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May 2, 2018 by Florida NOW

Band Aid Sexism

Imagine you got a bad sunburn over the weekend and you got taken out of class on Monday because you didn’t wear a t-shirt under your shirt.
Could that happen?

Yes, yes it could if you are a girl not wearing a bra in Florida.

Lizzy Martinez came to Braden River High School for a regular school day and was removed from her class, told she was distracting other students and the school required her to place Band Aids over her nipples for the rest of the day.
Instead of shaming and harassing this girl, the Florida National Organization for Women insists the school has an obligation to teach students to respect people, whatever clothes they wear. Placing Band Aids over nipples is not a message the schools should be sending.

“I hope with all the media attention this has brought, as well as the outrage from so many organizations all over the nation, this high school has the sense to end this sexist policy” says Florida NOW President, Terry Sanders. “We have such respect for Ms. Martinez for her bravery in coming forward with her story as well as her fellow students who are supporting her. High School students are under a lot of pressure these days and they don’t need arbitrary discrimination on how they dress to distract them from the important job of learning.”

Download PDF

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Contact: Terry Sanders, President
Florida National Organization for Women 321-615-1334
President@FLNOW.org

April 26, 2018 by admin

Rep. Maloney Joins with Enough is Enough Coalition Groups to Discuss Efforts to Combat Workplace Sexual Harassment

Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) joined today with leaders of the Enough is Enough movement, a coalition of women’s groups dedicated to ending sexual violence, to push for an end to sexual harassment. Rep. Maloney is the sponsor of HR 4729 Ending Secrecy About Workplace Sexual Harassment Act, HR 4748 No Tax Deductions for Sexual Harasser Buyouts Act, and HJ Res 33, the Equal Rights Amendment. The Enough is Enough Movement is led by coalition partner groups including the National Organization for Women (NOW), Feminist Majority, National Congress of Black Women, UNITE HERE, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Legal Momentum, and National Council of Jewish Women.

“To combat sexual harassment and assault, we need to create lasting change both in our legal system and our culture. I believe that the Equal Rights Amendment is the foundation for this change. If women have Constitutional protections, we can finally stamp out inequality in all its forms, whether that be sexual harassment and assault, the ‘pink tax,’ pregnancy discrimination, or unequal pay for equal work,” said Rep. Maloney. “We also need stronger laws to combat sexual harassment here in Congress and across all industries. I have introduced two bills that go after sexual harassment in the private sector. The Ending Secrecy About Workplace Sexual Harassment Act requires corporations to annually report to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission the number of out-of-court settlements reached dealing with employee claims of sexual harassment, assault or discrimination. The No Tax Deductions for Sexual Harasser Buyouts Act stops taxpayer money from subsidizing buyouts to sexual predators. Harassment is not an ordinary business expense. Harassment is the abuse of women, and every employer must be serious about preventing it.”

“Enough is enough; women cannot and must not be forced to continue to suffer in silence. Our message is clear; when it comes to sexual harassment, sexual assault or gender-based discrimination at our place of work and everywhere—time’s up,” said Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-MI). I am encouraged that with dedication and relentless pursuit, we can change this hurtful and harmful workplace culture. No one should ever have to endure sexual harassment in their place of work, and we are here to make the strong statement that harassment, intimidation and unwanted advances cannot and will not be tolerated.

“Over the last few months, very brave women have brought attention to a toxic problem that has been rampant in our society for a very long time,” says Toni Van Pelt, president of NOW. “The conversation about sexual harassment and assault needs to include both the stories of survivors and new ways to address and prevent hostile environments in workplaces and school in order to end the culture of abuse of women.”

“Beyond just the workplace, we cannot leave out students and educational institutions when we’re talking about rampant sexual harassment and assault,” says Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority. “One in five women students are survivors of campus sexual assault. The movement on campuses, led by student activists, is growing and cannot be ignored.

“Sexual harassment and assault is a serious problem in the hospitality industry, and that is why since 2012, UNITE HERE has been fighting for and winning new protections to keep our workers safe,” says Maria Elena Durazo, general vice president for immigration, civil rights, and diversity, UNITE HERE.

“Women employed in every industry and sector, including agriculture and other low-paid positions, have historically confronted wide-spread workplace sexual violence,” says Mónica Ramírez, president of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas. “It is more important than ever before that we unite to find solutions to ensure that all women can work with dignity and without fear of violence against them.”

“The best way to deal with sexual harassment is to focus on prevention. Prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace starts with teaching young women to value their own bodies and healthy relationships, and to understand their rights”: says Carol Baldwin Moody, president and CEO, Legal Momentum. “Knowing their rights is especially important for the most vulnerable women, such as women of color, immigrants, and low-wage working women. When we say Enough Is Enough, it means we are intent on stopping and preventing this harassment behavior.”

“In order to change the culture around sexual violence, we must also center the voices of women of color whose stories often fall through the cracks in and out of their communities,” says E. Faye Williams, president of the National Congress of Black Women. “We need to create a space that allows women of color the opportunity to speak on solutions that will work for the specific needs of their communities.”

“We are calling for a radical shift in how our government and institutions investigate complaints of harassment and sexual violence,” says Carol Robles-Román, national board member of NOW and co-president, ERA Coalition. “We insist that a renewed culture of system-wide accountability and enforcement of basic rights take hold with national partners leading the way.”

“Sexual harassment in the workplace is not new. It has been 50 years since the passage of the Civil Rights Act that declared sexual harassment and sex discrimination illegal,” says Nancy Kaufman, CEO, National Council of Jewish Women. “We are dedicated to ending harassment once and for all – in Jewish and secular work places.“

Contact

Dee Donavanik , press@now.org , 951-547-1241

April 26, 2018 by admin

Justice Was Finally Served

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt on the Conviction Of Bill Cosby

Justice was served today. Thanks to the brave women who came forward to tell their stories, Bill Cosby, a violent assaulter has been convicted. This is a notice to sexual predators everywhere. No matter your position in life, our society will not tolerate such violent behavior anymore. Enough is Enough.

Contact
Dee Donavanik, press@now.org, 951-547-1241

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