Now
Light Rain
57°
High
61°
Low
38°
Full Forecast

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > Opinion > Columns
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Nebraska, is women's status OK with you?

Comments 34 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

BY JENNIFER GUTIERREZ

Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 - 12:20:13 am CST

We take care of our own in Nebraska. Whether we are working together to rebuild a town devastated by a tornado, or giving Christmas gifts to a family in need, if our neighbor needs a hand we give it.  That’s what being a Nebraskan is all about.

We, your representatives at the Nebraska Women’s Commission, want to let you know that women and families in our state are suffering. These are hardworking women — women like Julie Reynolds in Nance County, who was working three minimum-wage jobs to provide for her daughter. Women like Sondra Foulk in Merrick County, a farmer’s wife who, after his death, learned she was saddled with an incredible debt that left her penniless, or women like Cathy Rakes in Gage County, who could work only part time in order to care for her husband who was sick with cancer. In the meantime, medical and living expenses piled so high that after her husband’s death she was left with nothing.

These women are not special or unique cases. They are representative of thousands of Nebraska women living among us. In fact, one of your commissioners, Barb Micek, a journalist from Fullerton, traveled to 24 counties across the state to record these national award-winning stories. “Displaced Dreams,” our exhibit of these stories, is on display this week in the Capitol Rotunda. These real-life stories were written for you in order to put faces and lives with these statistics: 

Story Photo

Is this OK with you?

Is it OK with you that for 58 percent of retired women in Nebraska, their Social Security checks are the only things standing between them and poverty?

Is it OK with you that 41 percent of the homemakers in Nebraska who stayed home to raise children and then later needed to re-enter the workforce live below the poverty level?

Lincoln, is it OK with you that in the November “A Time for Thanks, A Time for Giving” insert in the Lincoln Journal Star, 54 of 68 requests for help were for women or women and children? (This does not count the requests from organizations such as the People’s City Mission, the Food Bank or Kids for Recovery).

This is not OK, Nebraska. We can do better. At the Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women, we are working to enhance the quality of life for all Nebraskans by promoting equality of opportunity for Nebraska’s women and families through research, outreach, awareness and referral.

One way that we do this as your 13 appointed representatives is to make you aware of the situation so that we can work together to change it — at both the community and state levels.

Admittedly, over the past year it has become significantly more difficult to effect change. In 2007 the Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women was the only commission to be defunded by the Legislature, with the exception of reimbursement for travel expenses to and from meetings for commissioners.

With or without funding, the need for a Women’s Commission exists now more than ever, which is why we continue to serve you. When we were appointed by the governor, we made a commitment to serve women and families, which we intend to keep.

Do you know someone like Loretta in York County, who works four jobs from dawn to dusk to support her children because she cannot obtain child support and needs health insurance? Do you know someone like Veda in Dawes County who finally received her first child-support check when she was 70 years old and her youngest of five sons was nearly 40? Then, after receiving the $200 support check, her Medicaid was dropped.

If what has been described is not OK with you, go to www.women.ne.gov  and contact any of the commissioners listed to tell us what you think. You may also contact us by phone at (402) 326-2449, via e-mail at ne.women@yahoo.com or by mail at the Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women, P.O. Box 94985, Lincoln, NE 68501-94985.  We will then take your questions, concerns and requests directly to our state senators.

Gutierrez was appointed by Gov. Dave Heineman to represent District 1 on the Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Columns > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
What about the great white minority... wrote on January 10, 2008 12:46 am:
" ...what about 'men'?

Who's going to help me? I'm doomed because I'm a white male. It's too bad I wasn't born into wealth, or could afford training or a 'skill'. 'Guess I'm just out of the picture...


