News from NOW - Category: Below the Belt

One More for the Road

http://www.now.org/news/note/072009.html

"Today is my final day as NOW president. After 36 years as a NOW activist and leader, the past eight years as president, it is quite a challenge to write my final Below the Belt column. The experiences I've had could fill a book, and someday I just might write one. For now, I have this column, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to share with you just a small taste of the incredible experiences I've had leading this extraordinary organization," wrote NOW President Kim Gandy for her final Below the Belt column.

Can We Cure the Ailing U.S. Health Care System?

http://www.now.org/news/note/070609.html

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her biweekly Below the Belt column: "In the United States it is entirely possible for an employed, fully-insured family to go bankrupt because of health care costs. The burden of a major illness, even with health insurance, can cause you to lose your job, force you to sell your home, and leave you no option but to move hundreds of miles to live in your grown daughter's storage room. That this can happen in the richest, most powerful country in the world (or so they say) is nothing short of criminal."

Tragedy, Hope and the Media's Abuse of Power

http://www.now.org/news/note/061609.html

NOW President Kim Gandy writes for her Below the Belt column, "The news lately has been a roller coaster of extremes -- shifting between hope and injustice, success and tragedy, gain and loss. The only consistent aspect is the major role the media play in telling these stories, and the abuse of their power to shape the news."

Teens and Sex: Is the Internet Accurate?

http://www.now.org/news/note/052909.html

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her biweekly Below the Belt column: "As young women attempt to navigate the sexual minefield laid out by the patriarchy, they need information that won't steer them wrong. The stakes are high -- unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, a life forever altered, a future interrupted. So do they get good information?"

One is Not Enough

http://www.now.org/news/note/050709.html

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her biweekly Below the Belt column: "With Justice Souter's departure we will lose a reliable vote for equality, but we also have something to gain. An open seat provides our new president with the opportunity to begin correcting a great imbalance on the high court."

Carrot or Stick?

http://www.now.org/news/note/042209.html

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her biweekly Below the Belt column: "This recession has been coined as the 'he-cession' by some media pundits due to the rise of unemployment among men ... so this means we can ignore unemployed women, right?" Wrong.

Stop Rape and Assault: And That's An Order!

http://www.now.org/news/note/040609.html

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her Below the Belt column, "Here are the words I want to hear from our new commander in chief: 'Our servicewomen deserve dignity and respect, and that's an order!'

With plans to launch more U.S. troops into Afghanistan, it is urgent that the new administration address head-on the shocking treatment of the women who make up a critical portion of our military troops. For years, the very fact that there are women in the military seems to have been forgotten or treated as an afterthought -- whether it's about veterans' benefits, recognition for their service, medical care, combat service or troop deployment."

Hanging in the Balance

http://www.now.org/news/note/032009.html

Some stories are so horrific they leave you speechless. A nine-year-old girl from Brazil is abused and raped for three years by her stepfather, resulting in a pregnancy -- with twins. The mother arranges an abortion, which is permitted under Brazilian law in the case of rape or life endangerment. The 80-pound child qualified on both counts.

Heart-wrenching, but sadly that's not where it stopped. Brazilian Catholic Archbishop Jose Cardoso Sobrinho, supported by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, head of the Vatican Congregation for Bishops, pronounced excommunication for the doctors involved in the abortion and the child's mother. And the rapist? He's in protective custody now, but apparently his sins aren't so grave as to merit expulsion from his church. When asked why, Sobrinho declared abortion the more serious sin.

How does that make sense?

Economic Recovery: What's NOW Got to Do With It?

http://www.now.org/news/note/030609.html

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her Below the Belt column, "When I told this happily-ever-after 'stimulus story' in my president's report at NOW's board meeting last weekend, several members said they wished more people knew what NOW and other advocacy groups really do in Washington. In reality, this work is often tedious, always time-consuming, and definitely not glamorous, but it's oh-so-important to women's lives.

So in that spirit, I offer this glimpse into NOW's efforts 'behind-the-scenes' during the past several months to ensure that women are positively impacted by the economic recovery package and that they play an integral role in the revitalization of our economy and our country. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the president on Feb. 17.

But what happened in the lead up to that day, and what's NOW got to do with it?"

No Woman, No Culture Immune to Violence Against Women

http://www.now.org/news/note/022009.html

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her Below the Belt column, "Rihanna. Aasiya. Does it take a celebrity assault to get violence against women into the news? What about something as gory as cutting off the woman's head? Indeed the story of one woman's life or death can open up a discussion with people who may not think about the issue at all..."

