PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
WHEREAS, March 8, 2011 is the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, a global celebration of the economic, social and political achievements of women; and
WHEREAS,  women are achieving at the highest levels of economic, cultural and political life. The percentage of women working in management, business and finance jobs has increased from 9% to 14% since 1983; and
WHEREAS,  women in the United States are enrolled in greater numbers than men in both undergraduate and graduate institutions and they now comprise about 1/2 of the workforce. Women are the breadwinners or cobreadwinners in 2/3 of American households. As women's earnings have risen, so has the wellbeing of families; and
WHEREAS,  as our workforce has been transformed, so too have the highest echelons of leadership. The vast majority of Americans, 89%, describe themselves as comfortable with women as leaders in all sectors of society; and
WHEREAS,  despite this progress, significant challenges remain. There continues to be an earnings gap between women and men. At all levels of education, women earned about 75% of what their male counterparts earned in 2009, are overrepresented in lowpaying jobs, are more likely than men to live in poverty and carry disproportionate responsibility for care of children and adult family members; and
WHEREAS,  women are more likely than men to suffer from sexual victimization and intimate partner violence; and
WHEREAS,  women are significantly underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math, which are areas of significant importance to Maine's economic development; and
WHEREAS,  we must seize the opportunity to build on our collective progress and create a future in which women and girls have every opportunity to succeed and to thrive; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, The Members of the One Hundred and Twentyfifth Legislature now assembled in the First Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to declare March 8 as International Women's Day in Maine. We encourage the people of Maine to celebrate this day with programs and activities that honor the history and accomplishments of Maine women and will create a more equitable future.