Caucus of Women Legislators ROOM 460 STATE HOUSE BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS 02133 617 722 2266 2nd Quarter 2010 Caucus Showcases Girls Inc. lens; gathering data on girls’ compromised, the health of their needs and strengths and work- children is too; if educational ing to identify strategies to sup- opportunities are not available, DATES port girls across the Common- their earning power and the abil- wealth. ity to care for their children is ―Girls Inc. is all about provid- compromised. The health and ing opportunities for girls. From well being of the girls and 2009/2010 the opportunity to have a safe women in a community is the Close to 50 legislators and place; to get homework help; to strongest barometer of the over- Legislative Session staff attended a presentation visit museums, women’s bas- all health and resiliency of the ends given by Girls Inc at the State ketball games and women- community.‖ July 31, 2010 House in May. Girls Inc., owned businesses; to opportuni- There are over 12,000 girls in which offers gender specific ties to be leaders in our commu- Massachusetts benefitting from programming internationally, nities by testifying at city coun- Girls Inc. programming, many of was represented at the State cil meetings, organizing park- whom are most at-risk for the Celebrate the House by program directors cleanups and proposing regula- very issues Girls Inc. addresses. 90th Anniversary from across the Commonwealth tions around drug parapherna- Suzanne Parker, Executive Di- of participating in a forum held by lia, Girls Inc. offers concrete rector of Girls Inc. of Holyoke, Women’s Suffrage the Caucus. At issue was the paths to becoming a responsi- pointed out that immediate atten- August 26, 2010 status of girls in the Common- ble, economically-independent tion to these issues prevents high wealth. and personally fulfilled adult,‖ costs down the road. ―Girls Inc. Girls Inc. got its start in New said Driscoll of the group’s programs are cutting edge and England during the Industrial programming. research based. Girls Inc. not Revolution in response to the The clear conclusion of the only inspires girls to be strong, needs of the young women who presentation was that, although smart and bold, but also impacts Inside this issue: had migrated from rural com- women’s status has progressed positive change in families and munities in search of jobs in in society, girls still lag behind our communities across Massa- CO-CHAIRS MESSAGE 2 textile mills and factories. To- boys in crucial areas like math chusetts.‖ day, Girls Inc focuses on every and science, sports participation aspect of girls’ lives, develop- and even in numbers of future DR. JUDITH WURTMAN 2 ing research-based educational legislators. Because the state of programs addressing math and girls in any given community is CAUCUS INTERN 2 science education, pregnancy a direct indication of the and drug abuse prevention, me- strength and wellness of that dia literacy, economic literacy, community, girls require and PAY EQUITY FORUM 3 adolescent health, violence pre- deserve leadership to preserve vention, and sports participa- and improve their futures. CAUCUS MEMBER 4 tion. Cathi Coridan of Girls Inc. of AWARDS Patricia Driscoll, Executive Worcester added, ―The health Director of Girls Inc. of Lynn, and well being of the girls in a AWARDS CON’D 5 offered the assistance of the community must be at the fore- Massachusetts Girls Inc. affili- front of concern because they GIRL POWER ON THE 6 ates to the legislators as they are the mothers of every child HILL look at issues through a gender- yet to be born. If their health is Caucus of Women Legislators A Message from the Co-Chairs Dear Colleagues, Staff and Friends, The legislature has tackled several issues of broad impact during the last three months. Safe driving, municipal relief and CORI reform were just a few of the significant matters addressed by the House and the Senate aside from one of the most challenging budgets the legislature has ever attempted to balance. Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (D- Somerville) and Representative Through the worthy efforts of our colleagues, we have also made considerable progress Alice K. Wolf (D-Cambridge) toward providing security for some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens. Our children have been assured safeguards not only through the enactment of the anti- bullying bill, but also as a result of a successful amendment to the FY11 budget requiring a ninety day notice in cases of eligibility or benefits changes for those receiving Emergency Assistance, TAFDC or EAEDC. The end of the session rapidly approaches, yet our work on issues directly impacting women will not cease. We have had notable successes. This spring Governor Patrick signed into law criminally enforceable harassment protection for victims of stalking. The Caucus task forces on domestic violence, women