Heather Abushanab

Two important things happen in November. Toward the beginning of the month is election day and toward the end we will celebrate Thanksgiving. Both events are part of our American identity and somewhat intertwined in meaning for me.

AAUW, AAUW CA and AAUW Redlands branch are non-partisan entities which means these organizations do not support or endorse any political party and generally, we also do not endorse specific candidates. But this certainly does not mean that AAUW members and AAUW in general are non-political. In fact, many of us would say that AAUW is highly political, since the ways women’s interests have advanced in our country have often taken place in the political arena.

AAUW worked to pass the 19^th Amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote, and AAUW is currently supporting legislation called the Freedom to Vote Act which will improve access to voting as well as ban partisan gerrymandering.

In the area of economics, AAUW advocates for a fair minimum wage and policies that will eliminate the gender pay gap. Frances Perkins was Secretary of Labor and an AAUW member when the first minimum wage was passed in the US.  AAUW members served on the 1961 Presidential Commission on the Status of Women and lobbied across the country for the Equal Pay Act of 1963. AAUW supported Lilly Ledbetter in her legal battle with Goodyear which ultimately resulted in the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 and AAUW continues to advocate for a nationwide Paycheck Fairness Act.

In the area of education, AAUW provided early research and advocacy which eventually resulted in Title IX, the law preventing gender discrimination in education. Rep Edith Green (OR) who introduced the legislation and Rep Patsy Mink (HI) who co-sponsored the bill  were members of AAUW.

As an AAUW member, you are always allowed to express your personal political point of view and to advocate for and endorse the candidates of your choice. In fact, you could be a political candidate yourself! We do have both past and present elected officials as members of our branch.

How does any of this tie into Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday because it is celebrated by all Americans regardless of their religion, race, age, state of residence, or gender. It is a time set aside for the whole country to give thanks for our many, many blessings. We live in a dynamic and diverse nation which isn’t perfect but continues to evolve and hopefully progress toward a truly perfect union. I am grateful to live in this nation where diverse views can be expressed, where my right to vote was secured by previous generations, where my rights as a citizen to equal education, equal pay and equal treatment under the law are upheld by legislation.

On November 5 I will proudly exercise my right to vote and on November 28^th I will give thanks for that right. I hope all AAUW Redlands branch members will join me in both endeavors.

Heather Abushanab, President
AAUW Redlands Branch