Greetings from your Global Women’s Caucus team! Summer has been flying by as usual, and we’ve had plenty to keep us busy at home and abroad. In this month’s newsletter, see Lights for Liberty photos from around the world, learn about happenings with our caucus in China, and hear what some of the Democratic presidential candidates had to say about women’s issues in their first debate.

Also, please take a moment to fill out our issues survey. We want to know what’s important to you in the 2020 elections.

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Around the World: Lights for Liberty

On July 12, vigils were held across the U.S. and around the world to protest the inhumane conditions facing migrants at the southern U.S. border.

London organizer Melissa Branzburg said, “Standing up as a concerned citizen to host a vigil felt bold, but the children and adults locked up in inhumane conditions in detention in the U.S. demands bold action. My five-year-old spoke at the event, and as a mother to young children, the stories at the border really cut deep. So many people turning out to our vigil in London felt impactful, and I look forward to continuing the fight.”

Toulouse, France

Tokyo, Japan

Madrid, Spain

London, UK

View more photos at the Lights for Liberty Facebook page. 

DA Happenings: Busy Summer in China

From Elaine Chow, China Communications/IT Director: The Women's Caucus in China has had a busy summer season across Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. We kicked off the summer with a Take an Action Happy Hour in two cities to write our Congress People denouncing the attacks on women's health rights. In June, we revitalized ourselves with a Book Club Takeover discussing Susan Faludi's “Backlash,” a book about how unprecedented advances in women's rights then led to more anti-women initiatives. Now, even as we have the most diverse Congress ever, we are encountering a similar backlash against our health and guarantees to equality.

We look forward to growing our community and continuing to discuss women's issues into the new year!

In the US: Women’s Issues in the First Democratic Debates

The Global Women’s Caucus has formed a candidate research team to gather information about the presidential candidate's positions on women’s issues that we will be sharing later this year.

During the first Democrat Presidential Candidates debate, there were only a few questions on women’s issues. Not all candidates had an opportunity to answer the same questions. Hopefully, we will have a chance to hear the stance of all candidates on women’s issues in the next debates, set for July 30-31 in Detroit.

Here are a few quotes on women’s issues from the first debates:

JULIÁN CASTRO:

“I would do several things, starting with something we should have done a long time ago, which is to pass the Equal Rights Amendment finally in this country.”

BETO O'ROURKE:

“And health care also has to mean that every woman can make her own decisions about her own body and has access to the care that makes that possible.”

JAY INSLEE:

“It should not be an option in the United States of America for any insurance company to deny a woman coverage for their exercise of their right of choice.”

AMY KLOBUCHAR:

“I just want to say, there's three women up here that have fought pretty hard for a woman's right to choose.”

ELIZABETH WARREN:

“I would make certain that every woman has access to the full range of reproductive health care services, and that includes birth control, it includes abortion, it includes everything for a woman.”

KAMALA HARRIS:

“I want a rape victim to be able to run in the middle of the street and wave down a police officer and report the crime against her.”

JOE BIDEN:

“I supported the ERA from the very beginning.”

BERNIE SANDERS:

“Let me make a promise here. You asked about litmus tests. My litmus test is I will never appoint any—nominate any justice to the Supreme Court unless that justice is 100 percent clear he or she will defend Roe v. Wade.”

KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND:

“Women in America—women in America, are on fire. We’ve marched, we’ve organized, we’ve run for office, and we’ve won. But, our rights are under attack like never before by President Trump and the Republicans who want to repeal Roe v. Wade, which is why I went to the front lines in Georgia to fight for them.”

JOHN HICKENLOOPER:

“I’m a small business owner who brought that same scrappy spirit to big Colorado, one of the most progressive states in America. We’ve expanded reproductive health to—to reduce teenage abortion by 64 percent.”

ERA Update: Support H.J.Res 38 and S.J.Res 6

There has been more press coverage of the Equal Rights Amendment – especially with the equal pay and Title IX discussions generated by the U.S. Women’s Soccer team win. It was also mentioned three times in the first presidential debates.

For those in need of a refresher on why we need the ERA, here’s a excellent 15-minute segment from John Oliver. *Note, it is R-rated for language.

Help the cause. Please take 10 minutes to contact your U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators to ask them to support the ERA or thank them if they already are. For the House, it is bill H.J.Res 38. Here’s the link with how to contact them and what to say: https://www.democratsabroad.org/era_house. For the Senate, it is bill S.J.Res 6. Here’s the link with how to contact them and what to say: https://www.democratsabroad.org/era_senate. 

If you have ideas or would like to help DA with the ERA ratification, please contact us at era@democratsabroad.org.

