Join us for a powerful conversation with Kim Villanueva, the newly elected President of the National Organization for Women (NOW). As a bi-racial lesbian and the first Asian American woman to lead the organization, Kim shares how her passion for social justice fuels her fight for economic equity.In this episode, Kim unpacks NOW's bold "Kitchen Table Agenda," which directly addresses the pressing economic issues and systemic discrimination faced by women today. You'll hear Kim discuss:
- The Core Issue: Why the wage gap cannot be separated from racial justice and reproductive freedom. Kim argues that discrimination, racism, and the disproportionate burden of caregiving on women deepen economic inequities and restrict full participation in the workforce.
- Legislative Priorities: Despite gridlock in Congress, NOW is relentlessly pushing for critical national legislation, including the Paycheck Fairness Act, stronger protections within the Equal Pay Act, the Healthy Families Act(for paid sick leave), and the recently reintroduced FAMILY Act (for paid caregiving leave).
- Underrepresentation and Accountability: Why women remain underrepresented in high-paying jobs and the necessary steps to enforce accountability against pay discrimination.
- Her Personal Story: Kim tells a compelling story of recognizing her own value and successfully advocating for a salary increase at her company, offering a real-world example of how to tackle workplace pay inequity.
Learn about the historic team of women of color now leading NOW and how they are partnering with marginalized communities to fight for a future where every woman is heard, acknowledged, appreciated, and paid what she is worth.
To learn more about the National Organization for Women (NOW), visit https://now.org/.