"

 Douglas Novak, Crete wrote on January 10, 2008 7:20 am:
" No. I am a father of four adult daughters and none of the things you described in your rantings are OK. However, it is very obvious by the Legislatures actions of defunding the Commission that your organization has not proven enough value in changing the situation. Nor have you with your writings. I elected my Senator to represent me financially in tax matters and as a whole the legislature has dumped your organization and they obviously felt justified in doing so. You desribe the problems of some women in the state quite well. You fail to address the solutions and therein lies the demise of the organization. Yes, you can count on me to contact my State Senator but you are not going to like the message I give him. With the information you provide I agree with the lack of funding. "

 another mother wrote on January 10, 2008 9:53 am:
" thank you for this story, i for one found it to be OK, however I will say that there are good dads our there who are doing the same as some of us single again moms. So good for you Dad's!! "

 Glad to be gone wrote on January 10, 2008 10:16 am:
" Tell us Ms. Gutierrez, what exactly have you done to help any of these people besides ask for more money to raise "awareness"? How does your continuous requests for cash do anything for these people? I agree with Mr. Novak. If this is the best you can do, then you have done nothing worthy of taxpayer dollars. Those women you mentioned in your letter deserve better than what you have shown so far. "

 Who needs you? wrote on January 10, 2008 1:10 pm:
" To have a Commission on the Status of Women is sexist. A commissionon the status of the poor, for example, makes some sense. But, this commission is living in the 1960s. They need to disband and get a life. "

 Veronica wrote on January 10, 2008 3:49 pm:
" It amazes me that people would get defensive about this story. My heart goes out to these women, and as a fellow Nebraskan, my only thought was how can I help? It saddens me that people get so defensive about helping others. "

 Gabi wrote on January 10, 2008 4:07 pm:
" Wow. I never knew an article that could change my mind -- change it the opposite of what was intended. Ms. Gutierrez needs to tell us the actions the commission have taken to help. If an adult sees a child injured, you try to help the child -- not just tell everyone that the child is hurt. "

 No thanks wrote on January 10, 2008 4:36 pm:
" I'm capable of taking my concerns directly to my senator by myself and based on the article I think I can articulate my issues more effectively than the Women's Commission. I certainly wouldn't try to frame poverty, hardship or red tape as solely women's issues (as other posters have noted, any of those stories could have featured men instead of women and remained otherwise unchanged). I certainly wouldn't approach a senator with a few hard-luck stories and no suggestion for improvement. Give us real numbers, real issues, and real solutions. This is the first public effort I've seen since all that squawking about the commission last year and it is frankly a real disappointment. "

 whatever wrote on January 10, 2008 4:38 pm:
" What about custodial fathers who don't receive Child Support? How bout husbands who have stayed home to take care of their sick wives? How 'bout fathers who work several jobs from dawn until dusk and still can't provide adequately for their families? What about two parent households where everyone including the teenagers work and still can't make ends meet? This isn't just a "women's problem", it's a problem. We will never be a unified society as long as we continue to pick out one group or another for special attention. We need to treat everyone with similar problems the same way. That's what a fair and just society does. I'm sure the "yeah, but's" will find the concept of true fairness a bit disconcerting. "

 Laurie wrote on January 10, 2008 5:08 pm:
" I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Novak. I can write my state senator directly just as easily as I can email "ne.women". How is this commission anything more than a resume-stuffer for ambitious go-getters? It would be one thing if they actually got anything accomplished but their past history mostly shows a lot of backbiting and infighting- that is, when they can actually be bothered to show up for their meetings. The amount of time members put into the organization seems to be minimal. Why do they need funding? When I email my state senator directly, it's free. "

 DC Husker wrote on January 10, 2008 6:17 pm:
" As a 46 year old woman originally from Saline County and the descendant of Czech homesteaders, I believe the best thing you can do for the women of Nebraska is teach financial literacy. I was so ignorant that it wasn't until I reached the age of 35 that I first heard of saving for retirement! Why can't Buffett establish a foundation to educate everyone (especially women because we live so long) on the importance of financial literacy. I would also encourage entrepreneurship. "

 larry wrote on January 10, 2008 6:49 pm:
" I can't tell if she is saying the solution lies with government, or the private sector. I would like to give more of my money personally to the women in the story however I am being taxed into oblivion to pay for these services that a governmental agency oversess with incredible incompetency and waste. "

 Des wrote on January 10, 2008 7:37 pm:
" Wow, talk about a sob rag. For the poverty level mothers living in rural Nebraska, the best thing you could do for them is to get them out of Nebraska!!! Relocate them to another city or state where they can get better paying jobs. Furthermore, whose fault is it if persons, regardless of sex, don't take an active interest in their retirement? Whose fault is it if a person has multiple children but have not taken the time or effort to make sure that they can be cared for in the absence of a parent, whether due to divorce, abandonment, or death? Best thing to do for those kids is to take them away from such poverty situations, which means taking them away from their mothers and giving them to someone who will make sure they are taken care of. Sorry, Mrs. Gutierrez, most Nebraskans are stretched thin and are sick and tired of yet another group whining and holding out their hands. Tell them to find a way to receive ag subsidies. "

 appointees disappoint wrote on January 10, 2008 9:34 pm:
" so many of the governor's appointees are placed for political reasons, not to solve problems. "

