Friday, March 28, 2014
What We've Been Reading...
We hope you have all had a wonderful week. Here is what we have been reading!
The Huffington Post, in an effort to wrap up women’s history month and celebrate Gloria Steinem’s 80th birthday, has compiled a list of things women can do today in 2014 that we could not do in 1914. Just one hundred years ago, women could not have equal access to job listings, accuse husbands of rape, or seek damages for sexual harassment. The list highlights less publicized victories for women that deserve more prominent recognition. We are thankful to all who achieved these gains for women in the face of inequality.
A recent study by the IMF has revealed that women are underutilized in the workforce. They also found that those employees who do not get paid or get underpaid are predominantly women. The study projects that if women were working in the same proportion of men, the GDPs across the globe would benefit. Increasing women’s role in the workforce throughout the world is not just a moral or philosophical cause; it is an economic necessity.
Yesterday, English actor and comedian Ricky Gervais expressed his disapproval of Hollywood’s treatment of women in film and television. He especially finds issue with women in comedies. Gervais commented, “Even in Hollywood, women are usually air heads or if they're ambitious they're straight away cold and need to be taught a lesson. They need to show that getting a man is more important than getting a career. Or they're just props for men to do funny things...People think that men rule the world but they don't, really.” Thanks for pointing out this type of negative messaging, Ricky!
