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Women’s rights are human’s rights… take action NOW!
The California National Organization for Women (CA NOW) is the largest state organization of feminists, both women and men, in the United States. It is made up of 40 chapters throughout the state, representing over 100,000 members and supporters. Berkeley became an official chapter in 2004.
BNOW is passionate about feminism and a safe campus community. As the multi-issue, multiethnic student group on campus, we strive to be diverse and inclusive of all. Our most important issues include immigration, reproductive rights, environmental justice, marriage equality, media activism and globalization. We meet once a week to plan actions and raise awareness around these issues. Our leadership is broken down to a group of elected officers and committee members. Outside of meetings, we organize consciousness raising discussions, panels, rallies and service trips.
We also work side-by-side with the Gender Equity Resource Center to respond to students and other members of the campus community who may have experienced on-going bias related threats, discrimination, harassment and/or domestic, relationship or sexual violence; create and foster a welcoming friendly environment where students, faculty or staff feel comfortable exploring issues of difference and are free to engage in critical discourse about issues of human oppression and social justice; and to maintain current campus and community referral and resource information related to women, lesbian gay bisexual transgender intersex persons, hate crimes & bias related incidents, domestic violence, sexual assault, and other issues of gender & sexuality.1
One of our campaigns this semester is to ensure that Cal is committed in providing equal opportunities in sports and education which it has failed to do so in recent years. Title IX, the federal law prohibiting discrimination against girls and women in educational institutions which receive any federal funds, was signed into law on June 23, 1972. This year marks the 35th anniversary. Title IX's regulations require institutions to provide equitable athletic opportunities for all students, regardless of sex, in three separate areas: participation, treatment of athletes, and athletic scholarships.2 BNOW is dedicated in enforcing Title IX compliance.
A fundamental goal of the feminist movement is to ensure economic justice for women of all socio-economic backgrounds. We advocate for women on state and federal budget allocations, as well as on the public policies that affect their economic status. We fight for women's rights in the workplace including the right to unionize. We want women to gain pay equity, break through the glass ceiling, succeed in owning their own businesses, plan for their retirement, manage inherited wealth and have the CHOICE to be a stay-at-home mom without suffering economic hardship. As of 2002, women in California earned 80.7% of what men in California earned.3 The causes of women’s poverty operate at the societal level, with institutionalized discrimination in labor markets and politics, the community level where social rules affect the roles and responsibilities of men and women, and at the household level where unequal power relations operate depending on sex and age.4 We believe that for women to have true equality they must achieve economic independence.
Sexual harassment in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. In 2004, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 13,136 charges of sexual harassment, 85% of which were filed by women. Rape, sexual assault and other forms of violence are often underreported. BNOW is working to raise awareness about violence against women near campus and to make the streets safer for students to walk after dark. For more information please refer to: http://www.vday.org/contents/violence/resources.
BNOW is also working in solidarity with CalServe (Cal Students for Equal Rights and Valid Education) to address the under representation of students of color and women in higher education. Some of the goals of our campaign are to redefine "merit,” get rid of the SAT and include more options for API race/ethnicity on the UC application. According to current laws, undocumented students cannot access financial aid. BNOW and CalServe are working to pass SB 65, the California DREAM Act, which would grant financial aid to these students.
Did you know that Cal is one of the few universities in the state without a Multicultural Center? The University promised us one in 1999 after thousands of students went on strike. Eight years later and all we have is the temporary, poorly equipped and understaffed facility in MLK. With a real facility dedicated to cultural diversity, we could host events and build campus community. Join us in pressuring the Regents to make this a top priority.
How can you get involved? Contact us to join our email list, sign up on the facebook group or stop by GenEq for meeting times and event info.
Office: Gender Equity Resource Center, 202 Cesar Chavez Located behind the Golden Bear Cafe above Lower Sproul Plaza
website: http://www.ucbnow.berkeley.edu/ contact: <ucbnow GROUNDPORK AT MYSTERYMEAT yahoogroups DOT com>