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Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights E-Newsletter May 10, 2006

Welcome to Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights E-Newsletter May 10, 2006

http://www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org

Like what we have to say?
Please pass this on to a friend!

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In this issue: JOIN MOTHERS IN DEMANDING A CEASEFIRE IN THE MOMMY WARS!

1) A MOTHERS Day Call for an End to the Mommy Wars!
3) MOTHERS Book Bag - Leslie Morgan Steiner's "Mommy Wars"
4) CEASEFIRE Media Toolkit
5) Tell a Friend about the CEASEFIRE Petition
6) The MOTHERS Forums
7) Other Resources
8) Join the MOTHERS Team - Volunteer!
9) Donate!

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Demand a CEASEFIRE in the "Mommy Wars"!

The "Mommy Wars" are a media concoction designed to sell magazines, boost ratings, and to distract and divide women. Simplistic "us versus them"
rhetoric does not reflect our experience and needs. This isn't a playground and we don't have to choose sides. The Mommy Wars promote ill will where we should be fostering connections. The truth is there are no sides and no real choices.

Now is the time to come together for maximum impact! We must advocate for a societal shift. Let's become what we say we are, a society built on an ethic of care. As a country we give lip service to family values, yet we fail to recognize the value of family care giving, and give it only nominal social support.

http://www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org

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Sign the CEASEFIRE Petition

Let's eliminate the headline grabbing media fiction designed to divide women. Show your support by signing our petition and helping us spread the word. MOTHERS aren't buying what they're selling anymore!

Sign our petition (hosted jointly with MomsRising.org) to let the heads of CBS, NBC, and ABC know it's time to move beyond the false rhetoric of the "Mommy Wars", because all moms are in the same boat. We all need better family-friendly policies. It's time to focus on real problems in need of real solutions.

http://www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org

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Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights E-Newsletter January 30, 2005

Welcome to Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights E-Newsletter
January 30, 2005

http://www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org

Like what we have to say? Please pass this on to a friend!

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In this issue: What Do YOU Really Want?

1) "What Women Really Want" at MOTHERS Book Bag
2) What Do YOU Want? - A Readers Poll
3) Preschool for All Act Makes California Ballot
4) A Living Wage
5) Unionizing for Better Daycare Providers
6) Coffee Break
7) The MOTHERS Forums
8) Donate!

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"What Women Really Want" at http://www.MOTHERSbookbag.org

At MOTHERS Book Bag, we start the year with "What Women Really Want: How American Women Are Quietly Erasing Political, Racial, Class, and Religious Lines to Change the Way We Live" by Celinda Lake and Kellyanne Conway. Women are the most powerful force reshaping the future of America, but they're not using traditional means such as getting together and voting or banging on closed doors to demand equal access. Instead they are bypassing the traditional settings that ignore their needs and are creating parallel circuits, which, in turn, then affect the old standards. Across political, religious, racial, and class differences, this new, vital, female center is heralding the most significant change in American culture in the past century.

Join us over at MOTHERS Book Bag for "What Women Really Want" today.

http://www.MOTHERSbookbag.org

Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights E-Newsletter December 1, 2005

Welcome to Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights E-Newsletter December 1, 2005

www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org

Like what we have to say? Please pass this on to a friend!

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In this issue: The Child Care Dilemma

1) "I Don't Know How Does She Does It" at MOTHERS Book Bag
2) Child-Support Collection Cutbacks Are Shameful
3) Ways and Means Committee Welfare Reauthorization Bill
4) At MOTHERS News - Tax Credits to Help Pay for Child Care
5) The Latest at the MOTHERS Forums
6) Coffee Break
7) Holiday Shopping with MOTHERS and iShop.com
8) Donate!

