The Downtown Women's Club blog: Disturbing trends for women in the US and what you can do about them

A few months ago everyone was trying to explain why women, who have more choices today than ever, are not as happy. I don't know the answer to that, but within the past week there have been a few news items that show that all is not swell in the realm of gender parity in the United States.

First, there was the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report showing that the US slipped from 27th in the world to 31st. That's not the direction I would like our country to be going. On the bright side, at least we're not Italy (#72).

A recent study from The Boston Club in Massachusetts likewise reported a decline in women executives at public companies. Among the key findings:

The number and the percentage of women executive officers in the 100 largest Massachusetts public companies are at their lowest points since the Census began in 2003. In 2009 only 8.6% of all executive officers in these companies are women.
The number of companies with no women executive officers reached a record high (56) since the Census began in 2003. This is an increase from 47 companies just two years ago.
The percentage of women holding board positions in the 100 largest public companies in Massachusetts remains static, hovering between 11.0% and 11.5%; the total number of seats filled by women directors has ranged between 92 and 96.
Thirty-eight (38.0%) of the Census companies continue to have no women on their boards of directors.

Then we had a very interesting article called The Mismeasure of Woman in the NYTimes by Joanne Lipman detailing how women fought for more equality in business, but at the same time have culturally lost respect.

Underscoring this last point is a recent study by the Parents Television Council about the increase in violence against women on TV. Here are some of the major findings, which are extremely disturbing:

Incidents of violence against women and teenage girls are increasing on television at rates that far exceed the overall increases in violence on television. Violence, irrespective of gender, on television increased only 2% from 2004 to 2009, while incidents of violence against women increased 120% during that same period.

The most frequent type of violence against women on television was beating (29%), followed by credible threats of violence (18%), shooting (11%), rape (8%), stabbing (6%), and torture (2%). Violence against women resulted in death 19% of the time.

Violence towards women or the graphic consequences of violence tends overwhelmingly to be depicted (92%) rather than implied (5%) or described (3%).

Every network but ABC demonstrated a significant increase in the number of storylines that included violence against women between 2004 and 2009.

Although female victims were primarily of adult age, collectively, there was a 400% increase in the depiction of teen girls as victims across all networks from 2004 to 2009.

Fox stood out for using violence against women as a punch line in its comedies -- in particular Family Guy and American Dad -- trivializing the gravity of the issue of violence against women.

From 2004 to 2009 there was an 81% increase in incidences of intimate partner violence on television.

What can women do? In all of these, we can stop playing the victim (in the TV case, literally ...). I know it sounds trite. But, here are some things within everyone's control.

1. In the office. Invest in your career rather than your closet. Learn networking, negotiating, sales, leadership, technology and other skills you need to put yourself on an equal or better footing than your male counterparts. If you invest in yourself now, you'll be able to close the gender pay gap, and as a result you'll have even more money later to not only fill your closet but pursue more of your dreams.

2. In government. Hopefully one of those dreams is to run for office. One of the reasons the US has a low ranking in the gender gap is the lack of women in powerful positions in both business and politics. While it might be hard to make sweeping changes at the top of corporate America, most positions in government are elected, and everyone gets a vote! But first, we need more qualified women to run for higher office. Even if running yourself is not your thing, then get behind a qualified female candidate - which means: donating your money, time and/or skills as well as making sure that you get out to vote on election day.

3. On television and at the movies. Advertisers and movie producers are guided by the all mighty dollar. Stop watching shows or movies that rate high on the violence to women scale (Heroes, Desperate Housewives, CSI, Prison Break). Trust me, advertisers will stop advertising and those shows will stop being made.

All of these things come down to speaking up. You have a voice; you have the tools (social networks); and you have the numbers in your favor. Women now outnumber men on social networks. It's time to step up and speak out online. Perhaps our mantra should be rather than "Just say no" or "Just do it", how about "Just say it!" or "Just speak up!" Thanks to technology, everyone has a megaphone.

Some good examples of this:

The Motrin Moms getting an ad canceled that they found unacceptable.
Bad online buzz for their new Pepsi AMP iphone app that was demeaning to women forced an apology from Pepsi.
Savvy Auntie, Melanie Notkin is rallying women without kids to have a voice after realizing that Maria Shriver's A Woman's Nation report was focused almost entirely on "mothers."

Trying to change our culture is not an easy thing to do. Right now I'm focused on changing the political landscape because that's the easiest place to start. How? Women need to use online tools to help get more qualified women elected. It's easier to influence an election where everyone gets a vote, than a board of directors where women aren't even invited to the meeting.

President Obama showed us how organizing online could influence an election. C'mon ladies, let's get organized. No matter which political party you belong to, we need qualified women on both sides of the aisle. We have Martha Coakley running in Massachusetts to be the 18th woman in the Senate (18 to 82 is not exactly parity or reflective of our society); yet it took a female senator Olympia Snowe to reach across the aisle and move health care reform along.

Please note that in all cases, one should vote for the most capable candidate, not just for their gender. But, for those female candidates who speak to you and for you -- do more than just silently wish them well. Use your keyboard to donate, volunteer and write down your support for others to see! Once we diversify politics, the rest will soon follow.