Mothers and Caregivers Economic Rights

NOW coined the slogan "Every Mother is a Working Mother" decades ago, and is continuing the fight for economic justice for mothers and others who do the caring work of our society.

Related Issues: Family and NOW and Social Security, NOW and Welfare, and NOW's Women-Friendly Workplace Campaign

November is National Caregivers Month!

• November is National Caregivers Month: Action Ideas
• Caregiving is a Feminist Issue

Take Action:

• Support the Healthy Families Act:
  • Write to your senators
  • Write to your representative
• Help Working Families Strike a Balance
• Sign our "Mothers Matter, Caregivers Count" petition
• Send our petition to your friends
Action Ideas for National Caregivers Month (November)

General Information:

Mothers Matter, Caregivers Count Campaign

• How the Media Treats Mothers and Caregivers Economic Rights Issues
• Legislative & Workplace Actions: Mothers and Caregivers Economic Rights
• Fast Facts: Mothers and Caregivers in the United States
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Recommended Reading
• Online Resources
• Fact Sheet: Provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act (02/07)
• Mothers Matter and Caregivers Count: NOW Values Mothers and Caregivers Economic Rights
• A Feminist Future: Policy and Program Goals
• National NOW Conference Resolutions:
  • The National Organization for Women's 1966 Statement of Purpose
  • Homemakers' Bill of Economic Rights (1978)
  • NOW Values Mothers and Caregivers Economic Rights (2005)

If you'd like more information on these issues, please contact our Mothers and Caregivers Economic Rights committee.

Latest News:

• Below the Belt - NOW's Naughty List: Stereotyping Toys (12/07)
• NOW Foundation Testimony at Congressional Briefing on Social Security and Women (11/07)
• Maternal Leave in the U.S.: Far from Adequate (10/07)
• NOW Cheers Clinton Commitment to Tackle "Maternal Profiling" (10/07)
• EEOC Clarifies Prohibition on Maternal Profiling (05/07)
• Myth About Moms is Crushed, NOW Helps Spread the Word (03/07)
• NOW Supports the State Children's Health Insurance Program (03/07)
• Invigorate, Don't Decimate, The Family and Medical Leave Act (02/07)

Archive

2006 

• NOW Sends Open Letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt on Their Breastfeeding Commercials (07/06)
• Below the Belt: The Balancing Act (05/06)
• Mothers and Caregivers Economic Rights Campaign Gains Momentum (05/06)
• NOW Steps In to Defuse "Mommy Wars" Myth (05/06)
• NOW President to Discuss Motherhood Issues on Good Morning America (03/06)
• "Mommy Wars" Incited by Irresponsible Media (03/06)
• Reprehensible Budget Slashes Human Needs Programs to Pay for Tax Cuts for the Rich (02/06)

2005 

• Report Shatters Myths about U.S. Women's Equality (10/05)
• Stop the Disastrous Bankruptcy Bill (05/05)
• Women's Organizations Condemn Privatizers' Attacks on Stay-At-Home Moms, Cite Gross Hypocrisy of Party Claiming Mantle of Family Values (03/05)
• Bush Administration May Roll Back Family Leave Protections (03/05)
• Social Security Vital to Women (03/05)
• Action Alert: Senate Slated to Vote on Minimum Wage (03/05)
• Bush Budget - Deceptive and Dangerous for Women and Families(02/05)
• Editorial by Kim Gandy in the San Francisco Chronicle: Social Security: A 'Reform' Only Wall Street Could Love (01/05)
• Viewpoint: Don't Worry About Your Golden Years, Wall Street's Got Just the Plan for You (01/05)

2004

• Privatizing Social Security Will Hurt Women (12/04)
• NOW Joins Aggressive Campaign to Stop Destruction of Social Security (12/04)
• Only 100 More Years to Reach Equality (12/04)
• Bush's Economic Failure Weakens Middle Class, Deepens Poverty and Harms Women and Families (08/04)
• NOW Blasts Bush Administration for Leaving Millions of Working Families Behind; New Overtime Laws Devastating to Middle- and Lower-Income Americans (08/04)
• NOW Joins Coalition Planning Major Anti-Poverty Rally (08/04)
• Faltering Job Market, Economy Weigh Heavily on Voters' Minds (05/04)
• NOW Denounces Deceptive "Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies" Act (02/04)
• Guest Commentary: Stiffing Workers on Overtime Pay (01/04)

2003

• Shell Game Being Played on Working Families (07/03)
• Women's Rights Advocates Decry Bush's Family Leave Decision (06/03)
• What Happened to "No Child Left Behind?" 12 Million Have Been Left Behind! (05/03) 
• Pay Equity: A Long Overdue Step in the Road to Equality (04/03)
• NOW Opposes the Rescinding of 'Baby UI,' Calls for Comprehensive Paid Family Leave Programs (01/03)

2002

• Women's Rights Advocates Decry Bush's Family Leave Decision (12/02)
• California Gov. Gray Davis Signs Bill Allowing Paid Family Leave (09/02)
• Honoring Caregivers: The Herstory of Mother's Day (06/02)
• Hughes' White House Departure Spotlights Need for Work-Family Balance (04/02)
• Take Our Daughters to Work Day is April 25 (04/02)
• The Faces of Social Security (Spring 2002)
• Current Economic Downturn Hurts Women (Spring 2002)
• Bush Proposal Would Pay Workfare Recipients Less than Minimum Wage (03/02)
• USA Today Op-Ed by NOW President Kim Gandy: Marriage Is No Panacea (02/02)
• Statement of NOW President Kim Gandy: Women Need Real Economic Security (02/02)

2001

• The Faces of Social Security (12/01)
• An Open Letter to President George W. Bush, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Senate Finance Chair Max Baucus(12/01)
• Bush's Budget, Tax Cut and Judicial Nominees Lack Family Values (04/01)
• Be All That You Can Be: How Military Child Care Measures Up (03/01)
• A Child Care Victory—More Funding! (02/01)

2000

• Marriage Penalty Tax Relief Helps Some, Hurts Others (06/00)
• Child Care Funding Increases Desperately Needed (06/00)
• Action Alert: Support Paid Family Leave (01/00)

1999

• NOW Demands Greater Acceptance of and Access for Breastfeeding Mothers(05/99)
• Victory! Senate Adopts a Resolution to Expand Child Care Spending (04/99)
• Social Security Preservation a Top Priority for NOW(Spring 99)
• Viewpoint: Women Most Vulnerable in Social Security Debate (Winter 1999)

1998

• NOW President Patricia Ireland Joins National Leaders In Call to Strengthen Social Security (12/98)
• Statement of NOW President Patricia Ireland On Social Security (12/98)
• NOW Demands Greater Acceptance and Access for Breastfeeding Mothers (05/98)
• Feminists Call for Closing of Wage Gap (05/98)
• Child Care, Other Women's Issues Touted in Congress (03/98)
• Child Care Initiatives Spotlighted (02/98)

1997

• NOW Activists Support Welfare March On U.N. (10/97)
• Women-Friendly Workplace Campaign Intensifies; NOW Announces Mother's Day, May Demonstrations (05/97)

1996

• Hungry for Justice Campaign against the Welfare Repeal Bill (1996)

Resources

• Mothers Movement Online
• Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights (MOTHERS)
• National Partnership for Women and Families