MWPC's Blog: April 2013

Friday, April 26, 2013

Woman of the Hour: Linda Dorcena Forry

Primaries? On April 30th? The First Suffolk District are having their primary election for the Democratic Senate seat that day, along with the primary for the Massachusetts US Senate Seat. This is a highly contested seat, and the MWPC has endorsed one woman who we believe is perfect for the job: Linda Dorcena Forry.

Here are ten reasons why Linda Dorcena Forry is our candidate...

1. She has been a member of the state House of Representatives since 2005 and knows all the ins and outs of the state government

2. If elected, Linda will be the first woman of color elected to the seat

3. We can count on her to stand up for women’s reproductive rights
4. She is an avid supporter of universal Pre-K and Kindergarten

5. With a voting record that supports the LGBT Community, Linda has been endorsed by MassEquality and DotOUT

6. She worked with the City of Boston's Department of Neighborhood Development for nearly a decade to strengthen our communities, while preserving their character

7. She is a native Bostonian – The 1st Suffolk’s issues are her issues

8. She is a supporter of the rehabilitation of the MBTA in and around Ashmont Station

9. LDF was instrumental in legislation that now prohibits bullying and cyber-bullying in schools

10. Linda has a really cute family

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Equal Pay Day

Today is Equal Pay Day. If you read any of our women's history month posts, it would be hard to argue that women haven't made huge strides in the advancement of equality. However, we haven't come far enough.

Imagine you and a man hold the same job. Today marks the day - 84 days into the new year - you would have to work until to garner the same pay he did in the last year. Put more simply, the average woman makes 77 cents to every dollar a man makes, that is a 23% difference. The statistics are even more drastic for women of color. The Center for American Progress wrote, "African American women and Latinas in the United States are paid $18,817 and $23,298 less than non-Hispanic white men yearly, respectively. That’s 64 cents and 55 cents for every dollar a man earns."

Today is about more than raising awareness - it is a call to action. Talk to you congressman or woman about the Paycheck Fairness Act. The legislation has been introduced numerous times but has never passed both chambers. The Act would create stricter punishments for employers who pay a man more than a woman for the same job and protect women who call employers out on pay disparities. Find your congressperson HERE.

Remembering Margaret Thatcher

It is with heavy hearts that we at the MWPC heard the news of the passing of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Born from humble means, Margaret Thatcher was one of the most significant women in world politics in the last 50 years.

Known as the Iron Lady for her personal and political determination, she was elected leader of the Conservative party in 1975, and four years later became the first female prime minister of Great Britain. Mrs. Thatcher played a significant role in domestic politics and her international policies and decisions shaped Britain for years.

Thatcher had a close relationship with President Ronald Reagan, and helped to shape american politics with her influence as well. In a statement released by the White House President Obama remarked,

"She stands as an example to our daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can't be shattered... Here in America, many of us will never forget her standing shoulder to shoulder with President Reagan,
reminding the word that we are not simply carried along by the currents of history - we can shape them with moral conviction, unyielding courage and iron will."

She stood up for what she believed in and wouldn't back down; her memory will live on in strong women everywhere.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

A Good Guy Steps Down

Unless you live under a rock (or not in New England), you probably know that Boston's Mayor Tom Menino won't be running for reelection. He has been an outstanding mayor for twenty years, revitalizing Boston with his work. Those of us at the MWPC will be sad to see him leave. However, it isn't just with us that his popularity continues to grow, in 2005 he won his fourth election with sixty-eight percent of the vote.

Sixty eight percent of the people in Boston voted for a pro-choice, endorsed by NOW, MWPC Good Guy, guy. This is someone who put women in high level positions and, when others were talking about cutting funding to Women's Commissions, kept it strong. He provided more resources for the homeless, pushed a national campaign against gun violence, was an early supporter of gay marriage, and a proponent for the distribution of condoms and care for people with AIDS, when it was highly unpopular to do so. On top of that, Mayor Menino has ushered in the nation's largest private sector construction jobs. Fifty retailers, ninety new companies, 2,300 new jobs, 1.1 million square feet of office and lab space, and $900 million dollars have flooded Mayor Menino's Innovation District since 2010.

We understand that Mayor Menino is stepping down due to personal reasons, but that doesn't make his retirement hurt any less. To see a Good Guy leave office is always a bit of a heart break and he will be greatly missed.

In 1994, Mayor Menino said "When I leave this job, I want the city to be in better shape than when I took over." Almost twenty years have gone by, and I don't think anyone can say he didn't achieve his goal.