Womenstake

Would-Be Women Astronauts Denied the Right to Serve

by Melanie Ross Levin, Outreach Manager,
National Women’s Law Center 

In the 1950s, as the space race was heating up, NASA trained a number of women to serve as astronauts. Sadly, that training was as far as they got.

Newly released medical tests published in the September Advances in Physiology Education prove that the female trainees performed better than their male counterparts in many categories — but they were denied the opportunity to serve as astronauts. NASA regulations kept the glass ceiling firmly in place, despite the evidence that women were very qualified to serve.

So what were the reasons for dismissing qualified women astronauts? It looks like women were held to a different — and unachievable — standard. According to Brandon Keim’s article in Weird Science,

“Some NASA officials speculated that female performance could be impaired by menstruation. Others wanted pilots who had already flown experimental military aircraft — something only men could have done, since women were barred from the Air Force.”

Does this type of reasoning sound familiar?

Recently, I posted about the intention of the Navy to move toward allowing women to serve aboard submarines.  Until the Navy recently announced this intention, the stated reason for prohibiting women from permanent assignment aboard submarines was crew privacy. It’s long past time for women to serve on submarines or any other military or civilian positions they are qualified for.

I wonder how many other studies will emerge about women candidates who were lost to discrimination. And the problem isn’t only that these candidates were denied an opportunity — it’s that our nation’s pool of talented potential astronauts was cut for absolutely no reason beyond gender discrimination.

It wasn’t until 1995 that a woman became a space pilot. Now it’s 2009, and we’re still waiting for an American woman to serve on a submarine. At least we’re one step closer to justice — and one step closer to opening all positions for women.  

Cheaters Sometimes Prosper; Or: Why We Need Health Care Reform

by Melanie Ross Levin, Outreach Manager, 
National Women’s Law Center 

In 4th grade I hit my Monopoly peak. At the time, I played a classmate of mine, Laura W., almost every Saturday. I was usually the Hat. She was usually the Horse. I usually won, but the rules never changed. Hotels were worth a certain amount of money and so were those annoying utilities. We played strictly by the book. 

That’s what I don’t get with health insurance. The companies have the upper hand. If they aren’t “winning,” they change the rules --- drop patients, charge more money, or deny coverage. How is that fair? If you’re a patient and you pay your premium, you’re taking a risk that you might or might not get sick. Why can insurance companies just change the game in the middle and get away with it? 

If I did that to Laura W. in 4th grade I’d be called a cheater. Why should insurance companies be called any different?

That’s why we need real health care reform. Health care reform must work for women and their families. This means we need to end unfair insurance company practices like gender rating, ensure that health coverage is affordable for all Americans by helping low- and middle-income families pay for health insurance and limiting their out-of-pocket costs, and make sure that women have access to comprehensive reproductive health services. And while paying for it in a fair and responsible way.

It’s obviously not going to be as easy as a game of Monopoly, but making sure your voice is heard by your Members of Congress is. Take action today by telling them we need health care reform that meets the needs of women and their families.  

Being All You Can Be: Good News for Women in the Military

By Melanie Ross Levin, Outreach Manager, 
and Holly Hemphill, Senior Counsel, 
National Women's Law Center 

Both the Army and the Navy made the news last week with positive developments not only for women in the military but also for all people who care about quality - and equality - in our armed forces.

We begin by reporting that Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead have announced their intention to “move out aggressively” to allow women to serve aboard submarines. That’s right, in 2009, women are currently prohibited from serving on submarines, even though they have been successfully serving on surface warfare vessels since the mid-1990s. Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center, welcomed the news and commended the Navy officials for this important step. When the Navy’s intention becomes a reality, the potential pool of candidates for submarine service will greatly expand – which will not only help with recruitment, but increase the quality of our force. 

In a second move, showing progress of women in the Army, Command Sgt. Maj. Teresa L. King got a big promotion – one that will put her in charge of overseeing the drill sergeant training for the entire U.S. Army. CSM King will be the first woman in this key position – a position that influences the basic training of every enlisted soldier. CSM King said that one of her priorities would be to recruit more women into her drill sergeant school, and said, “Women should be allowed into frontline combat units ... if they meet the same standards as men.” Sounds obvious right? It’s not... Currently women are excluded not only from submarine duty but also from serving in infantry, armor and artillery units.

Here at the National Women’s Law Center we think that women should be full partners with men serving in defense of our country. We have posted position papers on allowing military women to serve in all units and occupations for which they qualify, providing military women full access to reproductive health care, eliminating sexual assault, and the need for a revitalized Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. We have also outlined other recommendations to end discrimination against women in the military in our Platform for Progress.

By moving forward on these issues, the Department of Defense will acknowledge what many of us already know – that women in the military have proven their value and valor and deserve full equality and opportunity in serving our country.

We look forward to more good news in the coming months, as more military assignments open up for women and as more leaders like CSM Teresa L. King are recognized. 

For more information check out www.nwlc.org/military.

A Call for Gender Equity in Construction Contracts

by Melanie Ross Levin, Outreach Manager, 
National Women's Law Center 

Fashion from the 1980s seems to be making a comeback (does anyone really look good in tights?). But the number of women in non-traditional occupations, at least, has evolved since then. In 1980, the federal government used Census data from the 1970s to identify affirmative action hiring goals for federal construction contractors (and subcontractors) — and came up with just 6.9 percent for women. That goal hasn’t been updated since.