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"I Don't Know How She Does It" at www.MOTHERSbookbag.org

At MOTHERS Book Bag, we end the year with Allison Pearson's "I Don't Know How She Does It." The book dramatizes the many dilemmas of working mothers everywhere: How are we to reconcile work and motherhood? Can we afford quality daycare? Can we get our spouses more involved with childcare? Can we get over the inherent workplace sexism when it comes to parenthood? Join us over at MOTHERS Book Bag for "I Don't Know How She Does It" today.

www.MOTHERSbookbag.org

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MOTHERS e-newsletter - October 12, 2005

Welcome to Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights E-Newsletter October 12, 2005

www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org

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In this issue: Going Back to Work

1) "If You've Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything: Leadership Begins at Home" at MOTHERS Book Bag www.MOTHERSbookbag.org
2) Facts & Figures on Working Families
3) Caregivers Provide Crucial Services Yet Receive Little Support
4) Military Child Care Continues to Serve as Model for the Country
5) Mothers Can Do It - What to Do When "MOTHER" is On Your Resume
6) Going Back to Your "Real" Job
7) MOTHERS Forums
8) Coffee Break - Stories on Working, Parenting and Kids
9) Do as Your MOTHERS Say - Donate to the Victims of Hurricane Katrina

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Back to work with MOTHERS Book Bag - "If You've Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything: Leadership Begins at Home"

This month we're featuring MOTHERS Coordinating Council Founder, Ann Crittenden's book "If You've Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything: Leadership Begins at Home." Maybe you're contemplating going back to work fulltime for the first time. Then you realize that no one would want to hire someone who's been out of the work place as long as you. After all, a woman's years of child-raising are still typically seen as a resume gap, not an extra qualification.

Join us over at MOTHERS Book Bag, read Ann's book and find out how child-rearing will make you a better, more qualified employee.

www.MOTHERSbookbag.org

MOTHERS Special Edition e-newsletter - September 15, 2005

Welcome to Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights Special Hurricane Katrina Relief E-Newsletter September 15, 2005

www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org

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In this issue: MOTHERS Helping Mothers and Families - Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief

1) Helping Children Cope
2) MOTHERS Forums - Share Your Stories
3) Commentary and Reaction to Hurricane Katrina
4) Give Your Money Wisely
5) Donate to the Victims of Hurricane Katrina

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From the National Association of Mothers Centers: Helping Children Cope

The tragedies of Hurricane Katrina may be particularly disturbing to children whether from direct impact or through images in the media. These resources will help you to understand and respond to your children's reactions. http://www.motherscenter.org/news/article51.html

Other resources: The Red Cross - "Helping Young Children Cope with Trauma" http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/childtrauma.html

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MOTHERS Forums - Share Your Stories of Help, Hope and Survival

Join us at the MOTHERS Forums to discuss what you're doing to help with relief efforts. Let us know about your bake sale, blood drive, or other fundraising efforts. From lemonade stands to garage sales, everything helps! We also welcome personal stories from survivors and families in need. This is the place to reach out and get help from other MOTHERS.

www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org/forums

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MOTHERS e-newsletter - June 27, 2005

Welcome to Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights E-Newsletter June 27, 2005

http://www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org

Like what we have to say? Please pass this on to a friend!

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In this issue:  Balancing Work and Family

1) "The Truth Behind the Mommy Wars" at MOTHERS Book Bag http:// www.MOTHERSbookbag.org
2) Workplace Survey
3) Helping Mothers Find Part Time Work
4) The Balancing Act
5) Working Part Time has Few Drawbacks
6) Win-Win Flexibility Proposal
7) On the MOTHERS Forums - How Do You Balance Work and Family Life?
8) More Reading
9) Coffee Break - Stories on Work-Life Balance
10) Donate to MOTHERS

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Explore "The Truth Behind the Mommy Wars" at MOTHERS Book Bag

Our latest book recommendation at MOTHERS Book Bag www.MOTHERSbookbag.org is "The Truth Behind the Mommy Wars" by Miriam Peskowitz. "Peskowitz draws on numerous stories of mothers around the country to show that, in the real world, the choices mothers make to work, stay at home or forge some middle ground are not true "choices" at all: they are our best attempts to care for our children within a constricting workplace culture that refuses to deal compassionately and creatively with family life," writes Debie Thomas' in her review in "Brain, Child" magazine.

Miriam has written a personal message to MOTHERS Book Bag readers and will join us from time to time at the MOTHERS Book Forum http://www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org/forums .

