Time to push back | Highlights from the 2014 Shriver Report

So I'm really jumping into the deep end of topics with my first proper blog post here!

Let me tell you about the Shriver Reports...

The Shriver Reports and the initiatives behind them provide a digital platform for conversation on women and their place in modern day America. 

Headed by journalist, political activist and California's first lady, Maria Shriver, the first report in 2009 looked focused on the impact of the rise of women in the workplace - in America women make up over half of the US workforce. 2010's emphasis revealed women at the centre of the Alzheimer's epidemic - both as sufferers and carers.

2014's focus shifts from reporting on past trends and looks into gearing up for action. Titled A Woman's Nation Pushing Back From The Brink investigates financial security and poverty, whilst highlight how vital women are to an economy. 

I've pulled some of the quotes that stood out to me from the full report below:

"The new iconic image of the economically insecure American is a working mother dashing around getting ready in the morning, brushing her kid's hair with one hand and doling out medication to her own aging mother the other. She's run ragged, and she's running scared. 

She knows he's just a single incident...away from the brink."

"It's not just women who will benefit from updating, restructuring, and redesigning our laws, our business practices, our workplaces, and our culture. Children will. Men will. We all will."

"Humanity requires both men and women, and we are equally important and need one another"

"In our own country rapes in the military and rapes on college campuses go unpunished because "boys will be boys," and winning wars and football games are more important than protecting the integrity of women who are the victims of rape."

"Women are more than 50% of the population and more than 50% of voters. We must demand that we all receive 100% of the opportunities."

"...women are not victims. We are agents of change, we are drivers of progress, and we are makers of peace. All we need is a fighting chance."

Though the focus is solely on American women, the issues, values and messages transcend nations, ethnicities and ages. There are women trying to 'do it all' all over the world, my mother is one of them, and I know countless others who are as well.

It's a really inspiring and thought-provoking read for anyone who considers themselves a feminist, so I'd urge you to at least skim through and share will everyone you know.

You can download the full report for free exclusively to your Kindle until the end of today (15th Jan), though there are excerpts of the report on the Shriver Report site. I'd also urge you to take a look at the video that accompanies it, share it and if you have any thoughts let me know below!

Ria 

[@RCagz]