A Disappearing Act

By Miri Cypers, Senior Policy and Advocacy Specialist

Upon first glance, the woman on Vogue Italia’s September cover looks enticing, mysterious and even modestly dressed.

After a closer look, however, the image reveals a frightening detail: her teeny tiny waistline. According to this article published in Women’s E-News, the model’s photoshopped waistline measures an appalling 13 inches!

Do disturbing photos like these contribute to anorexia and women’s distorted body images? The experts say yes. Through our work at JWI, we encourage teens through our healthy relationship program to build self-esteem and healthy body images. Only through a proactive and engaged approach can mothers and daughters avoid being susceptible to such damaging images.

UNGA & Women’s Empowerment

By Miri Cypers, Senior Policy and Advocacy Specialist

This week marks an important event in foreign affairs: the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). With leaders gathered in New York City from around the globe, much of the attention of the week’s meeting has rightly focused on the question of Palestinian statehood. Two speeches on another topic, however, should be focused on as well.

On Monday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered an address at a UN Women Event where she stated, “We have tried to put women’s lives and women’s progress at the center of our foreign policy, in everything from our diplomatic efforts to our investments in developing countries.” This in itself is a truly incredible statement coming from one of our highest ranking elected officials. Secretary Clinton went on to address the need for women’s full economic and political participation which will strengthen global security and communities everywhere.

Yesterday, in President Obama’s speech to the full UNGA, he reiterated U.S. commitment to breaking down political and economic challenges that women and girls face and announced that the U.S. signed a new Declaration on Women’s Participation. As the U.S. government faces so many global challenges, from the situation in Libya to drought in the Horn of Africa, I applaud President Obama for focusing on women and girls and incorporating their advancement into our U.S. foreign policy goals.

Poverty’s war on women

By Rachel Sandler, JWI intern

This week, the Census Bureau released its 2010 poverty data showing the largest number of poor people in the United States since poverty data started being collected in 1959.

The data has also revealed some shocking truths about the gender poverty gap in this country: if you are an adult woman, you are 29% more likely to be poor than an adult man. In 2010, there were 17.2 million poor women, compared to 12.6 million poor men. Heartbreakingly, the rate of extreme poverty is the highest it has ever been at 6.3%. The data has also revealed the devastating plight of many single mothers, for whom the poverty rate is 40.7%. The facts are clear: poverty is waging a war on women.

If you would like to read in greater detail about the Census Bureau’s data, the National Women’s Law Center has put together a wonderful analysis with links to many resources.

7 Billion This October

By Miri Cypers, Senior Policy and Advocacy Specialist

This week, I went to one of those truly inspiring events that makes you get out of your seat and want to do something, anything, to help.

This fall, the world population will hit 7 billion people. In honor of this frightening and momentous occasion, the National Geographic Society partnered with the United Nations Population Fund to host an event on our burgeoning population and how to unleash the power of women and girls to alleviate poverty and further global development goals. All the speakers, from government representatives to celebrities to local community activists, spoke about women and girls having this intrinsic spirit that must be unleashed so that they can realize their full potential. The event began with this video- beautiful and interesting as only National Geographic could do. Enjoy the video below and check out the 7 Billion website for fact sheets and opportunities to share your story and take action.

View the video.

1 is 2 Many

This week, in honor of the 17th anniversary of the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, Vice President Biden launched a website for the “1 is 2 Many” campaign to focus attention on the issue of violence against young women. In this video, Biden raises awareness about the staggering rates of sexual assault on college campuses and teen dating violence. The numbers say it all- according to statistics, nearly 20% of women report experiencing attempted or completed sexual assault since entering college and 1 in 10 teens were physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend last year alone.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President, for your years of leadership and continued commitment to these issues. Watch the video, learn the facts, and help JWI take action.

Keep Women and Families Front and Center

Last week, President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress and challenged lawmakers to pass a massive jobs bill as part of an economic recovery package. While specific proposals that Congress will consider remain unknown, one fact is certain: legislation that supports women and their families is key to our economic recovery.

The President’s speech was an important step, but it is our job to insist that Congress acts swiftly. At JWI, we know that women have been disproportionately harmed by the recession—they face high unemployment rates and are more reliant on social safety net programs for their financial security. We know that if more families face hardship, rates of domestic violence will increase.

As part of our commitment to the security of women and families, we have been working with coalition partners, White House staff, and Congressional leaders. In the coming months, we will be contacting you with updates and action alerts on the new jobs bill, the ongoing budget process, and how to best advocate for the issues that we all care about:

• Continued funding for violence prevention and education programs;
• Critical social safety net programs like Medicare and Social Security;
• Health care and reproductive services for women; and
• Creating jobs and getting people back to work.

The President reminded us just how much is at stake. We urge you to be in touch with your Members of Congress to keep women and families front and center.