First-Ever National Feminist Exposition Draws Over 3200
Feminists From Across the Nation Despite Winter Storm
WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 2-4, 1996 -- Despite snow, plane cancellations,
winter storm warnings, airport closures and delays, and extremely
hazardous traveling conditions, over 3200 feminists travelled
from 46 states representing 299 organizations to the first-ever
national feminist exposition, Expo `96 for Women's Empowerment,
joining forces to defeat attacks on affirmative action and sex
discrimination law, and to mobilize women's votes.
Hundreds of students signed up for a Freedom Summer Campaigns
in states where anti-women's rights initiatives are possibly scheduled
for the November `96 ballot. The gathering called for an even
larger exposition for the year 2000 which will include women from
around the world.
A wide-range of women's groups, including the YWCA of the USA,
many labor unions, the National Association of Women Business
Owners, the American Association of University Women, the Business
and Professional Women, feminist think tanks, women's health,
arts, law, philanthropy, religion, and sports organizations. all
participated in this landmark event.
"After this weekend, it is clear that women's organizations
will not stay out of the budget debate, and will demand increasingly
that politicians and the media provide a gender perspective for
national economic and federal budget proposals," said Eleanor
Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation, the leading
sponsor of Expo `96 for Women's Empowerment.
Feminist economists reviewed budget proposals and showed how
flat tax proposals and budget cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, student
loans, disproportionately hurt women. Numerous feminists experts
and organization leaders called for a substantial cutting of the
military budget instead of social programs, both to create more
jobs, to rebuild the infrastructure, and to invest in health and
educational programs that would improve the quality of life for
all Americans. Feminists pointed out that the B-2 bomber program
would fund child-care block grants for 44 years. Defunding the
C-Wolfe attack submarines for fiscal year 1996 ($1.7 billion)
would provide low income home energy assistance for 5.6 million
low-income households, and cutting the ballistic missile defense
program -- Star Wars -- ($91 billion) would provide early education
opportunities for 740,000 children under Head Start for the next
26 years.
The large delegations of very young feminists ages 18-21 energized
veteran feminists, while young feminists were provided career
centers and mentoring opportunities. In total, some 35% of the
gathering were high school and college students.
Demanding 50% representation in state legislatures and the United
States Congress, the conference discussed proposals which would
level the political playing field, such as multi-member election
districts, guaranteed candidate loan programs to facilitate more
women running for public office, and caps on campaign spending.
Reeling from conservative use of ballot initiatives to attack
women's rights and to galvanize a right-wing vote, feminists discussed
the possibility of progressive initiatives to increase the minimum
wage and to dramatically reform campaign finance.
Leading the drive to make wages a central issue of the `96 campaign
was Linda Chavez- Thompson, newly elected President of AFL-CIO,
who addressed the last general assembly of Expo `96. Maude Hurd,
President of ACORN, urged that feminists support ACORN's campaign
to raise the minimum wage through ballot initiatives. Many of
the groups participating in Expo `96 will participate in a joint
project called the Contract with American Women which will be
launched March 8th, International Women's Day, by Women's Environmental
and Development Organization (WEDO) and the Center for Women Policy
Studies. Students announced at Expo `96 a nationwide March 14th
day of action on college campuses to protest attacks on affirmative
action for women and minorities. On April 14th in San Francisco,
NOW will coordinate a march to "Fight the Right" and to defeat
the so-called California Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI) on the
ballot in California.
Listen to
keynotes, roundtables, and other sessions online!
