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Women discuss global economy, competition Movers and shakers in business communities throughout Ventura County headed to Simi Valley recently to discuss the state of the economy and where it might be headed. But these weren't just typical business leaders. They were women from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities and ages who attended a forum on "Economic Justice in the Changing Global Economy" last month at the Grand Vista Hotel. The event was one of a dozen annual forums planned by the Ventura County Commission for Women. The 15-member commission is a group of female volunteers who advise county supervisors on issues related to women. The annual forum topics- poverty, education, health, violence, power sharing, institutional mechanisms, human rights, media, peace, environment, economic justice and issues of girlhood (the girlchild)-were identified as critical at the Beijing International Women's Conference in 1995. Dorothy Long of the Concerned Black Women of the Conejo Valley said the forum empowered women to effect change in the economy. "I'm just overwhelmed at all these ladies," Long said. "This is so great-I've read about these organizations but never had a chance to meet them all." Qualities inherent to women, education and competition with China were recurrent themes in the daylong event. Jon Goodman, president of the speaker's forum Town Hall Los Angeles, told the group the United States is so heavily in debt to China that it is virtually owned by the Asian country. The U.S. must stop borrowing and spending, she said. The former USC business professor said education has to become a priority--while busi ness executives become billionaires, a teacher earns about $50,000. Goodman said the U.S. lags behind China in graduation of math and science majors; its only hope to remain competitive lies in education. Tiffany Marra, a University of Michigan professor, said fewer than 20 percent of the students enrolled in a basic engineering course at her school are female. For economic justice, women must become technology producers and that means majoring in math and science, she said. Maricela Morales, Port Hueneme mayor pro tem and director of CAUSE, said women must have a global village perspective, forming relationships with other women that cut across cultural, ethnic and racial lines. Morales cited an example of 15 women who were contract janitors for Cal Lutheran University. The women finally won university employment, which meant better benefits for them and their families, after a female faculty member initiated and championed their cause to the administration. "Through the lens of sisterhood, through the lens of connection, be more thoughtful to what our sisters across the world are experiencing," Morales said. Catherine Smith of the National Women's Political Cau cus, Ventura County, said the organization wants to see half of all elected offices filled by women by 2020. She said women generally are more involved in health care matters for their families and so make better policy makers than men. "We think of the 'we' rather than the 'me,'" the Camarillo resident said. Norma Maidel of the Ventura County Commission for Women contributed to this story. |
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