WebAdmin – North Carolina Women United

August 25, 2022September 7, 2022

A Note From Our NCWU President on Roe vs. Wade

Sadly, yesterday’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade marks an unfathomable abandonment of a pregnant person’s fundamental right to privacy and bodily autonomy. This extreme and dangerous decision will restrict the ability of millions to make the best reproductive choices for them. Abortion is health care, and it’s nearly paralyzing to accept the reality that yesterday we woke up with a constitutional right that had been ripped away by noon. We will continue to fight for the right to control our bodies!

In the last 24, so many states have moved swiftly to ban abortion. While abortion in NC is still legal, the stakes for the upcoming election are even higher! Dismantling these patriarchal systems becomes a real possibility when we support pro-women candidates who have a sincere commitment to policy rooted in an intersectional feminist framework like reproductive justice.

I know that many of us are submerged in collective grief that only time and change can genuinely heal but until then, remember to breathe. Things are bad, yes. But this long and bruising fight requires that you not burn out.

Charnessa Ridley
NCWU President

March 2, 2021

Information On Equal Pay Days 2021

Equal pay for women has never been more popular than it is today. Yet, nearly 55 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act and nearly a decade after the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, never has achieving actual pay equity seemed more out of reach.

The next Equal Pay Day is Wednesday, March 24, 2021. This date symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year.

Equal Pay Day was originated by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) in 1996 as a public awareness event to illustrate the gap between men’s and women’s wages. (It was originally called “National Pay Inequity Awareness Day” and changed to Equal Pay Day in 1998.)

Since Census statistics showing the latest wage figures will not be available until late August or September, NCPE leadership decided years ago to select a Tuesday in April as Equal Pay Day. (Tuesday was selected to represent how far into the next work week women must work to earn what men earned the previous week.) The date also is selected to avoid religious holidays and other significant events.

Because women earn less, on average, than men, they must work longer for the same amount of pay. The wage gap is even greater for most women of color.

AAPI WOMEN’S EQUAL PAY DAY
MARCH 9 — 85 CENTS
EQUAL PAY DAY
MARCH 24 — 82 CENTS
BLACK WOMEN’S EQUAL PAY DAY
AUG 3 — 63 CENTS
NATIVE WOMEN’S EQUAL PAY DAY
SEP 8 — 60 CENTS
LATINA EQUAL PAY DAY
OCT 21 — 55 CENTS

July 27, 2020August 10, 2020

Mental health and Self-care during COVID-19

Individuals with anxiety disorders experience repeated, extreme, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often anxiety disorders involve continual episodes of impulsive feelings of intense fear that can last for varying lengths of time. According to the National Mental Health Association, anxiety and depression are more common in women. Women who birth children may experience postpartum depression and other maternal mental health challenges that can affect the development of their child.

The impact of COVID-19 has only exacerbated the conditions that breed depression and anxiety. The social distancing necessary to survive this pandemic has forced many into isolation that makes worry worse, particularly for women who live alone. Overwhelming thoughts like “How long will this last? Is my family being safe? Will I stay healthy?”, are constantly at the forefront of the minds of many. Those thoughts are met with the task of processing around the clock news coverage, headlines, and social media clickbait about the threat of the pandemic and the impact it is having. Another issue is having to sort through the facts from the rumors and misinformation. Many individuals report an increase in stress, fear, loneliness, and sadness as a result of the pandemic.

For those overthinkers and individuals with anxiety or depression, these super-uncertain times are really taking a toll. Now more than ever it is important that individuals and communities prioritize mental health. What does that mean?

Quarantine increases isolation, and for folks with anxiety or depression that can be a recipe for disaster. In a recent Facebook poll, we heard from several women about their routine which included:

Refusing to engage in conversations that heighten your anxiety
Limiting the interactions with individuals who want to talk only about fatalities
Getting fresh air every day
Taking up crafts or home projects to calm thoughts
Praying and meditating
Exercising
Playing games with children
Scheduling virtual dates with friends and family

What are the things that work for you?

What should be included in local governments’ post-COVID plan to address mental health and promote evidence-based services?