When we think of the buzzwords of feminism we first think of “equality” and after that “respect.” Good words for sure, and slogans such as “equal pay for equal work” are relevant today. But women will eternally be climbing a greased hill searching for equality and respect if we don’t put the other “R” word at the forefront – representation. There is no equality and no respect without representation. There is no understanding of who women are, what women need and how women can help each other without representation. Without …

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
The Village Voice would like to convince us that sex trafficking is no big deal. At least not the sex trafficking that is occurring through their online Backpage classified network, a venue that reaps them millions in profits each year.
The Voice’s Backpage has been proven to advertise sex trafficked girls and women. In other words, sex slavery. Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher called them out on this practice via their DNA foundation and Real Men Campaign. …

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
I’ve long bemoaned Hollywood’s tepid to nonexistent interest in women’s issues aside from abortion. While Hollywood celebrities speak out loud and clear about a laundry list of causes, the world of women seems to be a mystery to most Hollywood insiders.
But recently, I am seeing big names pop up in the media in support of women and I am hoping this becomes a trend. Last week, Oscar-winning actor and A-lister Halle Berry was presented …

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
Kristin Mitchell was murdered by her boyfriend five years ago.
On Saturday November 7th at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, hundreds will be gathering for the 5th annual Kristin’s Krusade – a fund raiser and 5K run that raises money to spread awareness about the dangers of relationship violence. Funds raised from the run “enable the Kristin Mitchell Foundation to sponsor dating violence awareness programs at colleges and communities in the Philadelphia …

On this Father’s Day Weekend, The New Agenda celebrates the men who join our Pro-Women movement by working and speaking out on behalf of women and girls.
On this Father’s Day I would like to say thank you to the many men who work and speak out on behalf of the safety and welfare of women and girls.
While we tend to think of women’s issues being supported by women alone, there have always been visionary men who have made an important impact on the lives of women. From the suffragist movement, …

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
I’ve had a sneaking suspicion for some time now that many of the G-rated cartoons and movies that my daughter watches aren’t entirely good for her. Although we enjoyed watching Disney’s Tinkerbell the other night, both my husband and I thought that the popular fairy was entirely too sexualized. I also find Disney Chanel’s Phineas and Ferb funny and clever and yet the show strongly embraces gender stereotypes. Phineas and Ferb are the boy …

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
The other day I was in a toyshop with my three year old daughter and I overheard a father scolding his son, “Jonathan! Don’t play with those toys, those are girl’s toys!”
And so much did Jonathan want to play with the baby dolls, miniature strollers, toy vacuum cleaners and kitchenette sets that Jonathan’s father had to repeat his condemnation several times.
“What did I say, Jonathan? Those are girl’s …

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
Happy Birthday Alice Paul!
This year marks the 125th birthday of the legendary suffragist and the Alice Paul Institute of Mount Laurel, New Jersey will be celebrating all year. It is also the Institute’s 25th birthday and the 90th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in the United States.
Based in the home where Alice Paul was born and raised, the Alice Paul Institute came together as an organization …

Our girls need role models from both the past and the present and all children need to learn about women’s role in history. For these reasons I have become a passionate collector of women’s history picture books and recently I stumbled upon a great one about Esther Morris.
When Esther Morris Headed West: Women, Wyoming and the Right to Vote by Connie Nordhielm Wooldridge and illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers is a fascinating read for young and old alike. The beautifully illustrated book chronicles the political activism of Esther Morris, a frontier …

March 10th is Harriet Tubman Day!
Harriet Tubman is one of our most celebrated American heroines and I was very pleased to learn that she has her own holiday. In 1990 President George H. W. Bush declared March 10 as Harriet Tubman Day and in 2003 Governor George Pataki of New York declared it a state holiday.
Tubman, who was born a slave in Maryland some time around 1820, escaped to freedom at the age of 29. Not content with just her own emancipation, Tubman helped more than 300 slaves to freedom …