Christian Nunes, President of the National Organization for Women, joins Cheddar Reveals to take a look at where the women's rights movement stands today and where it's headed.

Cheddar Reveals

The State of the Women's Rights Movement in 2022

all right. The fight for gender equality is being fought on so many different fronts here in America. While some battles have been won over the last few years, What are the lasting effects and where do kind of we still have in terms of work to come joining us now is christian Nunez President, National Organization for Women. Let's check in on really just where the women's rights movement stands right now today. What have been some of the kind of highlights in the last couple of years to get us here? Thank you for having me, Alicia. Well, you know, I think that we want to really acknowledge that women are continuing to reach historic milestones in the last few years and break barriers just as sally clearly highlighted. Um, and we have a but we still have a long ways to go. Um, but the more we can uplift the successes that women are having, I think the more we can try to normalize how women are equal in our ability to contribute to our communities. But I think what we have to see is that we are still facing a lot of battles with individuals trying to continue to oppress women um, and keep us down and have control over us. So it's critical more than ever that we really work hard to uplift diverse women of different backgrounds and make sure that there aren't decision making roles, especially women of color. Um, I think that green brings of needed aspect to make sure that we're at the seat of tables. You know, women's history. Month is a time really right for the fight for equity to continue to champion social racial and economic um, you know, justice. What kind of work is being done to advance the economic security of women and girls? Sure there is a lot of work being done. I mean, you know, we have things, there are a lot of work around care care, support care, economy, care, infrastructure fair check paycheck fairness act, um, strengthening equal the equal pay. Uh, there was work regarding even supporting frontline essential workers. But what we've really seen is that there still is so much work that has shown that there's still so much work that is disproportionately impacts women of color and marginalized groups, women especially after the pandemic. So it's really important that we continue to put work in economic security for women because women are the most that are directly impacted by economic insecurities in this country. You know, I think of something like reproductive rights. They have really been at the forefront of political headlines lately. Where do we stand when it comes to kind of reproductive um, you know, rights for women here in America today? Well, you know, we really are at a crossroads when it comes to reproductive rights. You know what we are seeing right now is possibly the threat of the overturning overturning of roe. Um, and our body town and being at stake and there is some states that have been very successful um, passing through these dangerous laws and abortion bands. But I would be remiss to say that this has always been an issue. Abortion um lack of access has been an issue for a very long time. And it's directly impacting once again, those communities who have economic insecurities, you know, communities and poverty marginalized community, immigrant women, women of color. Uh and this is really about power and control and feeling threatened. So we have to really talk about this and really what looks like and those who can afford abortions will still be able to access abortions. And those who always have struggled with getting access to reproductive rights and care are still struggling and will have more struggles um, as we continue to go forward. So this is why we really need to work hard to make sure as we're moving through in this new era of feminism, in this new era of leadership, that we are putting people in place, they can understand the constituents needs and rights and putting and have their values and state when we're electing officials, we want to make sure we're putting leadership in place who reflect the values of women who are directly impacted by some of these laws that we're seeing happening right now and now, grassroots activists are working hard with leaders to make sure we're electing them and putting them into office. You know, we know that you are the second african american president of now, You launched um, you know, now's racial justice summit in 2020. I'm curious in the context of this month and even today, who are some of the women of color that you think we should be celebrating this month? Well, it has been really a great month, you know, for women of color and I think that when we think about some of the women for this past month that we really should be celebrating, I would start off by just really talking about you know, Judge Catania Brown Jackson, who is slated to be the next the first black woman Supreme Court justice. Um and that is so exciting. I mean it speaks volumes not only is she extremely qualified for the position, but she really has spoken highly on issues that impact women and also can tell a narrative that really directly impacts those um women of color and black women in the black community. And I also would say also another great woman is, you know, negocios, who was a Nigerian american economist, Um the first one to point to the World Trade Grade 12 trade organization as a chair. And so that's really exciting as well, you know, to think about that and that accomplishment of all the history of that time. Um and erin Jackson, the first black woman to win the winter olympic gold medal. I mean these are some exciting times that we're seeing where we're showing that we are representing across the spectrum of all different fields, all different careers and being very acceptable. And of course, Deb Haaland, the first native american to serve in a cabinet position. I you know, I just want to write, I love that there's no shortage of shortage of women that we could kind of celebrate today. That shows a sign of the times we have to leave it there. Thank you so much. Cristian Cristian Nunez, president of the National Organization for Women.