Page 10, Portland Observer, September 2, 1987
Despite Record Gains for American Women in the Eighties, Black Women Still Pay Heavy
Price of Double Discrimination
Despite record increases in earnings, labor force participation, educa
tional achievement and political clout over the past 15 years, equality
remains elusive for many American women —and especially for the nation s
14 million Black women. They continue to bear the double burden of race
and sex discrimination, keeping them disadvantaged with regard to income
and employment.
................
The traditional view of Black women and their families as "deviant
from norms based on White middle-class ideals has thwarted effective solu
tions to the problems Black women face, and more appropriate methods
are needed to assess female-headed Black families.
These are some conclusions of a major new report released last month
by the Women's Education & Research Institute (WREI), a nonprofit re-
I
First in a Series of Comprehensive Portraits of the
American Woman
Released by Policy Research Group
women correspondents accountea Tor
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all three networks during March. 1986. Stories filed by women of color
accounted for just 0.9%. While women staffed only 14% of technical
broadcasting jobs (not traditionally held by women) in 1985, minorités were
rather well-represented —in television, 14% were Black and in radio, 23%.
At a press breakfast held at the National Press Club to release the re
port, WREI President, actress Jean Stapleton, said, "This report should be
required reading for every man and woman of voting age. Its sound re
search should form the basis of enlightened public policy designed to elimi
nate the last barriers that prevent American women from achieving equality
Play: "Daughters of Eden
THIS IS A TRUE STORY. The history books were never like this! in
1903 a preacher came to a small rural town in Oregon and started a holy
roller NUDIST CULT. The men hated him. The women loved him. It tore
the town apart. We dare to present the true story, in "Daughters of Eden
an original play by Jan Baross and Victoria Parker. This is a NEW WORK,
hot off the word processor and straight into the psyche of an unsuspecting
public. If playgoers are game, they may participate in feedback for the new
work after the performace.
The performance is scheduled for September 28, 29, and 30, 1987,
8:00 p.m. at Storefront Theater, 6 S.W. 3rd. The price of admission is $7.
Jan Baross is an award winning Film/Video writer/director/producer
who has turned her hand to playwriting. She found the story of the
preacher ten years ago and plans to turn the play into a feature film.
Victoria Parker is an award winning stage actress/director/writer who
recently wrote a successfully produced play with Jim Blashfield, called
was made possible by grants from the Ford Foundation, AT&T Foundation,
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chevron Corporation, the George Gund Founda
tion, and RJR Nabisco, Inc.
Softcover copies of the book can be ordered directly from WREI for
$9.50 each, including postage and handling. Orders must be prepaid.
Check or money order should be sent to: WREI/THE AMERICAN
WOMAN, The Women's Research & Education Institute, 1700 18th Street,
N.W ., No. 400, Washington, D.C. 20009. Copies are also available for
$7.95 in bookstores nationwide.
HEALTH WATCH
To the Teen "Parent-To-Be
For what ever reason, you're going to have a baby. Teen mothers
are considered one of the "highest risks" for a problem birth. Why?
There are many reasons, some of which include: poor pre-natal health
care, poor pre-natal habits, the stress of birth and hospitals.
Pre-natal Care: It is very important to see a doctor, nurse, or mid
wife at least once a month. Many problems can be caught and corrected
while they are still small.
Pre-natal Habits: "You are what you eat" can be extended to "as
you eat, so your baby grows" (Nikki Goldbeck). Smoking, drinking, large
amounts of coffee or Coke, taking drugs, lack of exercise can all lead to
problem births. Eat whole foods (veggies, grains, beans, whole wheat
bread, etc.), and limit the amount of sugar you consume (Twinkies,
doughnuts, sugar, honey, ice cream, etc.).
Stress o f B irth: Attending "pre-natal" classes can help you be more
oH.iratPH and relaxed with the birth process. These classes are generally
"Bird of Paradise".
i -
cess. Top scholars contributed essays on women and the family, women
in the economy and the recent women's movement to "THE AMERICAN
WOMAN 1987-88: A REPORT IN DEPTH," the first in a series of annual
reports on the status of American women. The status of Black women is
addressed throughout the 350-page report, which also includes a chapter
on "Images of Black Women" projected in recent social science studies.
Extensive statistical data document American society's resistance to
full equality for all women. Despite advances in educational attainment
and job opportunities, women remain concentrated in low-paying occupa
tions. "THE AMERICAN W O M AN" documents an increase in the poverty
rate among children in household headed by minority women, continuing
inequities in wages paid to women of all educational levels, a significant
increase in the numbers of mothers of young children who work outside
the home, and the fact that women in paid jobs still bear most of the
responsibility for housework and family care. It also suggests that changes
in family structure-divorse, desertion or teen pregnancy-m ay be as much
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a response to poverty as a cause.
"I welcome this book that updates our information and understand
ing,” said Dr. Dorothy Height, President of The National Council of Negro
Women, after reviewing an advance copy. "It is a valuable resource for
everyone who works to eliminate sexism and racism in order to achieve
equality for all women in our society."
Highlights of the report include:
• Blacks of both sexes have lower life expectancies than their White
counterparts. A Black woman born in 1984 could expect to live 73.7 years;
a White woman, 78.8.
• Until 1950, Black women married at a younger age than White
women; now they marry considerably later and many forgo marriage all
tn n p th p r B lack women are less likely to remarry after divorse than White
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S U R G E O N G E N E R A L 'S W A R N IN G : S m o k in g
C a u s e s L u n g C a n c e r , H e a r t D is e a s e ,
E m physem a, And M ay C o m p licate P regnancy.
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