 Lindsay wrote on January 11, 2008 8:47 am:
" I hope nothing bad and unforseen happens to you Des! You came just short of advising these women of having a crystal ball so they could forsee their future. Truth is, things have changes a lot in the past 50 years. When my grandmother was young, she got married and grandpa took care of all the family finances upon his insistance...who was she to disagree, since in those days the husbands made the decisions. After he died, she didn't even know how to write a check. And I'm sure these women didn't think of all the bad things that could happen to their husbands or their marriage, ie. cancer and the mounting medical expenses they would incur. I agree that Ms. Gutierrez failed to mention any solutions to the problem, but jeez have a little compassion! "

 Food Stamp wrote on January 11, 2008 9:05 am:
" I am the father of 3 whose wife used to stay home to watch the children. My spouse started working evenings after I got home. Combined we now make enough that we no longer qualify for food stamps, not that we ever applied for them. Oh, I have a Masters and work for the State of Nebraska. "

 Not OK wrote on January 11, 2008 9:14 am:
" I am a female college senior with a good grade point average. When I graduate, I plan to leave Nebraska because I have better opportunities elsewhere. After having read some of the comments in this article, I get the impression that Nebraskans aren't interested in helping young women achieve their goals. I refuse to live in a place that isn't willing to support young women get a start in life. I encourage other young women to look at opportunities elsewhere before deciding to stay in this state. Political leaders scratch their head and wonder why there is a brain drain among young Nebraskans. All you need to do is read the comments of some the people below, and you'll understand why educated young Nebraska women leave this state. "

 hey wrote on January 11, 2008 10:53 am:
" last time i checked college classes were available to all ages to improve themselves. improve yourself get a better job, better job is a better paycheck, not to hard to figure out. "

 I think wrote on January 11, 2008 11:43 am:
" a better piece would be on people suffering. There are men out there that fit the same description as these women. Heros and scumbags are found in both genders and all creeds, colors and etc...... So to answer the headline, no its not okay for ANYONE, not just women. "

 Luis Gutierrez wrote on January 11, 2008 2:16 pm:
" I really didn´t know women situation in Nebraska, I think that this points are worse for inmigrant women or black. "

 Des wrote on January 11, 2008 3:32 pm:
" Hey, Not OK, what exactly are you looking for? Let's see, free education through high school, reduced education costs within the state of Nebraska if you are a state citizen, federal and state laws that are meant to guarantee equal opportunities. What, exactly, are you wanting?? And if equality is before the law in Nebraska, what special perks should young women be getting? Lindsay, it's called personal responsibility, try practicing it. As for single mothers, there was a simple way of not becoming a single mother (this goes for single fathers as well, usually), barring a family catastrophe, single parents are usually born out of promiscuity. Do you think I'm going to give you special consideration because of your bad choices? Uhm, nope... "

 Support yourself wrote on January 11, 2008 4:22 pm:
" Bad things happen to people. How you handle it and what you do to get out of it is what makes you different. A commission that raises awareness does nothing more than point fingers and make more victims. This article made me very mad that we even had such a commission!! "

 Ha to Des wrote on January 11, 2008 4:38 pm:
" I find it funny that at the same time people are whining and complaining that a woman was hired by the fire chief, people can claim that women have the same opportunities as men in this town. I guarantee you that I am at the top of my field because, and yet routinely hear from family, friends, and co-workers that I got where I am because I am a woman - no matter how false that actually is. I agree that we should all be equal, but you don't seem to realize how much gender discrimination still exists towards women. "

 Luke wrote on January 11, 2008 4:42 pm:
" I have no problem with you asking for voluntary donations. However, by telling us to contact our Representatives, my guess is that you're asking them to steal my money. I'm much more fond of, and inclined to, contact my Representatives to tell them to STOP stealing my money. "

 db wrote on January 11, 2008 6:18 pm:
" Uh oh.. the majority of commissioners are female (10 out of 11). If Dianne Schimek's proposed law goes through, won't this change? "

