While the recession was particularly tough on men, the economic “recovery” has been extremely unkind to women. Since the recession officially ended in June 2009, women have lost 345,000 jobs and counting. The job gap between women and men is now 1.5 million, with women’s unemployment rate growing while men’s declines.
NOW and allied organizations representing millions of women are coming together through HERvotes to mobilize women voters for the 2012 elections in order to protect and advance women’s Health and Economic Rights.
As we celebrate the 91st anniversary of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution this week, which guaranteed women the right to vote, it is now more important than ever to mobilize women voters. It is time to end the countless attacks by the right-wing in Congress and in state legislatures across the country on women’s health and economic rights.
The pain continues for millions of jobless workers and their families as long-term unemployment has reached historic highs. Although small gains in reemployment have been made, women have actually lost ground. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the unemployment rate fell to 8.6 percent in November, the unemployment rate for women who maintain families was 12.1 percent.
The Violence Against Women Act is up for reauthorization, and if Congress passes a strong bill, millions of girls and women will have a better chance to escape and heal from sexual, domestic, dating and stalking violence. We only have to read the latest headlines to know that our nation must continue its work to prevent and respond to the cruel sexual violence, lethal battery and assault that lead to murder and destruction in whole families. Shockingly, three women are killed every day in domestic violence incidents.