Making a Difference
We list below just a few of the many organizations worldwide that are doing good work related to issues discussed in Gender Inequality in Our Changing World: A Comparative Approach.
Primarily Within the United States
Center for American Women and Politics. Does research on women in politics and government and seeks to increase women’s influence and leadership in public life. www.cawp.rutgers.edu
EMILY’s List. Founded in 1985, raises donations for female Democratic pro-choice candidates running for Congress or governor. Name stands for “Early Money Is Like Yeast.” www.emilyslist.org
GLAAD. Works with print, broadcast, and online media to share LGBT stories, counter stereotypes, and obtain full equality for LGBT people. www.glaad.org
GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders). Uses litigation to secure the rights of GLBTQ people and people living with HIV and AIDS. Its attorneys have been at the forefront of the cases securing equal marriage rights. www.glad.org
NOW – National Organization for Women. Founded in 1966 and the largest feminist organization in the United States. Currently focuses on six issues: ending violence against women, securing reproductive freedom, economic justice for women, racial justice, LGBT rights, and a constitutional guarantee of women’s equality. www.now.org
Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Advocates for universal access to sex education and reproductive health services, including birth control, emergency contraception, and abortion. www.plannedparenthoodaction.org
Polaris Project. Seeks to end human trafficking of all kinds in the United States, both changing policies and helping victims. www.polarisproject.org
Women’s Media Center. Monitors media sexism, trains women and girls to be media savvy, and seeks to make women visible and powerful in the media. www.womensmediacenter.com
Primarily Outside the United States
Afghan Institute of Learning. Led by Sakena Yacoobi and mentioned in chapter five, AIL is run primarily by women and is rebuilding the educational and health care systems of Afghanistan. Donations to AIL go through Creating Hope International, which is certified as a charity in the United States. www.afghaninstituteoflearning.org
Camfed – Campaign for Female Education. Seeks to end poverty in Africa by educating girls and empowering young women. www.camfed.org
Girls2Women. Teaches girls in Ethiopia how to make their own menstrual pads so they can attend school and later jobs while menstruating. www.girls2women.org
Kiva. Makes microloans to people without access to traditional banking. Donors choose individuals to support based on their own criteria and information provided on Kiva’s website. www.kiva.org
Pathfinder International. Provides sexual and reproductive health services in twenty-six countries, mostly in Africa and southern Asia, including contraception, abortion, and maternity care. Pathfinder lowers maternal mortality rates while empowering women to make choices about their bodies and their lives. www.pathfinder.org
Population Institute. Educates policymakers and the general public about the importance of access to voluntary family planning, with the goal of making every child a wanted child both in the United States and worldwide. www.populationinstitute.org
Self Employed Women’s Association. A trade union for self-employed women in India that provides financial services, health care, child care, insurance, legal aid, and opportunities for self-development and leadership. SEWA empowers women to pursue full employment and self-reliance. www.sewa.org
SHE: Sustainable Health Enterprises. Starts small businesses in Rwanda making affordable menstrual pads from sustainable local materials so that girls and women can go to school and work. www.sheinnovates.com
Shining Hope For Communities. Combats gender inequality and extreme inequality in Kenya’s urban slums by creating schools for girls that provide free education, health care, food, and holistic social services for the students’ communities. www.shofco.org
Vital Voices. Identifies, trains, and empowers female leaders and social entrepreneurs around the world. Empowers women to become change agents in their own countries. www.vitalvoices.org
White Ribbon Campaign. An international movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, gender equality, healthy relationships, and a new vision of masculinity. www.whiteribbon.ca
Women on Web. A digital community of individuals and organizations who support abortion rights. Among other things, it helps women in countries where abortions are illegal have much safer medical abortions using misoprostol and mifepristone pills. Its companion organization, Women on Waves, provides abortions on ships located in international waters near countries where abortions are illegal and does political advocacy and training related to medical abortions. www.womenonweb.org and www.womenonwaves.org