shuttle kids around, schedule and attend doctors appointments, pick up groceries, arrange dinner (more take-out than cook-in), suffer through laundry, deal with bodily fluids (potty training!), maneuver through bath time, plan/attend/execute birthday celebrations, care for pets, fix minor disasters (like permanent marker on my pantry door), manage the social calendar, send cards for all occasions, plan and execute holidays, shop for family wardrobe (thank God for the Internet and UPS) and eventually find time for sleep--just to get up and do it all over again tomorrow.
I am proud of all I do and I want to see women everywhere realize their goals and know that we deserve to have it all. It may not be easy, but it's worthwhile. I wouldn't change a thing.
Super Mom to the rescue! What does your husband contribute?
Does this mean that your daughters will have to register for the selective service just as my sons did?
It may be a Woman's Nation but it is controlled by men, which wouldn't be so bad if they didn't fight and compete like 15 year olds. Lets hope that women won't emulate them in their adolescent insecurity and nastiness,
Too late, women bicker and conspire worse than men do because most of their judgment is emotionally based. True there are strong independent women that deserve the respect they should get, but most are no better then men. They somehow think they are better, that a government under women's control would be different. Granted there would be different agendas but the bickering would remain.
Are things still unfair? Of course, and they'll always be. Would unfairness change if women were predominant? No. You know it, they know it but we're led to believe otherwise
Men act like 15 years olds? You bet they do. Women do the same, and because judgement against them leans toward thinking they are innocent of this makes them worse. And yes, they better sign up for selective service, if my son has to die in defense of this country so does your daughter. If served with several woman in the service that i would go into battle with and have seen several others that I won't.
I am glad that someone is finally talking about this issue. We need more women in Congress and various other high profile positions. I think us outnumbering men is not a coincidence; when women truly find their own power; we cannot be stopped.
Oh yeah? So what is stopping women? You need more women in congress? Aren´t the members voted for? I did not know that women were banned from standing for elections, so what is stopping them? What is stopping women from getting into high profile positions?
" when women truly find their own power, we cannot be stopped "
So how are you going to find your own power? You are expecting someone else to help you get there ? And if so , who? How does a man do it? COMPETITION that is the magic word. So, women, instead of the endless complaints, join the competition, win by being better than the rest. Do not tell us just ,do it. You say you are going to be better than men in running the affairs of the State, getting into the POSITION itself to be able to wield power is the first test of one´s suitability for the job.
No one is going to open doors for you, if you cannot open the doors through your own strength and expertise, then you are are not going anywhere, and don´t blame the men for this.
See Jamie Stiehm's Profile
What could be more timely than this inter-generational dialogue? Women need to be there for each other -- and yet with our expanding portfolio we often put our own needs and community last. If this is like the stress tests our banks will undergo, this social portrait of American women will be revealing indeed. We are the mortar between the bricks holding everything up -- how much more pressure can we take on our roles inside and outside the home, when pay equity is frozen in a cold economic climate? Kudos for making this brilliant idea happen.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
