Feminism NOW

How much do you tip? 15% and 20 if the service is good? 20% all the time? 10%? What if you knew that 70% of tipped workers were women, and they made as little as $2.13 per hour? This week, NOW National President Christian F. Nunes speaks with Saru Jarayaman, the co-founder and president of One Fair Wage, about the fight for economic equality, why tipped workers in the United States are a legacy of slavery, and what we all can do to make sure everyone earns a living wage. Take Action NOW: https://now.org/issues/economic-justice/ Register for the NOW National Meeting: https://now.org/2024nowconf/ Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Our theme this season is “Women Leading Democracy.” And yet, lately, it feels as though our democracy itself has become fragile. Frail. This episode, we are shoring up our strength. NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is thrilled to speak with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. She was the 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the first woman ever elected to the office, and the representative of the 11th district of California. She’s one of the chief architects of the Affordable Care Act and has been a strong advocate for the rights of women throughout her career. Christian will speak with the Speaker Emerita about the fate of democracy, the power of the vote, and what makes the democratic process strong. Take Action NOW: https://now.org/issues/constitutional-equality/ Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

2024 is an election year, and democracy itself seems like it’s on the ballot. That’s why for our second season we’ve selected a theme: Women Leading Democracy. Throughout this season, we’ll hear from women and feminist allies about how and why women can and should lead in our country. There is no better way to start than with women’s reproductive rights, which have taken significant hits at the national level since the Dobbs Supreme Court decision. So NOW National President Christian F. Nunes is pleased to speak with Heather Booth, the legendary civil rights and womens’ rights activist who founded The Jane Collective, helping women to receive healthcare, counseling, and abortions before Roe v. Wade made abortions nationally legal. Christian will also speak with Dr. Sophia Yen, whose company, Pandia Health, provides mail-order birth control across the nation. Christian, Heather, and Sophia will talk about women’s reproductive health in a post-Roe world, and the action that we all can take to make sure everyone has control over their bodies. NOW's Take Action Checklist - https://now.org/take-action-checklist/Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

Beyoncé to Oprah. These talented, hard-working women may make the content, but do they own it? Christian F. Nunes speaks with Nicci Gilbert Daniels, the CEO of WIRF Media and founder of the From The Bottom Up Foundation. Nicci discusses the barriers that women face in media and entertainment, even after the SAG-AFTRA strike, and she shares the secret to breaking down those barriers—women-led ownership. Grammy-nominated Nicci Gilbert-Daniels has been a leader in the entertainment industry for over 20 years, and received the 2018 “Woman Of Impact” award from BET. She is the CEO of WIRF Media (Women in Reality Film), a media company which works to change toxic film narratives about minority women. She’s also the founder of the non-profit From The Bottom Up Foundation, which works to reduce inequalities and raise awareness of issues facing women and girls of color. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website. 

As 2023 comes to a close, we are reflecting on how far we’ve come in the fight for reproductive justice, and how far we still have to go to achieve a freer future in which every person has access to the health care they need.  This week on Feminism NOW, Christian F. Nunes speaks with two fierce advocates in the ongoing movement for reproductive rights. Nancy Davis is an activist and leader whose personal experience being denied an abortion in Louisiana inspired her to create the Nancy Davis Foundation to support individuals who face barriers to accessing the reproductive healthcare and resources they deserve. Nancy talks about the power of personal stories in transforming policy and shares what reproductive freedom looks like to her. Alexis McGill Johnson is president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Alexis discusses how Planned Parenthood is working to “build Roe back better” and to create lasting infrastructure to support reproductive health care across the nation, especially in states where abortion access is restricted or banned. In an empowering conversation, Nancy and Alexis remind listeners how important it is to keep reproductive rights forefront in conversations about justice and equity as we move into a new year. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

