LIHU‘E — Members of the American Association of University Women Kaua‘i Branch, met Sept. 25 at the Lihu‘e Library Community room to address ongoing concerns of equity and also to provide input to their delegate, Cherie Mooy, for the Vision
LIHU‘E — Members of the American Association of University Women Kaua‘i Branch, met Sept. 25 at the Lihu‘e Library Community room to address ongoing concerns of equity and also to provide input to their delegate, Cherie Mooy, for the Vision 2020 National Congress.
AAUW is a national organization that began in 1881 and has a mission of “Advancing Equity for Women and Girls through Advocacy, Education, Philanthropy, and Research,” a news release states. Equity is still a prominent issue as was emphasized by Dr. Ka‘ani Blackwell, a recently retired faculty member of the University of Hawai‘i – Manoa teacher education program.
Blackwell said women faculty members earn less than men faculty members across all ranks and institution types. On average, women earn 81 percent of what men earn. (Source: Catalyst “Women in Academia” 2009 Report”)
Although the rights of women have come a long way since 1920 (19th Amendment giving women the right to vote), there is still much work to be done, she said in the release.
In a national effort to launch an action agenda to move America toward equality by 2020, (the centennial celebration of the 19th Amendment), the Vision 2020 National Congress project will be held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Oct. 21-22. The congress of national delegates, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, will focus on advancing gender equality by energizing the dialogue about women and leadership.
Mooy, who is secretary of AAUW – Kaua‘i Branch, was selected as one of two women to represent Hawai‘i. Mooy is currently a nursing instructor at Kaua‘i Community College and received the Excellence in Education Award from the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii in 2008. In 2005, she served as chairperson of Kaua‘i’s Commission on the Status of Women and in 2009, Mooy became the Kaua‘i County Commissioner to the Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women.
Visit www.aauw.org or e-mail mooy@hawaii.edu for more information.