Out of Touch with Reality

http://www.now.org/news/note/013009.html

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her bi-weekly Below the Belt column, "The current financial crisis is a feminist issue, and groups like NOW are working to ensure that the revitalization of our economy takes women into account. So, if I sound like I'm taking the successes and setbacks of the economic recovery package personally -- well, I am."

Confident for the Future

http://www.now.org/news/note/011609.html

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her bi-weekly Below the Belt column, "Jan. 20 will be a proud day for the U.S., and I believe it will mark a crucial turning point in this nation's history. Barack Obama's victory is a victory for us all."

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

http://www.now.org/news/note/121808.html

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her bi-weekly Below the Belt column, "In the holiday spirit of giving, I'd love nothing more than to bestow upon every woman and girl the gift that keeps on giving: opportunity, justice, respect, empowerment -- in other words, full equality."

Equal Marriage Defeats Remind Us Sexism is Alive and Well

http://www.now.org/news/note/120508.html

NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her bi-weekly Below the Belt column, "Marriage traditionally has been a mechanism for the expression and enforcement of rigid sex roles. Gender stereotypes still rule the day, and these stereotypes played a significant role in the loss of equal marriage ballot measures."

From Hope to Action to Victory

http://www.now.org/news/note/111908.html

NOW PAC Chair Kim Gandy writes in her bi-weekly Below the Belt column, "The struggle for human rights, equal opportunity and justice just got the infusion it needed in the form of hope transformed into action converted into victory. Finally, we are the deciders."

No "What Ifs" Allowed

http://www.now.org/news/note/102908.html

NOW PAC Chair Kim Gandy writes in her Below the Belt column, "There is one caution that feminists definitely need to hear: DO NOT pay attention to the polls. Okay, for a few precious moments you can revel in the apparent trend in favor of Obama-Biden and the dozens of women-friendly candidates for Congress. Now stop -- that's long enough !

Below The Belt: We Need A Shot In The Arm

http://www.now.org/news/note/101708.html

While he disingenuously refers to Obama as someone who will 'raise your taxes,' it is actually McCain who is proposing the largest tax increase in my memory -- the McCain Health Tax.

The 2008 Debates: Waiting to Exhale

http://www.now.org/news/note/100308.html

A few days ago I asked a prominent pollster whether I could stop hyperventilating about the election -- "Not a chance!" was the immediate reply. But at least the 2008 vice presidential debate is over, and we can exhale briefly.

Don't Take His Word For It

http://www.now.org/news/note/091808.html

There could be a woman in the White House, and the nation's a-buzz over this rising star. So why aren't I more excited about this? Maybe because being a strong woman doesn't necessarily make you strong on women's rights.

Have Conservatives Discovered Sexism?

http://www.now.org/news/note/090508.html

Hey, have you heard? Conservatives have discovered sexism in the media! And they're learning that it's disrespectful toward women, potentially damaging to their careers, intrusive into their personal lives, and just plain unfair. That is, unless a feminist like Hillary Clinton is charging the media with sexism – then it's called liberal whining or playing the gender card.

Don't Break Out the Champagne Just Yet

http://www.now.org/news/note/082108.html

"This wouldn't be an election year without the issue of reproductive justice and abortion rights making an appearance on the proverbial table. Sadly, the ongoing debate over what women may or may not do with their bodies rages on," writes NOW President Kim Gandy.

Obama, Are You Listening? This One's for Your Girls

http://www.now.org/news/note/073108.html

NOW President Kim Gandy takes on the hot topic of the week -- who will Barack Obama choose as his running mate? Most of the names supposedly on his short list would be terrible for women's rights. Might we offer a few suggestions...?

Below The Belt: Take Up The Song

http://www.now.org/news/note/071408.html

Kim Gandy writes in her "Below The Belt" column, "In my January Below the Belt column called 'Maddening Reminder,' I wrote about the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the countless forms of violence against women internationally. Most recently, a painful reminder has me looking closer to home."

No Capes, No Masks, No Boundaries: Super-Women Unite!

http://www.now.org/news/note/061808.html

Coming up with a theme for NOW's annual national conference is always a fun and challenging endeavor. We wanted a theme that conveyed the breakthroughs that women are making, our power, our progress, and the strength that women exhibit every day in the face of adversity. We wanted something not-too-stuffy that would catch people's attention.

Below The Belt: History, Legacy, and the Shame of Media

http://www.now.org/news/note/060508.html

Kim Gandy writes in her Below The Belt column, "Hillary Clinton's campaign inspired millions of women across the country, and the increased female voter turnout has helped many women running for office - but will those women candidates now face a media gauntlet that is more about their gender than their qualifications?"