It is no surprise that we have a childcare crisis in this country. The U.S. is one of only six countries that doesn’t provide paid family leave and is the only World Health Organization country with maternal deaths rising, rather than falling. The good news? A brighter future for families is possible! In this episode, Christian F. Nunes speaks with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director, CEO, and Co-Founder of MomsRising, a grassroots organization of more than a million people working to achieve economic security for families, moms, and women in the U.S. Kristin shares how changes in policy can transform the state of childcare so everyone can be supported in their decision to raise children, and how investing in families means investing in our national economy. Whether you have a mom, know a mom, employ a mom, or are a mom, this issue impacts everyone. Tune in to this impassioned discussion for advice about how to get involved and to learn more about the inspiring changes advancing care, health, and equity for us all.Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner is author of the book “Keep Marching: How Every Woman Can Take Action and Change Our World,” and host of the radio program “Breaking Through (Powered by MomsRising).” You can find out more by visiting her website. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

What does it really mean to be a "feminist"? Christian F. Nunes dives into this question with Latanya Mapp Frett, the President and CEO of Global Fund for Women and author of “The Everyday Feminist: The Key to Sustainable Social Impact-Driving Movements We Need Now More than Ever.” Latanya tells listeners it is the everyday feminists, the women making change in their communities across the globe, who are the key to transformative social change and the ones we need to support and stand in solidarity with. Christian and Latanya discuss intersectional and intergenerational feminism, taking back the word feminist, stepping into their power, and celebrating the women in their lives.  Ms. Latanya Mapp Frett has worked in over 15 countries with non-profit organizations, United Nations agencies, governments, and foundations to advance gender justice and social equality. Previously, she was the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Global and quadrupled the size of the program in four years to become one of the most innovative and sustainable global health organizations in the field.She also worked for eight years as a human rights officer for the United Nations Children & Fund (UNICEF).Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

What does it take to drive social change and shift paradigms towards equality? Today on Feminism NOW, Christian F. Nunes talks with two changemakers working to build inclusive coalitions and advance justice for marginalized groups. Zakiya Thomas, President and CEO of the Equal Rights Amendment Coalition, discusses the importance of the ERA for securing rights for all people regardless of sex. Next, Christian chats with Dr. Leslie Hinkson, Chief Officer of Racial Justice and Equity for the League of Conservation Voters about her work to promote intersectionality, racial justice, and equity within the climate justice movement. Zakiya Thomas is President and CEO of the Fund for Women’s Equality and the ERA Coalition, which represents 80 million people across 280 diverse organizations all united under the goal of advancing sex equality.  As a political strategist, Zakiya works to shift how people communicate their issues in order to foster greater collaboration and connection within coalitions. Dr. Leslie R. Hinkson is the Chief Officer of Racial Justice and Equity for the League of Conservation Voters, where she is responsible for helping create and implement an overarching vision for racial justice and equity at LCV – both at the programmatic and operational levels – that works to ensure the organization honors its commitments to be a diverse, antiracist, equitable, and inclusive organization. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

It’s November, and that means it’s time to get out the vote. Christian F. Nunes talks with the award-winning organizer, political strategist, and Black Renaissance woman LaTosha Brown about her work organizing and empowering Black and marginalized voters across the U.S. Black Voters Matter Fund played a crucial role in increasing voter turnout in the 2020 US Senate election in Georgia to turn the state Blue. Nunes and Brown discuss effective organizing strategies, how to boost political resilience and agency, and why positive change is still happening at a grassroots level, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and host Christian F. Nunes talks with Dr. Brittany Lewis about some disturbing statistics:  there are 60,000 missing Black women and girls in this country, and Black women are more than twice as likely as their peers to be victims of homicide. The Founder and CEO of Research in Action, Dr. Lewis is a leader in developing effective, community-based strategies to push for social and policy change.  Nunes and Lewis discuss the systemic racism behind the disproportionate rates of violence Black women and girls face in the US.For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, NOW calls upon our communities and law enforcement to believe survivors when they bravely step forward to report. Too often, Black women are not believed. And if they do report, it is not investigated. Survivors must be believed and what they share must be taken as authentic and truthful. It is always better to save a life rather than overlook it and lose one.NOW's Take Action Checklist Listen to new episodes of Feminism NOW released every other Wednesday. To find out more about the National Organization for Women, visit our website.