Last week, Reps. Pete Stark, D-Calif., and Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Conn., sent a letter co-signed by 24 of their colleagues urging Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis to modernize the affirmative action goals set by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. In addition to setting a new goal for women based on updated Census data, the letter recommends establishing a working committee to provide oversight for the implementation of this goal.

Why the sudden interest in getting these numbers updated, after nearly 30 years at the same rate? With the economy slowly recovering, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will play a vital role in job creation — particularly in non-traditional occupations for women.  The term shovel-ready jobs means just that — shovel ready.  Now we just need to make sure women have real access to the shovels.

Senator Kennedy: Champion of Fair Pay

by Melanie Ross Levin, Outreach Manager, 
National Women's Law Center 

As President Obama started his term, there was the usual “first 100-days” media pressure building around what legislation would come first. And with Senator Kennedy’s help, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was the first piece of legislation signed by the President.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act reversed the damaging Supreme Court decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and strengthened a woman’s ability to fight pay discrimination in court.

Before the historic vote, Senator Kennedy’s office released a statement.

“Whether you believe as I do that the Supreme Court misread the law, or you think that the original law was unclear, the result is the same. We cannot turn our back on Americans like Lilly Ledbetter, who play by the rules and suffer discrimination day in and day out. ”

Senator Kennedy never turned his back on women.  He fought hard for every major piece of legislation to protect the rights of women since 1963.

During the course of the campaign to pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act I had the privilege to meet Senator Kennedy at a coalition meeting. In a town where it’s hard to get time with a Senator, he made the time and talked to the team working to pass this bill. He gave the coalition the inspiration and focus we needed to continue our work to get the job done. 

For Senator Kennedy there was no such thing as being too busy or too tired when it came to pursing justice.  Now it’s up to his fellow advocates for equality to take the reins and press on.

Billie Jean King to Receive Medal of Honor

by Melanie Ross Levin, Outreach Manager, 
National Women's Law Center 

On Thursday, the White House announced that Billie Jean King and 15 others will receive the Medal of Freedom from the President of the United States. If you are not aware of Billie Jean King’s accomplishments, here is the laundry list: 20 Wimbledon titles, 13 U.S. Open titles, first female athlete to win more than $100,000 in a year in any sport, co-founder of World Team Tennis and founder of the Women’s Sports Foundation. And let us not forget her victory against Bobby Riggs in the famous “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match. 

I had the privilege of first meeting Billie Jean King at the National Women’s Law Center’s 2004 dinner. Her energy and passion for Title IX is contagious. When she receives the Medal of Freedom from the President on August 12, she will not only receive it for herself but for all women who fight to play, practice and compete. Three cheers for Billie Jean King and three cheers for the Obama Administration for acknowledging the importance of female athletes and advocates.

Study Claims that Women Have More College Athletic Opportunities than Men: What a Joke

by Melanie Ross Levin, Outreach Manager, 
National Women's Law Center 

A new study by the College Sports Council allegedly compares opportunities for men and women to earn athletic scholarships and participate in college sports. But the study contains some major holes (not the least of which is that the "study" consists of three bullet points and charts, with no fuller explanation or analysis). Perhaps most shocking is that the study doesn't include football and conveniently chooses to include only those sports in which both males and females participate. Let me repeat. The study doesn't include the over 25,000 football players and nearly 20,000 scholarships that they receive in Division I. But why stop there? The study goes on to count the numbers of athletic scholarships awarded instead of the total athletic scholarship dollars, the latter of course being the relevant measure to assess compliance with Title IX.  And once again, it conveniently leaves out football scholarships. Having been structured to produce the desired result, the study then concludes that women have more scholarship and participation opportunities then men in college sports.

In response to the study, Marcia Greenberger, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center said, "While there may be larger numbers of female athletes, that doesn't address the issue of whether they're also getting smaller scholarships." And Donna Lopiano, the former CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation called the study “disingenuous.” I agree. Holes in this study are so large that I could throw a football through them. And I didn’t even play football in college. Then again, few women in college do. Exactly my point.

Farewell to Jocelyn Samuels, NWLC Vice President for Education and Employment

by Melanie Ross Levin, Outreach Manager, 
National Women’s Law Center 

After serving as the Vice President for Education and Employment for close to eight years at the National Women's Law Center, Jocelyn Samuels is moving on to work for the U.S. Justice Department in the Civil Rights Division. We’re sad to see her go — but we’re very happy that in her new position, she will continue to advocate for educational opportunities for women and girls. Check out her good-bye video message. 

Pregnant and Parenting Students: Know Your Rights

by Melanie Ross Levin, Outreach Manager, 
National Women’s Law Center 

Title IX says that schools must give all students who might be, are or have been pregnant (whether the student is a parent or not) the same access to school programs and extracurricular activities that other students have in school. Check out our new video and resources explaining the rights of pregnant and parenting students in school.

And find out more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students.

Teen Parents Can Succeed

by Melanie Ross Levin, Outreach Manager, 
National Women’s Law Center 

Sorry, no typo here. Teen parents "CAN" succeed is the correct title of this post. While it is true that pregnancy and parenting responsibilities play a significant role in many girls' decisions to drop out of school, some schools have figured out a way to provide the right supports, in order to help make the path to graduation less daunting. Last week, we posted about new materials NWLC has released to help advocate on behalf of pregnant and parenting students. Last week, the Washington Post featured photographs of one of the many success stories -- a student who is making it to graduation because of the supports provided by Project Opportunity. Project Opportunity at Bryant Adult Alternative High School in Fairfax, Virginia, offers assistance to pregnant and parenting students, including a block scheduling system, transportation for students and their children and in-school child care, among other things.