Women won the right to vote 86 years ago

Can you imagine being put in jail (and worse) because you wanted the right to vote? If you've not read much women's history, you probably have no idea what suffering the suffragists (women who fought for the right to vote for women) went through back in the early 20th century. On August 26 the U.S. celebrates Women's Equality Day.

Got some cool facts from the YWCA email:

More women than men have voted in every election since 1964 (I wonder if the charm of John and Jackie Kennedy made politics seem more real and enticed women voters out in force?...)

Because women received the right to vote, they were able to voice their concern over and eventually gain:
* The right to own property
* Rights in child custody and divorce proceedings
* Reproductive rights
* The right to a discrimination-free workplace
* Title IX, ensuring equal educational opportunities for men and women
* The right to get a loan and receive credit without a male co-signer. (Women were not given this right until 1974 with the passage of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.)

* In the list of countries with parliaments, the U.S. ranks 67th in terms of the number of women who are members of the parliament. Rwanda, Nicaragua and Ethiopia each have more women than the United States.

What price child care?

Whether you're a single mom who struggles to pay for child care or a worker in this field, it's hard to believe that our society still puts such a low value on caring for our children. Check out this website - the Center for the Childcare Workforce explains that the Bureau of Labor Statistics figures must be interpreted correctly.

Okay, the mean wage (which means average) for child care workers in the U.S. is $7.42--the average can be skewed by a few reports of higher wages. The median wage (half of salaries are above and half below) for U.S. child care workers is $6.91--closer to what most workers actually receive.

It's nice to know that the American Federation of Teachers Educational Foundation has created this project as a watchdog for the early education of our nation's kids. Here's their mission statement:

CCW/AFTEF’s mission is to improve the quality of early care and education for all children by promoting policy, research and organizing that ensure the early care and education workforce is well-educated, receives better compensation and a voice in their workplace.

Sounds like a plan worth pursuing.

Your high maintenance status

Are you "high maintenance"? I hope you've seen the movie, When Harry Met Sally--an absolute classic about single life. If you've only seen it once, try watching it again. I feel sure you'll find even more to enjoy. The scene where they're both in bed (their own) watching Casablanca and talking to each other on the phone and Billy Crystal explains what "high maintenance" means gives a brilliant little insight into dating and male perspective about women.

Do people tell you you're too fussy? Hey, as a SWANN you're welcome to be. Most of us have high standards--for lots of things in our lives--and we're not the least bit embarrassed about it. As old Martha says, it's a good thing.

On living alone

Interesting discussion with another SWWAN this week. Asking if having someone live-in (friend, boyfriend, whatever) is substantially different from living alone. Some quiet reflections:

If you have a live-in, that’s someone who stays with you, whether you're getting along or not. Someone who knows if you're home or not, expects you at a certain time, and would think something might be wrong if you are late when your tire is flat and you're stranded.

A live-in is someone who can SEE that you are sick—-you don’t have to call and tell them and then ask for help. It’s someone to help carry things, or who hears you scream if you slip in the shower and smack your elbow. And if that someone shares the expenses, that’s a huge thing, too.

Having a live-in makes a really big difference in how you experience life. Even if you have a perfect boyfriend who’s around a lot, it’s not the same as having someone live with you. You still have to make an effort and take some action to bring that person into your life at any particular moment."

Beautifully said. As author Alice Walker so aptly puts it, when you have a live-in, that’s at least one side of you that’s covered. When you live alone, you’re vulnerable on all sides.

Notes on dieting: temptation and television

Another anecdote from a SWWAN about the dieting thing:

Torture! Ok, they put a Dunkin Donuts IN MY TRAIN STATION at home. I don't even have to take three steps out of my way and there I am at the counter. I can smell the heavenly, fatty, greasy smell as soon as I start down the stairs. And then I have to go past it again on my way home! What is this, a conspiracy?!?!

What tortures does the universe put in your way? I discovered recently that when I watch TV at night, the urge to eat (usually bad stuff) is almost overwhelming. What's up with that? Is the only solution to stop watching TV?

Love the earth, love your clothes

Just heard about some folks who run a natural clothing store that pays fair wages, teaches women to sew, and uses only organic cotton to make simple, high-quality, timelessly styled dresses, capes, ponches, and more. We hope you'll soon be able to purchase some their clothing here in our SWWAN store, but meanwhile, read about esperanzathreads.com Organic Clothing and Eco-Goods (esperanza means hope):

Everyone wants to know why organic cotton is so important to us. The reason lies in the fact that conventional cotton is the second most heavily sprayed crop in the world [coffee is the first]. Typically, on an average size T-shirt, between a quarter to a half pound of pesticides are sprayed. ...A major principle that guides us is the belief that all workers should be paid fairly. To this end we strive to pay fair wages and to teach and guide low-income individuals who wish to provide for their basic needs and the needs of their families." (more here)

Dry cleaner in Chicago puts buttons on for you!

Drive-Cleaning is one of our first registered SWWAN vendors. Thanks to Mike Bleier, founder and president, who spent enough years of his own trying to get to the dry cleaners when he needed to, Chicago residents can now get their dry cleaning and laundry picked up and delivered for no extra charge.

And that's really great. But listen to this: Drive Cleaning will also fix your clothes and replace buttons for you! Now how's that for a service that SWWANs can use?

In business since 2004, Drive Cleaning offers personalized service by phone or you can place your request for pickup through their website. You can arrange your first pickup and give them a key to your outside door. They'll provide a big bag to put your stuff in; then they hang your clothes on a door hook they provide you.

Mike sees a rosy future for his concept. He says in 6 months or so they plan to start picking up and repairing shoes and handbags! Too cool. He also says he thinks this is going to be a perfect business for franchising--all it takes is some brains, a van, the Drive Cleaning plan, and a lot of elbow grease.

Mike is offering SWWAN members 20% off on their first order! Thanks, Mike.

SWWANs and birthdays

Birthdays can be some of the best days of our lives--or the crappiest. That's as true for everybody as it is for us Single Working Women.

They say at least one of the decades of your life will make you feel bad--but which decade will give you the most grief is totally individual. I remember my sister remarking that 30 was a bad one for her. Some find 50 devastating (trust me, you'll get past that..." ). I think how you react to your birthday any year depends in part on what's going on in your life at the time. Like:

• Did you just become a single mom? In my experience, that event is usually mixed with two profound emotions--joy that you've made the right decision, and terror about how you're ever going to do this! You don't have time to feel too bad; you're just too busy.
• Did you just move to a new city that year? Again, equally mixed emotions.
• Did something in your work life change--you got a big promotion/raise, that boss you couldn't stand finally left? Great stuff, new challenges, or maybe sad because something else didn't happen. Who knows what works on us at these times.
• You started your own business that year--ditto the emotions of becoming a single mom. Heaven knows if you do both in the same year, you're automatically eligible to apply for SWWAN of the year! More here.

So if you're a Leo and you're having a birthday around now, here's to a good one!

On dieting

Weight. What a pain. But it's all in your perspective, right?

A fellow SWWAN (a very attractive size 8) was groaning to me today about having to listen to her size-4, 97-pound, 5-foot-9 friend complain about being fat. "It's ridiculous," she said. "All I can dream about is Ho-Hos, and she's talking about going on a diet."