Recap: Webinar on the Criminalization of Women’s Bodies with Jennifer Merchant

Jennifer Merchant, Ph.D., spoke for the Global Women’s Caucus in Paris on June 13 on the subject of the Criminalization of Women’s Bodies, following the recent abortion bans or restrictions in the U.S. The evening was streamed live on Zoom, and over 100 people listened and watched in real-time.

No one in the audience was disappointed with Dr. Merchant’s complete and informative story of historical landmarks that got us to where we are today. Most striking was her analysis of trends in abortions (in 2014, the U.S. abortion rate reached a historic low) and the segment of the population most affected by the restrictions.

Click here for a full recap of Dr. Merchant’s talk.

Get Involved: We Want to Hear Your Story!

Though we are proud of how far women have come in the U.S., there are still many miles to go. To shed light on the progress still needed, we are launching the “State of the American Woman” campaign. As part of this initiative, we hope to highlight stories of American women facing inequality in their daily lives.

If you are interested in learning more or participating, please contact gwc_comms@democratsabroad.org.

Save the Date: DA Meetings

October 11-13: DA EMEA annual regional meeting in Athens, Greece. All DA members are welcome!

October 25-26: Americas Regional Workshop on Voting from Abroad in Costa Rica. All DA members welcome!

Thank you for reading, and as always, stay tuned on our Facebook page for all the latest news.

In solidarity,

Your GWC Team

http://www.democratsabroad.org/wc

Womenscaucus@democratsabroad.org

Jennifer Merchant, Ph.D*. in Political Sciences from the Institut d'études politiques de Paris, and Professor of Anglo-American legal and political institutions at the Université de Paris II (Panthéon-Assas), spoke for the Global Women’s Caucus in Paris on June 13 on the subject of the Criminalization of Women’s Bodies, following the recent abortion bans or restrictios in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Ohio.

No one in the audience was disappointed with Dr. Merchant’s complete and informative story of historical landmarks that got us to where we are today. Most striking was her analysis of trends in abortions (in 2014, the U.S. abortion rate reached a historic low) and the segment of the population most affected by the restrictions. Because of lack of access to health insurance and health care, abortion is increasingly concentrated among poor women, and abortion rates continue to vary by race and ethnicity.

The question about reversing Roe v Wade was naturally a key point. If Roe fell, abortion rights would be lost in some states and remain secure in others.

To watch the recording of Jennifer Merchant’s talk and hear her opinions about where we go from here, you can click here. 

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DA Happenings: GWC goes to Washington!

Our own GWC members were also extremely productive and exhausted but thoroughly satisfied by the end of the week! GWC Chair Ann Hesse highlighted achievements from the past year and outlined our strategy to get more women elected in 2020. ERA team leader Shari Temple presented on plans to make 2020 the year we finally pass the ERA, and GWC leaders were on hand for informal one-on-one chats with newly minted leaders. Forty GWC leaders from around the world also convened at a planning session at the elegant Cosmos Club in D.C., where we laid out priorities for the coming year and formed two new important task forces: a Candidate Research Team and a Reproductive Rights Team.

A few observations from participants:

On Thursday, June 13th, from 6:45 pm to 8:45 pm CEST, the Global Women's Caucus will host an essential webinar with Dr. Jennifer Merchant. She will discuss the long-feared upcoming challenge to Roe v. Wade limiting choice for women and a likely constitutional crisis concerning women’s rights. Don't miss this important webinar, RSVP today.

In May, Alabama passed the most restrictive abortion law in the country. It outlaws almost all abortions and does not include exemptions for rape or incest. Further, the law states that doctors who perform abortions could be charged with a felony and face up to 99 years in prison.

These laws are antiquated and dangerous, and if enacted, will endanger women’s health while laying waste to reproductive rights. And yet, there is a reason to be hopeful. States, including Nevada and Illinois, have recently passed legislation to protect access to abortion.

As we celebrate the accomplishment that was the passage of the 19th Amendment 100 years ago, we look forward to the passage of the ERA. However, women will NOT have equal rights in the U.S. Constitution this year as the deadlines for the legislatures in all 13 unratified states has passed.

We are also looking at other ways that DA can help influence and educate the public on the need for women in the USA to have equal rights. If you have ideas or would like to help, please contact us at era@democratsabroad.org.

Watch Desi Lydic womansplain the Equal Rights Amendment on the Daily Show.

Thank you for reading, and as always, stay tuned on our Facebook page for all the latest news.

