Research & Rescue

Action Alert: Combat Sex Trafficking in the U.S.

Received this action alert via e-mail:

The FBI estimates that more than 100,000 underage girls are exploited for sex in the Unites States each year. Sex trafficking is a modern form of slavery, yet all too often victims are difficult to identify and trafficked persons are often prosecuted as prostitutes or deported as undocumented immigrants.

The Senate has already passed a bill by unanimous consent that would call victims of sex trafficking what they are -- victims -- and establish pilot programs which would provide counseling, education, and basic support for these young women. This bill, the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act (S. 2925/H.R. 5575), would also mandate participation at all levels of law enforcement and educate officers and prosecutors in how to identify, investigate, and prosecute traffickers.

With just days remaining in the lame duck session, we cannot allow the House to fail to take action to support young women exploited by sex traffickers in our very own country. To act now is to make a real difference in the lives of thousands of women and girls.

Combat Sex Trafficking in the U.S.

Action Alert: It's Crunch Time for Paycheck Fairness

Time is running out.  Congress' August recess is almost upon us, and the elections will dominate much of their time in the fall.  It's been a year and a half since the House passed the Paycheck Fairness Act, but the Senate has yet to act on this critical piece of legislation.  The hard truth is that the time remaining to get this bill passed in this Congress is running short -- but we're not giving up!  As a cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, your senator needs to push Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring this bill to the Senate floor now, and he or she needs to hear from you to make this happen. 

Visit the AAUW Capwiz page to make your voice heard: www.capwiz.com

Internet Use Makes Us Happier

From the Department of Water is Wet:

When it comes to mental health, the Internet gets a bad rap. There are countless studies that suggest regular access to the Internet is linked to stress, anxiety and addiction. But before you stop tweeting and toss out your iPhone, it turns out that spending time on the Web could actually be making you happier.

A May 12 report by British researchers from the U.K.'s Chartered Institute of IT (known as BCS) have found a link between Internet access and well-being. But some benefit more than others from tapping into the information superhighway, including those with lower incomes or fewer qualifications, people living in the developing world and, perhaps most surprisingly, women.

Overall, the study found that access to the Internet leads people to feel better about their lives. "Put simply, people with IT access are more satisfied with life even when taking account of income," said Michael Willmott, the social scientist who authored the study, at a press conference. "Our analysis suggests that IT has an enabling and empowering role in people's lives, by increasing their sense of freedom and control, which has a positive impact on well-being or happiness."

Read the rest at news.yahoo.com

Thanks, Virtual Water Cooler friends :-)

Early promotions of women and minorities in the United States Air Force

This article analyzes over 322,000 decisions affecting Air Force officers under consideration for early promotion to major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel. Several theories predict that promotion rates of men exceed promotion rates of women, while promotion rates of Caucasians exceed promotion rates of minorities. Consistent with theory, data indicate that early promotion rates of Caucasian officers are higher than those of minority officers. However, early promotion rates of men are generally worse than those of women. Weighted least squares analyses further reveals that time rarely has a significant negative or positive impact on early promotions. Women and minorities officers also turn over at high rates and are grossly underrepresented among Air Force officers promoted early to the middle-grade ranks.

Read it (it's long...) at findarticles.com

Webcast of AAUW report on women in science and technology

Join us for NGCP's April webcast presenting AAUW's new report,

Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Tuesday, April 27, 2010

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT / 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT
The authors of AAUW's latest report (written about in the New York Times) will present the report's findings including recent research on environmental and social barriers that continue to block girls' participation and progress in science, technology, engineering, and math.  The webcast will include recommendations for what each of us can do to open scientific and engineering fields more fully to girls and women.
Register: http://www.ngcproject.org/events/events. cfm?eventid=168