3 Reasons Equal Rights Are Imperative
Ann Arbor, MI (PRWEB) September 30, 2014 -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact:
Josephine Dries, 734.385.6170
josephine(at)icheadlines(dot)com
3 Reasons Equal Rights Are Imperative
“Women still do not have equal rights under the law,” states Kamala Lopez, Screenwriter, Director and Producer of the newly released Documentary, “Equal Means Equal”, which Bust Magazine recently named “potentially the best women’s rights documentary ever made.” Why does this matter?
Equal Work Deserves Equal Pay
“Women make 22-41% less than men for exactly the same jobs and 75%-95% of Americans believe that women and men are equal under the law. On average, in this country today, a woman at the end of her working life has lost $400,000 to wage discrimination,” says Barbara Niess-May, Executive Director at Safe House Center of Ann Arbor and an advocate for Equal Rights for all. “Does gender inequality contribute to violence against women? This Documentary will explore that question. Safe House is partnering with University of Michigan’s Abuse Hurts Initiative and Zingerman’s Community of Businesses to bring Kamala and a free screening of clips from her Documentary ‘Equal Means Equal’ to Ann Arbor’s Michigan Theater.”
The Constitution Excludes Women
“22 states have equal rights amendments; however, nothing in our Federal Constitution guarantees equal rights for women; this is why we are advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment. A constitutional amendment cannot be reversed and it guarantees these rights from one generation to the next,” continues Barbara. “We are still only 3 states short of ratifying this Amendment. Most people are not aware that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing equal protection under the law does not pertain to gender discrimination.”
Women Are Not Equal in Many Areas, Not Just Wages
“Across the board, women in the United States are unequal to men in the areas of healthcare, rape and safety issues, domestic violence, economic equality, cultural and religious oppression, lack of child care: childrearing and support, reproductive rights, rates of incarceration, international policy – and more,” continues Barbara. “We hope the Equal Means Equal Documentary will bring more awareness of this topic to the masses.”
If you are in Michigan and wish to attend the event, it begins at 6:00pm, at the Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI, on Wednesday, October 22, with doors opening at 5:30pm. The event is free and open to the public; however, registration at the following page is requested, as seating is limited: Register for Equal Means Equal.
Kamala Lopez is the creative force behind Equal Means Equal. She is an award-winning actress, screenwriter, director and producer. She has been acting from a young age and has starred in over 60 TV shows and appeared in over thirty feature films, including I Heart Huckabees, Born in East L.A., Deep Cover and The Burning Season and she directed the award-winning film about first US Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin -- A Single Woman. Lopez formed production company Heroica Films in 1995 with the mission to write, direct and produce media with a focus on utilizing women both in front and behind the camera. Since then Lopez and Heroica Films have produced, directed and written many short films, several features, film festivals, podcasts and virtual Internet media campaigns. She received the Woman of Courage award from the National Women's Political Caucus for her work on social justice and women's rights and was named one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century by Women's eNews. She is an official blogger for the Huffington Post.
Safe House of Ann Arbor’s Mission is to provide safety, support, advocacy and resources for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and their children, and to work relentlessly to change the systems and attitudes that allow this abuse to continue. Safe House’s Core Values include: being the center for providing leadership, support and advocacy for this work in Washtenaw County; providing the leadership to build effective community partnerships and drive the systems changes required to end assaults on women; commitment to the empowerment of all women and belief that all people should be valued without bias and should be treated with dignity and respect. Safe House believes in liberty and justice for all – no exceptions – and that sexual assault and domestic violence are never the fault of the survivor. They believe that the prevention of sexual assault and domestic violence must continue to move from the private sphere into the arena of public policy and community responsibility and that every person is affected by oppression. Safe House believes that it is impossible to end violence against women and children without working toward the end of all forms of oppression and will not remain silent in the face of discrimination and oppression, because complacency and silence perpetuate inequality and violence.
Josephine Dries, Insert Catchy Headlines, http://icheadlines.com, +1 (734) 385-6170, [email protected]
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