in prison and homeless families con- tinue to prepare for next session after much rewarding progress this year. We look forward to assisting the ongoing efforts of our colleagues in the Caucus during the last weeks of the session and thank our friends for your support throughout difficult times. Sincerely, Senator Patricia D. Jehlen and Representative Alice K. Wolf Co-Chairs, Women's Legislative Caucus Judith Wurtman, PhD on Nutritional Links to Stress The Caucus of Women Legislators between carbohydrates, serotonin, and dealing with sponsored a timely forum on stress man- emotional well-being through her MIT substantial legis- agement in the midst of the budget season clinical studies and has written several lation. State at the State House. Dr. Judith Wurtman, books on the issue including The Serotonin Senators were renowned expert on nutritional links to Solution. readying for their stress, was invited as a guest speaker to Although the House of Representatives budget debate. instruct legislators on specific non- had concluded debate on the budget shortly traditional physiological stress relievers. before Wurtman presented her findings at Wurtman discovered the connection the forum, House legislators were still Caucus of Women Legislators Intern Stephanie Graves, a junior at Boston Uni- Stephanie’s interest in women’s issues has grown since versity, joined the Caucus in mid May and pursuing coursework related to women in politics and gender will intern through July. A Tacoma, Wash- issues in the law and plans to continue her studies at the ington native, Stephanie is pursuing a dual graduate level with special interest in public policy or social major in Political Science and Psychology, work. She also hopes to continue working within the Massa- with minors in Education and Women Stud- chusetts legislature. ies. Page 2 Caucus of Women Legislators Pay Equity Forum less than its current $0.23. from more narrowly compar- ―The bill that they [Senator ing the two jobs. Jehlen and Representative Wolf] Goldstein pointed out that have filed in the House and the the cafeteria workers, who Senate is right on the mark,‖ Mur- made half of what the janitors phy said. ―Pay for the job, not the did, were traditionally women FOR EVERY person.‖ while the janitorial staff was Small differences in each traditionally male. Both jobs DOLLAR MADE Former Lt. Governor and President of weekly paycheck, noted Murphy, had risks attached: working BY A MAN IN The Wage Project Dr. Evelyn Murphy create a ripple effect through the with chemical and tools, or economy. She pointed out that working with extreme tem- THIS COUNTRY, Less than a week before this the gap is even more obviously peratures and back-injuring A WOMAN year’s official ―Pay Equity Day‖, significant when it is described as lifting. However, when too state leaders and legislators gath- an average of $1.2 million less closely compared, the dispa- DOING THE ered for a forum on the merits of pay for women over the course of rate tasks involved did not SAME WORK, IF S689, An Act Further Defining a lifetime. It ultimately affects meet the narrower criteria for Comparable Work, sponsored by available savings, pension ―comparable work‖. He urged SHE’S LUCKY, Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (D- amounts and social security that the bill filed by Jehlen and MAKES Somerville). Representative Al- checks for women. Wolf be passed to clarify the ice K. Wolf (D-Cambridge) is the Gender pay inequity has be- definition for the Common- SEVENTY-EIGHT lead sponsor of the bill’s House come a hot issue for men, as well. wealth’s courts. CENTS. version. Men whose wives, mothers and Representative Jason Lewis Addressing a packed hearing daughters make less than they (D-Winchester) concurred. A room, House Caucus Chair Repre- should are starting to notice be- former businessman familiar sentative Alice K. Wolf intro- cause, during tough economic with private sector pay prac- duced former Lieutenant Gover- times, their incomes are required tices, the Representative spoke nor Dr. Evelyn Murphy, a leading to fill the gaps. on the need to pass S689 from expert and activist on the gender Also invited to speak was Cam- an economic point of view. wage gap in Massachusetts and bridge Attorney Lee Goldstein He paraphrased Horace Mann, the forum’s keynote speaker. who represented Marilyn Jancy, saying that America’s greatest Murphy is the President of The an Everett cafeteria worker, in her natural resource is the human sentiments of the previ- WAGE Project, Inc., a national suit demanding pay equal to the intellect and noted that Massa- ous speakers and added, grassroots organization deter- janitorial staff in the same school chusetts cannot afford to lose ―If women can raise mined to end wage discrimination system. Jancy was paid half the talented young women who themselves up with the against working women, and hourly rate than the male janitors.