Democrats Abroad will hold its 2019 Global Meeting from May 17-19 in Washington, D.C. Members from around the world converge and work to prepare for the 2020 primary and general elections. Over three days, we will attend to the regular business of the organization, discuss charter amendments and resolutions, run training sessions and hold our executive committee elections. There will also be regional meetings to elect Regional Vice Chairs and conduct other business. Find out how you can get involved, including the opportunity to virtually participate in the Democrats Abroad 2019 Global Meeting, set for May 17-19 in Washington, D.C.

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On April 12, our friends in the UK Women’s Caucus teamed up with the DAUK Film Committee to hold a screening of “RBG,” the award-winning documentary about cultural icon and civil rights champion, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Building on the momentum of Women’s History Month in March, the event included an after-screening discussion, featuring a panel of three DAUK women members who trained as lawyers, on topics such as opportunities for women in the legal profession, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and RBG’s legacy.

In early April, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) introduced a bill to increase protections and transparency related to sexual harassment in the workplace: H.R.2148, the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act.

Among other things, the legislation would fill in gaps in current federal discrimination laws. For example, it would extend protections to groups excluded from the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including workers at small businesses, independent contractors, interns, LGBTQ workers, and volunteers. Furthermore, the bill seeks to address problems in the judicial system related to processing workplace harassment claims. Click here for more on how the bill will fight workplace discrimination.

ERA Update: House Holds First ERA Hearing in 36 Years

Did you know:

Of the 13 states that have not ratified the ERA, 10 submitted bills in their state legislature this year. (The three that did not were AL, OK, and UT.) The bills have already failed for the 2019 sessions in AR, AZ, FL, GA, MS, SC and VA, but there’s still some hope for the other three – LA, MO, and NC. If you vote in one of these states, please contact your state legislature members to support the ERA.

We are looking for volunteers to join our Global Women’s Caucus Comms team. If you are passionate about women’s rights and have 10 hours a month to volunteer to our caucus, we need you! We are looking for volunteers with the following areas of expertise:

Writing

Design & Graphics

Events

If interested, please connect with us via email at gwc_comms@democratsabroad.org.

We invite you to join the Books Abroad international feminist reading group on Sunday, June 9, at 7:30 a.m. EDT for a discussion about a historical piece of feminism, Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening.” First published in 1899, this novel presents the intellectual and sexual awakening of Edna Pontellier, an affluent, married white woman with two children.

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Thanks for reading,

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DA Celebrates International Women’s Day Around the World

March 8, 2019: The DAUK Women’s Caucus spent International Women’s Day with Stacey Abrams! The inspiring politician told members we can’t count on anyone to open doors for us — so we must work together to create our own doors and, when that’s not possible, knock down walls entirely.

DAUK Women’s Caucus members feelin’ the love with Stacey Abrams on IWD! L to R: Meghan Feeks, Courtney Plummer, Stacey Abrams, Jihann Pedersen, Lan Wu.

GWC steering committee member Christina Skovsgaard is one of the thousands at the IWD march in Oslo, this year focusing on abortion rights and equal pay.

Toronto & Canada WC Chairs Karin Lippert and Brooke Scott join as members laugh and cheer for the cast, the show and each other.

The GWC hosted a webinar with Christine Pelosi on March 10. 

She is a very motivating speaker. During her talk she discussed her Congressional Candidates Bootcamp, staying engaged from abroad, HR1, the comprehensive reform package designed to strengthen the rights of voters at home and abroad and much more. Watch this information-packed webinar, you will not be disappointed.

No ERA Vote in Virginia: Update and How You Can Help!

The Equal Rights Amendment is back in the news. Here’s a quick update on what’s happened.

This year, bills have been introduced in 10 of the 13 unratified states. Sadly, it has already failed to get out of committee for 2019 in Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Virginia. Bills are still in play in Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The three states that did not even introduce a bill are Alabama, Oklahoma, and Utah.

Here’s a three-minute video on Why We Need an Equal Rights Amendment. You can also watch the “Legalize Equality” video, the 30-minute must-see video on ERA – just RSVP here for the free link.

What You Can Do: Help Call DA Virginia Voters!

Just a few weeks ago, Republicans stopped the ERA in the Virginia Legislature by a single vote! We were devastated, but not defeated!

Let’s take a majority in the VA legislature and ratify the ERA!

COMING UP! Eyes Wide Open: Books Abroad Reads “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin

We invite you to join the Books Abroad international feminist reading group on Sunday, June 9, at 7:30 a.m. EDT for a WebEx discussion about this landmark piece of literary fiction. Please click here for more information on the book and to RSVP!

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In solidarity,

On April 12, 2019, the DAUK Film Committee and the DAUK Women’s Caucus screened the documentary "RBG: A Progressive Icon in these Troubled Times” in London. “Super Diva” is on Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s sweatshirt at her weekly routine in this lively biography. And “Super Diva’ she is to the young students attending her recent public appearances. The term is well-earned as we hear family, friends and colleagues talk of RBG’s impressive legal acumen, tireless work ethic, quiet determination, and successful strategies to advance gender equality in the United States.

