Attention Ladies!

I got this email from my women's history prof and thought the info would interest some of you. Do with it what you will.

Business Week - September 20, 2004
UP FRONT -- GENDER WATCH
She Stops Shopping To Conquer

If women shut their purses and didn't shop for a day, would the economy suffer? The idea gets tested on Oct. 19 by 85 Broads, a networking group founded in 1999 by Janet Hanson, who worked for Goldman Sachs headquartered at 85 Broad St.

BusinessWeek has learned that 85 Broads is asking its 4,000-plus members in 450 companies, colleges, and B-schools not to spend that day. Hanson says the "boycott" will show the gap between women's purchasing power and their underrepresentation in boardrooms and executive suites.

Members plan to spread the word to friends and to women on college campuses. Women control $3.3 trillion in yearly consumer spending, 44% of national spending-- a sum that isn't just symbolic.

By Emily Thornton

IMAGINE IF FOR ONE DAY WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING???

According to Business Week, the economy has become increasingly FEMALE-DRIVEN!

Did you know that women in the U.S. alone:

1) Control $3.3 TRILLION in annual consumer spending?
2) Make 62% of all car purchases?
3) Take more than 50% of all business trips?
4) Control over 50% of the personal wealth in this country?

HOWEVER, WOMEN'S PURCHASING POWER STILL HASN'T TRANSLATED INTO ECONOMIC POWER!

According to Catalyst, only 8 CEO's in the Fortune 500 are women, 13.6% are board directors, and 5.2% are top-earning corporate officers. According to the ParisPWN, in Europe women represent only 8% of board directorships.

On TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19th, we invite you to leave your checkbook and credit cards at home as a symbolic gesture that we no longer "buy" the glacial pace of change for working women in America. Instead of shopping, go for a walk in the park, write a letter to a friend, enjoy a museum, or help someone in need.

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Claire B. Cole

Development Associate
The White House Project
t: 212.785.6001x31 f: 212.785.6007
www.thewhitehouseproject.org
www.VoteRunLead.org