Women Lose More Jobs in Recessions

The U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee recently released a report confirming that women are more vulnerable to job loss during recession. Unlike the economic downturns of the 1980s and 1990s, the 2001 recession was particularly detrimental to women because they not only lost more jobs than men but also did not see their employment rates recover to their pre-recession peak. Since women bring home more than one-third of family income and single mothers are often the sole breadwinners, women’s unemployment also has harsh implications for the economic security of families and communities. Greater job losses for women translate into reduced government revenue and cuts in spending on programs and services that benefit women and their families.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/business/22jobs.html?scp=1&sq=women+and+jobs&st=nyt
http://jec.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=80a7a0cd-6125-495d-bca5-09af2c0393f9

Study Suggests Strategies for Hiring Women in Sciences

A recent study tracking the career paths of more than 3,000 male and female applicants for jobs in science, mathematics and engineering fields found that women were less likely to apply and more likely to decline job offers than men. The study, conducted by sociologists Christy M. Glass of Utah State University and Krista Lynn Minnotte of the University of North Dakota, suggested strategies for recruiting more women into science and technology jobs. Although they determined that employers were willing to hire women, there was a lack of understanding of where and how to market jobs to female candidates. Recommendations ranged from advertising job postings in publications specifically geared towards women in the sciences to including at least one woman on search committees.
http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/08/05/women
http://aaa.main.usu.edu/Assessment/Fac_Vitas/SSWA/GlassChristy.pdf http://wfnetwork.bc.edu/leaders_entry.php?id=6453&area=All

MISSING: Women and People of Color in Government Contracts in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina

Under Executive Order 11246, signed in 1965 by President Johnson, federal contractors having 50 or more employees and $50,000 in federal contracts must prepare a written affirmative action program. In the wake of a large rebuilding effort in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina and Rita, the Department of Labor has signed a memorandum which allows companies receiving new contracts to be exempt from compliance with the affirmative action program requirements.

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MISSING: ATTENTION TO GENDER IN HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS

Women's eNews today featured this report on missing rape reporting procedures in New Orleans. Women's organizations, like NCRW member center Ms. Foundation, have also been working to set up relief funds targeting women, and specifically low-income women of color.

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UPDATE: Loretta Ross offers a feminist perspective on Katrina. To read her article, click here.