We see her 1992 Senate nomination hearing outlining some of the many cases pursued while a law professor and general counsel of the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project, winning five of the six gender discrimination case before the Supreme Court. It is shocking to remember that, in 1959, despite graduating first in her law school class, she was turned down NY law firms and denied a Supreme Court clerkship because she was a woman.

There are amusing vignettes from her private life: opera, travel and a supportive husband who famously promoted her Supreme Court nomination. But what shines through is her dedication to the law and her mode of overcoming sexism: “Be a lady and be independent.” And the Justice continues as a “rock star” with her independent thinking in eloquent dissents in today’s Supreme Court.

It was an excellent film and we would highly recommend it. RBG is now available on iTunes!

Watch the trailer

We are looking for volunteers to join our Global Women’s Caucus Comms team.
If you are passionate about women’s rights and have 10 hours a month to volunteer to our caucus, we need you!
We are looking for volunteers with the following areas of expertise:

• Social Media

• Creating original content for our website and social media

• Monitoring social media channels

• Assisting in the preparation of online campaigns

• Other activities as required
  

• Writing

• Write about women’s issues that are important to the GWC

• Conduct interviews

• Draft resolutions in support of women’s issues

• Creating original content for our website and social media

• Proofread content

• Research women’s topics

• Other activities as required
  

• Design & Graphics

• Design layouts for web pages and social media channels

• Design promotional material including posters, flyers, etc.

• Help create and maintain a unique brand identity for our caucus

• Events

• Organise online events including WebEx calls

• Develop ‘’Event in a Box’’ toolkit

• Liaise with external groups to collaborate on events

• Plan offline events including marches
  
  

Please connect us via email: gwc_comms@democratsabroad.org

Highlights of the March 8 events in Oslo

There is an irony in the fact that Norway, which is ranked as the second most female friendly nation (2018 ranking*1), is so dedicated to the International Women’s Day. Have they not already achieved equality? The strong engagement is a good barometer for Norway’s general commitment to support women’s rights. The laws here do support women both in the workplace and home. Norway, traditionally a farming nation, recognized the contributions of farmer wives, decades ago, by giving them the status of a regular workers, entitled them to increased social security and workman’s benefits. Now girls are taken over farms since the law on inheritance has changed, favoring the first-born child, replacing the first born “male” as the heir. The law now also states that all corporate boards must be minimum 40% female; however, women tend not to rise as rapidly as men on the corporate ladder. A major newspaper recently reported that more men are going into female dominated vocations, such as nursing and teaching, and a larger percentage of women now seek higher education than men. 

Michael Flood, Queensland University of Technology

Young men who conform to traditional definitions of manhood are more likely to suffer harm to themselves, and do harm to others, according to a new survey of Australian men aged 18 to 30.

This is the first major Australian survey to map ideals of masculinity among young men, commissioned as part of the Jesuit Social Services’ Men’s Project, which is dedicated to helping boys and men live respectful, accountable and fulfilling lives.

The researchers surveyed 1,000 young men on their attitudes toward seven pillars of traditional manhood: self-sufficiency, toughness, physical attractiveness, rigid gender roles, heterosexuality and homophobia, hypersexuality, and aggression and control over women. These represent what we call the “Man Box”, or the ideals of manhood that can be both influential and restrictive to young men.

The men were asked about their perceptions of societal messages about manhood and their own endorsement of these messages.

Our findings showed that many young men remain greatly influenced by these societal messages of what it means to be a man. For example, young men were particularly likely to agree with statements that society expects men to act strong (69%), fight back when pushed (60%) and never say no to sex (56%).

However, some traditional ideals seem to be dropping away. Few young men agreed that society tells them they should use violence to get respect (35%), straight men should shun gay men as friends (36%), boys shouldn’t learn how to cook and clean (38%), and men shouldn’t do household chores (39%).

Read more: Masculinity should not be defined by the Kavanaugh hearings

Today as we celebrate International Women’s Day, let us remember the great women in history whose shoulders we stand on. Let us celebrate their achievements and acknowledge the sacrifices they made to get us where we are today.

This has indeed been a historic year for women. We have elected a record number of women to Congress and we have more women of color serving in office than ever before! But this can only be a beginning. Massive inequalities still remain. Women in the United States of America do not even have basic equality with men written into our constitution.

So let us honor the great women who came before us by pushing forward on passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. And let us vow to never give up until our daughters have exactly the same rights, opportunities, and status as our sons!