What is your work currently?
I am the founder of Girls Who Code a 501(c)(3) non profit organization whose mission is to educate, inspire and equip underserved girls ages 13-18 with the skills and resources necessary to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
I am currently writing a book entitled Women Who Don’t Wait in Line, which will be released in 2013 by Amazon Publishing. I was recently the Deputy Public Advocate of New York City and am embarking on a campaign to explore running for Public Advocate in 2013.
During your lifetime, how has the women’s rights movement evolved or developed? And since the Convention?
Woman have always struggled to receive equal access to education. In 1972,
Title IX enabled countless young opportunities in academics and athletics by
prohibiting sex discrimination in educational facilities that received federal funding. Before Title IX, only 7% of women had their legal degree, by 1994 that number was 43%. In 1980, America reached gender parity in American colleges for the first
time having equal enrollment of men and women. In 1983, Columbia University, the last Ivy League to go coed finally admitted women. And in 1996, the Supreme Court ruled that women must be allowed in the Virginia Military School ending the ability for federally-funded schools of higher education to legally discriminate on the basis of gender. VMI was the last all male public university in the country. There has been a long arduous fight against gender discrimination in the workplace. The 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act finally banned employment discrimination against pregnant women. In 1986, the Supreme Court found that sexual harassment is considered sex discrimination at work. In 1993, the Family and Medical Leave Act required employers to provide employees leave for family and medical reasons, allowing millions of women to not loose their job when they got pregnant or had to take care of a sick child. However we still don’t make it possible for women to have choices in the personal and professional lives. We still don’t have adequate paid parental leave, affordable child care and paid sick leave policies.
In your opinion, how has the Seneca Falls Convention impacted history?
We have risen from the shoulders of giants. We owe so much to our foremothers, who made what we have today possible- that began at Seneca Falls. They enabled progress in so many ways. They changed everything for American women in four main areas: education, the workplace, our bodies, and politics.
In your opinion, how did the Convention reform women’s rights in America?
It started a powerful and much needed conversation about why women should
have right to fully participate in political process. What further advancements in women’s rights do you feel are needed? Are any necessary in America?
We need to fundamentally change structures so that all women can reach their
full economic potential. Today women are not only creating jobs we are reshaping the work culture to being more collaborative and less hierarchical. Women are the driving force of economic recovery because we are the majority college graduates, we are dominating high growth industries, and we are embracing risk and failure in new ways. However, we must continue to advocate for policies that further women’s advancement including paid parental leave, affordable childcare, greater protections for low income and immigrant women. As women we need to come together and support one another
and lift each other up
How did you come to be in your line of work?
My parents came here as political refugees. This nation saved my parents
lives and I have always been passionate about public service and giving back to my country.
What is your opinion on civil rights movements in general?
It was one of the most important movements in our nations history. It brought
people together to fight against injustice and help our nation form a more perfect union. The leaders from the Civil Rights Movement are the ones who I admire and look to for inspiration and wisdom. What were the conditions (political, economic, social, etc.) of women before and during the women’s rights movement?
The women’s movement changed everything for American women in four main areas: education, the workplace, our bodies, and politics. As I discussed above we have come a long way in these areas but we are still fighting for control over our own choices.
What were the reactions that spurred from the Seneca Falls Convention (politically, from women, society, the press etc.)/ How did these figures react to the Convention?
The media made fun of the convention which drew attention to the plight of women in American society. Their negativity ironically helped lead to a much needed conversation and the injustice that women faced.
Were there any key figures that played major roles in the Women’s Rights
Movements? If so, who and what did they contribute to the Movement?
There are so many women who play a huge role in the Movement and continue to.
We stand on their shoulders and will continue to keep fighting for equity and
parity.
I am the founder of Girls Who Code a 501(c)(3) non profit organization whose mission is to educate, inspire and equip underserved girls ages 13-18 with the skills and resources necessary to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
I am currently writing a book entitled Women Who Don’t Wait in Line, which will be released in 2013 by Amazon Publishing. I was recently the Deputy Public Advocate of New York City and am embarking on a campaign to explore running for Public Advocate in 2013.
During your lifetime, how has the women’s rights movement evolved or developed? And since the Convention?
Woman have always struggled to receive equal access to education. In 1972,
Title IX enabled countless young opportunities in academics and athletics by
prohibiting sex discrimination in educational facilities that received federal funding. Before Title IX, only 7% of women had their legal degree, by 1994 that number was 43%. In 1980, America reached gender parity in American colleges for the first
time having equal enrollment of men and women. In 1983, Columbia University, the last Ivy League to go coed finally admitted women. And in 1996, the Supreme Court ruled that women must be allowed in the Virginia Military School ending the ability for federally-funded schools of higher education to legally discriminate on the basis of gender. VMI was the last all male public university in the country. There has been a long arduous fight against gender discrimination in the workplace. The 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act finally banned employment discrimination against pregnant women. In 1986, the Supreme Court found that sexual harassment is considered sex discrimination at work. In 1993, the Family and Medical Leave Act required employers to provide employees leave for family and medical reasons, allowing millions of women to not loose their job when they got pregnant or had to take care of a sick child. However we still don’t make it possible for women to have choices in the personal and professional lives. We still don’t have adequate paid parental leave, affordable child care and paid sick leave policies.
In your opinion, how has the Seneca Falls Convention impacted history?
We have risen from the shoulders of giants. We owe so much to our foremothers, who made what we have today possible- that began at Seneca Falls. They enabled progress in so many ways. They changed everything for American women in four main areas: education, the workplace, our bodies, and politics.
In your opinion, how did the Convention reform women’s rights in America?
It started a powerful and much needed conversation about why women should
have right to fully participate in political process. What further advancements in women’s rights do you feel are needed? Are any necessary in America?
We need to fundamentally change structures so that all women can reach their
full economic potential. Today women are not only creating jobs we are reshaping the work culture to being more collaborative and less hierarchical. Women are the driving force of economic recovery because we are the majority college graduates, we are dominating high growth industries, and we are embracing risk and failure in new ways. However, we must continue to advocate for policies that further women’s advancement including paid parental leave, affordable childcare, greater protections for low income and immigrant women. As women we need to come together and support one another
and lift each other up
How did you come to be in your line of work?
My parents came here as political refugees. This nation saved my parents
lives and I have always been passionate about public service and giving back to my country.
What is your opinion on civil rights movements in general?
It was one of the most important movements in our nations history. It brought
people together to fight against injustice and help our nation form a more perfect union. The leaders from the Civil Rights Movement are the ones who I admire and look to for inspiration and wisdom. What were the conditions (political, economic, social, etc.) of women before and during the women’s rights movement?
The women’s movement changed everything for American women in four main areas: education, the workplace, our bodies, and politics. As I discussed above we have come a long way in these areas but we are still fighting for control over our own choices.
What were the reactions that spurred from the Seneca Falls Convention (politically, from women, society, the press etc.)/ How did these figures react to the Convention?
The media made fun of the convention which drew attention to the plight of women in American society. Their negativity ironically helped lead to a much needed conversation and the injustice that women faced.
Were there any key figures that played major roles in the Women’s Rights
Movements? If so, who and what did they contribute to the Movement?
There are so many women who play a huge role in the Movement and continue to.
We stand on their shoulders and will continue to keep fighting for equity and
parity.