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MOTHERS e-newsletter - May 3, 2005

Welcome to Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights E-Newsletter May 3, 2005

http://www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org

Like what we have to say? Please pass this on to a friend!

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Special MOTHERS’ Day Issue:

1) Introducing MOTHERS Book Bag
2) Social Security Survey Results
3) Learn About OWL’s Social Security Matters Campaign
4) Survey – Make a Recommendation for the Next MOTHERS Book Bag Selection
5) Mothers of the World, Unite!
6) Donate to MOTHERS

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We’ve Got a Brand New Bag – MOTHERS Book Bag
http://www.MOTHERSbookbag.org

When we were preparing the last e-newsletter last March, founding MOTHER Ann Crittenden (author of “The Price of Motherhood”) sent an email to the MOTHERS Coordinating Council:

“I'm thinking that we should encourage everyone out there to begin to organize themselves into book groups choosing books around mother's issues. In other words, instead of just having a list of books to read or books we recommend, why not have a book suggestion for groups to read and discuss, with a focus on airing their life experiences and hopefully brainstorming on how to improve things? This is prompted by all the media on Judith Warner's book. I was on a panel with her, and she asked me for advice on what to tell all the women who are asking her, ‘What do we DO?’ I now think one of the most important things we can suggest is to tell women to organize with their friends around the issues that concern them, using this outpouring of books as a guide.”

Thus the MOTHERS Book Bag http://www.MOTHERSbookbag.org and our first reading suggestion of Judith Warner’s “Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety” was born.

This MOTHERS’ Day, call your friends, neighbors, relatives and coworkers and form a MOTHERS book group. Use MOTHERS Book Bag http://www.MOTHERSbookbag.org as a starting point for discussion and consciousness raising. On the website, you’ll find out how to set up a book group, find tips on how to read a book for discussion, and suggestions to help you lead the discussion.

Every four to six weeks, MOTHERS Book Bag http://www.MOTHERSbookbag.org will suggest a new book and post discussion points, author biography and interviews, book reviews and media commentary. In the future, we plan to have authors personally participate. There’s also a place where you can comment and let us know how your MOTHERS book group is going.

Happy MOTHERS’ Day, we look forward to sharing many good books and discussions with you!

The MOTHERS Coordinating Council
http://www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org

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Results Are In for the Survey on Social Security!

In response to our survey last month, over 85% of the MOTHERS members who responded thought that Social Security was in need of reform. Also, many of the almost 15% who answered that Social Security was not in need of reform indicated in their comments that at least some tinkering was needed.Thus, members seemed to share a commitment to making some sort of change in Social Security. However, only 9% of those polled indicated they supported the President's plan to reform Social Security while 77% indicated they did not. It seems the consensus from almost all members who responded was that we would like for politicians to move beyond the issue of privatization and to focus on policies that will decrease the motherhood penalty.

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MOTHERS e-newsletter - March 14, 2005

Welcome to Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights E-Newsletter March 14, 2005
http://www.mothersoughttohaveequalrights.org/

Like what we have to say? Please pass this on to a friend!

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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Last E-newsletter Survey Results and a new survey on Social Security
2. Social Security is Better Equipped to Provide Family Income Protection
3. NCCP Warns Against Ignoring Children in Social Security Debate
4. Stay Informed with the MOTHERS Forums - 2004 Child Care Tax Credits
5. Newsweek's "Mommy Madness"
6. What's Going On In Your State?
7. Relax with a MOTHERS Coffee Break 8. Donate to MOTHERS

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Survey Results "What Do You Think are the Three Most Important Issues for U.S. Families Today?"

Once again, we heard from quite a few MOTHERS members about their political beliefs and once again, we received responses from all ends of the political spectrum. Despite the variety of views represented, a consensus emerged as one issue was mentioned far more times than any other. That issue was health care - 56% of respondents ranked this issue as one of their top three concerns.

Four other issues ranked fairly high on members' priority lists: the environment, the economy, work and family issues, and the war in Iraq. One issue that didn't rank high on members' radar was the issue of Social Security. However, this issue has clearly risen to the top of the political agenda this year since the Bush Administration is focused on Social Security reform. At the moment, the focus of reform is the partial privatization of the system via personal accounts. Apart from that issue, other changes are under discussion, such as raising payroll taxes, decreasing benefits, and/or extending the retirement age.

