"getting even" requires activism and a goal!

yesterday was equal pay day (april 25th), and today life goes on as usual -- or does it?

attention was paid to a book entitled "getting even" written by evelyn murphy, who also happens to be the first woman elected to statewide office in massachusetts (1986, lieut. governor). she says that women haven't gotten their fair share of wages and perks largely because they have not asked for them! furthermore, she has set a goal of ten years to effect real change -- using loosley formed "wage clubs" throughout the country on various levels as a vehicle to get women together to talk, strategize, and act.

when i met up with ms. murphy at a local bookstore last month, she seemed delighted that i was behind a similar concept in 5050X2020 -- a 14-year campaign to achieve equal representation. we agreed that women had to step up and ask for what we are entitled as hard-working, tax-paying citizens. (we also noted that the ten mass congressional seats are all held by white, democrat men.)

"to get paid like men, women and men must put pressure on chief executives -- to make women's pay fair," Ms. Murphy has said. right on! to get out fair share of seats in congress, women and men must put pressure on the political powers-that-be -- party leaders, elected officials, past presidents, et al!

we need groups of women in both parties meeting in all 435 congressional districts to talk about what we have in common, strategies to achieve 5050X2020, and action that adds more women to congress rather than fighting each other. how about meeting as informal "kitchen cabinets", as many as needed in whatever permutation women choose -- to include women of all stripes in the conversation and the campaign for equal representation. 5050X2020 must be a forward-looking, bipartisan effort -- not just so-called "women's movement" business as usual.

what do you think?