 The Omega Man wrote on January 12, 2008 12:28 pm:
" A good point made here on this forum. Perhaps we need more men on the Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women. "

 Jeff wrote on January 12, 2008 1:08 pm:
" I think most of us know the hardships that people go through. Therefore the article was somewhat insulting in its tone. You should have spent more time telling us exactly what the commission has done. It's needs to be a whole lot more than just educating to justify its cost. Otherwise - you just accomplished your mission by getting your letter printed. Oh if the answers to the problems were that simple. "

 parent wrote on January 12, 2008 4:51 pm:
" Is it o.k. for courts to allow a parent $5 dollars a day to pay for expenses while the mother who has no ethics gets all the cash in child custody. while parent has 3 jobs. "

 always will be wrote on January 12, 2008 5:47 pm:
" the thinking in nebraska is so behind times and it always will be proven by some of the blogs entered here. women are discriminated against in the work place still today in the year 2008. the mentality shown here is either from young and inexperienced, has no clue what it is to try and survive day to day or really just has no clue. Don't judge or get to comfortable. you never know when one day you will be walking in their shoes. "

 huh? wrote on January 12, 2008 8:37 pm:
" The writer starts with, "Whether we are working together to rebuild a town devastated by a tornado, or giving Christmas gifts to a family in need, if our neighbor needs a hand we give it." That's a beautiful sentiment, but read please what negativity there is toward support of women, minorities, poor, or others the Gov doesn't want to recognize, mentally ill, single parents, gay people, state employees who live "unhealthy" lifestyles, anyone who doesn't conform... Our new actual reputation is actually one of being a me-first, Right-is-right-left -is wrong, flat out selfishness and bigotry. I'm embarrassed by many of the posts which show such hatrid toward others. We have fallen a long ways from the WWII era. "

 Ralph Thomas wrote on January 13, 2008 8:51 am:
" Another worthless "commission" in Nebraska is the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs. If the Nebraska tribes wish to have a lobbyist to the Nebraska legislature, they should have to pay for it with casino revenue and not continue to force the taxpayers of Nebraska to fund it. The statute creating the Indian commission specifically states that the Indian commission will act as liason from the tribes to the legislative body. Either way, tax dollars should no longer be expended on a worthless commission that can show no real progress towards improving the state of Indian people/tribes lot in Nebraska. "

 Simone wrote on January 13, 2008 9:24 pm:
" I do not see most of the comments on here as even having a hint of hatred. If that is the perception, true hatred has never revealed itself to the perceiver. The fact is that many people want to hear/see results from the commission and not just see it "raising awareness". "

 Read more carefully, people! wrote on January 14, 2008 10:32 am:
" I'm not sure how carefully the authors of some of these responses read this article. What I am pretty sure of is that if any of you sat down and had a conversation with Ms. Gutierrez or any of the commissioners, they would be happy to share with you some of the possible solutions for these problems. I think most of us would agree, though, that the first step a commission like this must take in order to make a change is to inform us that there’s a problem and a change worth making.

Men weren't left out of the picture here, and any who say that’s the case are thinking rather unilaterally. What about the sons of these women who will grow up in poverty without opportunity and as a result, live as men in poverty? Yes, the problem does affect more than just women – and women and families, to which Ms. Gutierrez repeatedly refers, is fairly inclusive. If someone would extend a helping hand to even one of these families in need, countless lives of men, women and children could be improved. And the resolution of any problem in Nebraska will improve the state of Nebraska as a whole, of course.

The members of the Women’s Commission clearly believe that there are issues that need to be addressed here, and are willing to work toward a solution for the betterment of Nebraska. I think that this article was simply an attempt to inform us and create dialogue on the subject, the first step to making change. Have an open mind, Nebraska!
"

 Former and future Nebraskan wrote on January 15, 2008 8:01 pm:
" Great article, I look forward to hearing more from Ms. Gutierrez. I also look forward to hearing ideas for solutions to this problem from Nebraskans themselves. Remember that solutions don't always lie with the government but can be found in other places. Would any of these responders have felt differently about the above stories if one of these women had been their sister, mother or daughter?

DGM "

Ads by Yahoo!