4 Organizations Amplifying the Voices of Women
Women have made many historic gains throughout the decades, from fighting for the right to vote to passing legislation banning gender discrimination in the workplace. Most of these changes were made because of determined women who got together to advocate for what was right. If you want to help in the continuing fight for equality, consider supporting the organizations listed here, which work to make sure that women's voices are heard. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Groups That Support & Empower Women
| Organization | Location | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs | New Brunswick, NJ | Provide opportunities for education, leadership training, and community service through participation in local clubs, enabling members to make a difference in the lives of others |
| Women's Audio Mission | San Francisco, CA | Provide hands-on training, experience, career counseling, and job placement to women and girls in media technology for music, radio, film, television, and the internet |
| League of Women Voters of Kansas | Topeka, KS | Encourage informed and active participation in government, work to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influence public policy through education and advocacy |
| Women's Voices for the Earth | Missoula, MT | Amplify women's voices to eliminate the toxic chemicals that harm our health and communities |
Inspiring Quotes From Successful Women
- "A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman." - Melinda Gates
- "I believe that it is as much a right and duty for women to do something with their lives as for men and we are not going to be satisfied with such frivolous parts as you give us." - Louisa May Alcott
- "One's feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results." - Florence Nightingale
- "If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!" - Sojourner Truth
- "It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you. Always." - Oprah Winfrey
Percentage Of Women In The Workforce
The percentage of men & women in the civilian labor force over time, according to the U.S. Department of Labor
| Year | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 29.6% | 70.4% |
| 1960 | 33.4% | 66.6% |
| 1970 | 38.1% | 61.9% |
| 1980 | 42.5% | 57.5% |
| 1990 | 45.2% | 54.8% |
| 2000 | 46.5% | 53.5% |
| 2010 | 46.7% | 53.3% |
10 Women Who Changed History
- Claudette Colvin: Teenage civil rights activist
- Jane Addams: Nobel Peace Prize winner & suffragette
- Rosalind Franklin: Made ground-breaking discoveries about DNA
- Sojourner Truth: Abolitionist and women's rights activist
- Indira Gandhi: First female prime minister of India
- Margaret Sanger: Fought for women's right to birth control
- Marsha P. Johnson: Trans woman and LGBT rights activist
- Junko Tabei: First woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest
- Susan Travers: WWII General who served in Italy, Germany, & France
- Betty Friedan: Social activist and author of The Feminine Mystique
The Historic Women's Suffrage March On Washington
In Depth
Throughout history, women have always spoken up in order to assure their voices were never silenced. Whether it's fighting for the opportunity to vote, marching for equality, or mobilizing in support of health and wellness issues, the acknowledgement of their rights in society has always been important. Fortunately, regardless of what state you live in, there exist an abundance of organizations that are passionate about female empowerment across all aspects of humanity. In no particular order, here are five organizations from around the country that are dedicated to ensuring women are always heard.
At #1 is the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs. Founded in 1894, it provides women and girls opportunities for education, leadership training, and community service through volunteering with local clubs. One of its signature programs is the Girls' Career Institute, which offers a mini college experience for high school juniors at Rutgers University. Participants get to explore college life by living in a dorm, eating in the cafeteria, and attending lectures and workshops about career choices. They also interact with students from around the state to foster their networking skills.
Advocacy is a core mission for members, who conduct letter writing campaigns and perform media outreach to further the causes that are of national and state importance, such as domestic abuse awareness, and women's heart health. On Public Issues Day, clubwomen from across the state gather to meet with lawmakers regarding pending legislation, and to advocate for the passage of laws that are a priority to the organization. To support the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs, you can shop and donate through Amazon Smile, or sponsor its Shining Future Endowment Campaign, or Women of Achievement Awards.
Advocacy is a core mission for members, who conduct letter writing campaigns and perform media outreach to further the causes that are of national and state importance, such as domestic abuse awareness, and women's heart health.
Coming in at #2 is Women's Audio Mission, a San Francisco and Oakland-based nonprofit that uses music and media to attract underserved women, girls, and gender nonconforming individuals to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. This in turn helps cultivate a diverse pipeline of skilled workers for those industries. Its after-school training and mentoring program, Girls on the Mic, is a hands-on, project-based curriculum that uses the acoustics, physics, and electronics found in a professional recording studio and ties them to music, media, and journalism. Students also have access to musical instruments, cutting-edge technology, and mentors.
The WAMCon Recording Arts Conference is an interactive event that features top leaders in the industry. This immersive conference hosts award-winning music producers, recording engineers, and songwriters. Workshops cover a wide range of topics from recording techniques to music licensing. The popular Sound for Picture sessions shine a spotlight on Oscar and Emmy-winning post-production sound professionals from the worlds of animation, film, TV, and games. There are a number of ways you can partner with Women's Audio Mission, including donation of gear, software, and electronics, or booking studio time to record podcasts and audiobooks.
#3 is The League of Women Voters of Kansas, a grassroots volunteer and political organization. For nearly one hundred years, it has encouraged the informed and active participation of citizens in government and has influenced public policy through education and advocacy. Its activities focus on increasing voter participation and registration. Through its work with the Kansas Coalition for Citizen Participation, it mobilizes support for policies to improve the administration of elections, protect democracy, and dramatically increase the number of citizens who participate in the electoral process and in their communities.
For nearly one hundred years, it has encouraged the informed and active participation of citizens in government and has influenced public policy through education and advocacy.
A key initiative of the League of Women Voters of Kansas is its Statewide "March to the Polls," held before Women's Equality Day, the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Marchers walk from election offices or courthouses to hold voter registration rallies in communities with traditionally low voter turnout such as economically struggling neighborhoods, or those with large gatherings of millennials. Help the mission by making sure you are registered to vote, and join the League as a voting member for the opportunity to make an impact on local, state, regional, and national public policy issues.
Entering the list at #4 is Women's Voices for the Earth, which advocates for the elimination of toxic chemicals that harm health and communities. Its campaigns focus on the industries that market heavily to women including cleaning, feminine, salon, and personal care products. Among it's principal programs are Green Cleaning Parties. Guests gather to make non-toxic cleaners from safe ingredients like vinegar and baking soda, while learning more about chemicals in the household and the negative impact they can have on overall wellness.
Mothers who would like to detox their homes to protect their young children, can host Green Momma Parties. These informal gatherings showcase fun, simple ways to stamp out harmful chemicals through do-it-yourself recipes and easy steps you can take to spur companies to make safer products. The party guide includes a suggested agenda, discussion questions, and non-toxic recipes. You can join the movement by becoming a Women's Voices for the Earth Leader and engaging in one activity a month such as hosting a Green Cleaning Party, sharing action alerts, or being a spokeswoman in the media.