We at MOTHERS believe another change is necessary - credit should be given for the years devoted to caring for children or other family members, so that these years are not assigned a "0" when Social Security retirement benefits are calculated, dragging down the amount. Once the privatization issue is decided, we look for the attention of law makers to shift to other aspects of reform, and we intend to help them focus on policies that will decrease the motherhood penalty.

We'd like to ask for your opinion on Social Security. Which of the following statements most closely represents your views?

1. Social Security is not in need of reform.
2. Social Security is in need of reform, and I support the President's plan for private accounts.
3. Social Security is in need of reform, but I do not support the President's plan for private accounts.

Send your answers to survey@motherscenter.org.

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MOTHERS e-newsletter - January 31, 2005

Welcome to Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights E-Newsletter January 31, 2005
http://www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org

Like what we have to say? Please pass this on to a friend!

IN THIS ISSUE: NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
1. Take Part in a New MOTHERS Survey
2. Stay Informed with the MOTHERS Forums – Social Security Reforms
3. Support the Healthy Families Act
4. Urge the Labor Department to Continue Collecting Data on Women Workers
5. Relax with a MOTHERS Coffee Break
6. Donate to MOTHERS

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2004 Election Survey Results and a New MOTHERS Survey

In our initial survey, 100% of the responders indicated they voted in the 2004 election. While some may have been reluctant to admit they didn't participate, it's probably more likely that the members of MOTHERS are a politically active bunch! Members voted in person (some early and some on Election Day) via absentee ballot or via mail. We brought along our children, whether we have one or quite a few more. Some of us volunteered our time making phone calls and knocking on doors. A few of us even ran for office in the 2004 election cycle! All in all, the members of MOTHERS were attuned to and involved in the 2004 election.

Since our members are so politically active, our next survey question focuses on what motivates your political activism. As a parent, what do you think are the three most important issues for U.S. families today?
1) The economy
2) Health care
3) Child care
4) Work/family issues (flextime, family leave, etc.)
5) Social Security
6) Education
7) The war in Iraq/the war on terror
8) The environment
9) Other (please note in the body of your e-mail what this issue is)

Send your answers to survey@motherscenter.org.

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MOTHERS e-newsletter - December 9, 2004

Welcome to Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights E-Newsletter December 9, 2004
http://www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.orghttp://www.MothersOughtToHaveEqualRights.org

Like what we have to say? Please pass this on to a friend!

IN THIS ISSUE:
1. New America Foundation's HELPING AMERICA'S WORKING PARENTS report
2. MOTHERS Forums
3. Did You Vote? -- Our Election Survey
4. Holiday Shopping with iGive
5. Coffee Break
6. Donate

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New America Foundation's HELPING AMERICA'S WORKING PARENTS report

The New America Foundation http://www.newamerica.net recently released "HELPING AMERICA'S WORKING PARENTS: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM EUROPE AND CANADA?" by Janet C. Gornick and Marcia K. Meyers. This report points out that parents in the U.S. have significantly fewer options available in balancing work and family. Policies in Europe and Canada set shorter work week hours, provide more vacation days, and establish standards and funding for early childhood education. In comparison, parents in this country work more, take less vacation, and bear the vast majority of the cost of childcare.

While critics argue that these policies in other countries put a drag on the economy and are unpopular politically, the research shows that some of these economies out-performed that of the United States, and that work/family policies are actually becoming more prevalent. Our narrower choices have a significant impact on children, families, and gender inequality.

You can view the issue brief at http://www.newamerica.net/Download_Docs/pdfs/Doc_File_2059_1.pdfhttp://www.newamerica.net/Download_Docs/pdfs/Doc_File_2059_1.pdf or read the entire research paper at http://www.newamerica.net/Download_Docs/pdfs/Doc_File_2060_1.pdfhttp://www.newamerica.net/Download_Docs/pdfs/Doc_File_2060_1.pdf.

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