Lobbying at the General Assembly on legislation that impacts our key issue areas is one way RI NOW advocates for women’s rights across a broad spectrum of issues. 

To view this year’s legislative agenda, please visit: http://www.rinow2008.blogspot.com

Comments of NOW President Kim Gandy on legislation introduced today by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) to reject Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations that would expand the ability of media conglomerates to increase their cross-ownership of multiple media outlets in a single community, reducing the diversity of local voices.

At the National Organization for Women, which is the nation’s largest grassroots women’s rights organization, we are extremely concerned about the state of media today, particularly media ownership.

Not a day goes by that women don’t call and write to us to express their frustration at what they see, hear and read in the media. They are outraged by sexist, racist, homophobic comments. They are disturbed by the high level of sexual exploitation and violence. They ask why more women experts aren’t featured on news and political talk shows. They are dismayed at the lack of substantive coverage of women’s issues. And they long for better role models for their daughters and sons.

I believe this condition is a direct result of the lack of diversity in ownership Women own just five percent of commercial broadcast TV stations and six percent of all full-power radio stations. Whenever the FCC allows big media companies to gobble up more stations, it leaves fewer and fewer outlets for women and people of color to purchase. And often the big companies are buying stations from women and people of color.

It is critical that we not let the FCC further relax its ownership rules. If the media giants grow even larger, women and people of color will suffer as their voices and viewpoints become even further marginalized. I applaud Sen. Dorgan for standing up for the people’s interests–not for making big business even bigger.

NOW is calling on its members and all women’s rights supporters to write to their Senators today, urging them to vote ‘yes’ on the Senate resolution to reject the FCC’s disastrous new rules.

Statement of NOW President Kim Gandy

February 24, 2008

Note: This statement was issued at a Feb. 24 rally organized by Women’s Ski Jumping USA in Vancouver, Canada, the site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The next Winter Olympics will take place in 2010. Let me repeat, Two-Thousand and Ten. We are well into the 21st century, yet women ski jumpers still are not permitted to compete at their sport’s highest level.

The National Organization for Women calls on the International Olympic Committee to right this wrong immediately. The exclusion of women from this sport, which is open to men, is unwarranted and unfair. We reject outdated notions that ski jumping is not “appropriate” for women because it is disproportionately hazardous to their health. And we firmly disagree with claims that the current level of competition in women’s ski jumping does not justify its addition to the Olympic games.

Since 1998, women from 16 nations have participated in international ski jumping competitions, and the International Ski Federation finally added women’s ski jumping to the upcoming 2009 world championships. Throughout its 42 year history, NOW has promoted equality for women in all arenas, including sports. Exclusion of women and girls from athletic opportunities is discrimination, plain and simple, and it can have a profound impact on their health, well-being and future.

According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, girls and women who play sports have higher levels of confidence and self esteem, lower levels of depression, and higher states of psychological well-being than girls and women who do not play sports — and 80 percent of female executives at Fortune 500 companies reported having played sports.

But for right now, there are women around the globe who want to fly. NOW calls on the IOC to let Vancouver in 2010 be the place and the time for women ski jumpers to make their Olympic dreams come true.