Beyoncé joins celebrity campaign on behalf of women living in poverty
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Version 0 of 1. In the recent weeks, many leaders – including Pope Francis, President Barack Obama and congressman Paul Ryan, have weighed in on the issue of income inequality. Yet the "Shriver Report" released this week by NBC news reporter Maria Shriver and the Center for American progress provides a unique look at life in, or on the brink of, poverty by focusing on the demographic that makes up the majority of people living in poverty: <em>women</em>. As Shriver writes in the report's introduction: “More than 100 million of us live on or over the bring of poverty or churn in and out of it – and nearly 70% of this group are women and the children who depend on them. That’s almost 42 million women and more than 28 million kids living on the brink." The 400 page report, which can be downloaded for free here until the end of the day, includes essays by celebrities like LeBron James, Beyoncé, Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria. Here are our highlights: Beyquality! "Gender equality is a myth!" yells the title of Beyoncé's piece, and given her zeal in inspiring "mommas who profit dollas", and her husband Jay Z's musical tributes to "spending cheese", it's no surprise that the wage gap interests Queen B. Currently, the average working woman earns 77 cents for every $1 that a man makes. That means that annually women bring home $11,500 less than men. That’s not equality, says Beyoncé. We have to teach our boys the rules of equality and respect, so that as they grow up, gender equality becomes natural way of life. And we have to teach our girls that they can reach as high as humanly possible. Hero: America's working single mothers When LeBron James, basketball player for Miami Heat, penned his part of the report he was speaking to a particular group of single ladies: America's single mothers like his own. "You think LeBron James is a champion? Gloria James is a champion too. She's my champion," James writes of his mother. "Gloria James was a working single mother who struggled and got the job done." Unlike Beyoncé's piece, which was a general call to action, James' piece struck a very personal note. The star athlete recalled losing a permanent home at the age of three, having to move around "a dozen times in three years", and finally being separated from his mom until she could find a more permanent solution for the two of them. This experience is one of the reasons that James has launched LeBron James Family Foundation. James' essay speaks to a growing demographic. According to another piece within the report, more than 40% of children are born to single mothers and more than 50% are born to single mothers under 35. What’s more, 50% of single mothers live in poverty. It’s the one in four children that are growing up in poverty that concern Jennifer Garner, of Alias fame. [B]y the time they turn four, poor children are typically 18 months behind their middle class counterparts. And most children who start behind never catch up. But I’ve also learned that we can help kids living in poverty start school on an equal footing with other kids by helping their mothers teach them during those crucial first five years, when 90% of brain growth occurs. That’s why Garner is working with Save the Children, which focuses on helping new parents establish relationships with their children by encouraging them to do simple things, such as talk to them at young ages (even if they don’t or can't yet talk back), and provides them with age-appropriate toys. The right tools – whether access to education on how to handle your baby or how to start your own business – can make all the difference. Among these tools are microloans, which US women struggle to obtain, writes Tory Burch, CEO and designer of Tory Burch. I was surprised to learn that it's easier for an entrepreneur in a developing country to get a small loan than it is for women entrepreneurs right here in the United States to get one. The numbers are incredible: the Aspen Institute estimates that only 2% of potential US microfinance customers are being served, compared to 17% being served in developing world. To change that, Burch has launched Tory Burch foundation, which provides aspiring female entrepreneurs with microloans between $7,000 and $10,000. Lastly, the report focused on empowering women in the workplace. Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, called for getting more women in leadership position. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand echoed those sentiments, pointing out that US has come in 12th in a recent study on countries' efforts to provide equal treatment in the workplace. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |