The National Organization for Women is going into the movie business!
Partnering with producers of the just released "North Country" to launch another DV hysteria campaign, N.O.W. hopes to piggy-back on a potentially bankable feminist flick in the tradition of classics like "Norma Ray" and "Thelma & Louise."
N.O.W. appears to have hired some young and savvy marketing ideologues who understand how to tie-in politics with pop media.
(Lord knows Kim Gandy could use an extreme make-over, so maybe there's hope down the road.)
Explore the new web site created specifically for this N.O.W. venture into new media, at the links posted. (And I trust a few SYG'ers will have a field day with the Women Friendly Workplace Pledge, copied below.)
Hollywood Gets it Right - by Liz Gilchrist, Gift Planning Director
October 14, 2005
"North Country" -- a new movie starring Academy Award-winners Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, and Sissy Spacek and directed by Niki Caro ("Whale Rider") -- opens on Oct. 21, and NOW is proud to be a partner in a unique collaboration to provide moviegoers with opportunities to take action against sexual harassment and domestic violence.
"North Country" is based on the true story of story of Lois Jenson, the lead plaintiff in the first successful sexual harassment class action lawsuit in the country, which was brought in 1988 against the Eveleth Mines in northern Minnesota. NOW, along with Feminist Majority Foundation and the Family Violence Prevention Fund, are working with one of the movie's producers, Participant Productions, in an action campaign called "Stand Up: A Campaign to End Sexual Harassment and Domestic Violence." The campaign allows those who are moved by what they see in the movie to get involved in the issues.
The just-launched campaign website provides resource materials, action items and a community discussion space. In addition, users can download the Employee Pledge and Consumer Pledge we created for NOW's Women-Friendly Workplace Campaign and use them to bring women-friendly workplaces to their own neighborhoods.
NOW has been able to bring "North Country" to 20 campuses nationwide for a special sneak preview in the two weeks before the movie officially opens. College chapters and Campus Action Networks will follow the screenings with a variety of actions on their campuses, ranging from organizing town halls and speak outs on sexual harassment, to taking part in Take Back the Night marches against sexual assault, to starting purple ribbon campaigns against domestic violence.
When you visit the "Stand Up" website, don't miss the blogs, where NOW staffer Shauna Shames will be a regular contributor.
Check out the movie when it opens in your area, visit the "Stand Up" website and get involved in NOW's effort to make every workplace women-friendly.
http://www.now.org/issues/wfw/101405northcountry.html----------
WOMEN-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE EMPLOYER'S PLEDGE______________________________________________ (name of company or employer)
hereby pledges to support our employees and honor our customers/clients by ensuring a Women-Friendly Workplace. We pledge that we:
• Treat all customers/clients equally and with respect, without regard to their sex, race, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or size.
• Provide a workplace free of discrimination based on sex, race, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or size.
• Support all employees in their efforts to balance work and family responsibilities. In this regard, we not only meet the minimum requirements of the law but also strive toward policies that are genuinely family-friendly. (Such policies might include paid sick leave, flex-time, job sharing, child care and/or elder care benefits, family and medical leave for companies not legally obligated to provide it.)
• Do not tolerate sexual or racial harassment. We educate all employees, including management, with regard to these policies and rigorously enforce them.
• Ensure that any allegation of sexual or racial harassment, sexual assault and sex or race discrimination are promptly and thoroughly investigated. Employees making such allegations are protected from retaliation and are not required to seek redress from a workers' compensation board or forced to submit to arbitration in lieu of pursuing legal or statutory remedies.
• Have an affirmative action program to ensure that we include women and people of color in the recruitment, hiring and promotion of employees.
• Do not tolerate sexist, racist, sexually-explicit or pornographic images in the workplace or at any company-sponsored events.
• Respect the laws that recognize the right of our employees to organize and establish an independent voice.
• Provide all employee benefits without discrimination based on sex. Any health benefits offered cover the full range of reproductive health services -- including abortion.
• Do not discriminate on the basis of marital status or sexual orientation. Benefits provided to spouses of employees are also extended to domestic partners -- including
same-sex couples.
• Make this pledge to our employees and our customers or clients on __________. (date)
Signed ___________________________________________________________
Title _____________________________________________________________
Print Name________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________
City___________________________________ State____________
Zipcode________________ Phone ___________________________
http://www.participate.net/standup