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THE VERMONT COMMISSION ON WOMEN (VCW)
- engages partnerships and networks diverse groups to consider issues of interest to women and take action
- provides information to the legislature and other policy makers on issues affecting women
- provides the most local and most appropriate information and referrals to individuals on matters related to women and families
- conducts research, produces reports and publications, and maintains a comprehensive resource directory
Selected by multiple appointing authorities, Commissioners come from all parts of the state and across the political spectrum. Commissioners bring multiple perspectives to decision-making: as women with family responsibilities, as workers often in the lowest paying jobs, as employers and business owners. The Commission is a deliberative body, and decisions are adopted by majority vote. Learn more about what we do, our work and who we are.
NEW
We've just completed an update of The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont. Written in plain language, The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont handbook, although written for women, covers issues affecting all Vermonters, such as marriage and divorce, adoption, wills and probate, women’s health, employment and education, housing and public accommodations, violence, public assistance and government benefits, insurance as well as others. New features include information on human trafficking, health insurance, same sex marriage, and immigration. Since 1977, The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont has been a “go to” source of information for Vermont women, their families, and the professionals that serve them. The new handbook allows users to link to our comprehensive resource directory and to federal and state statute websites. The result is reader-friendly content with easy-access reference links. Check it out and let us know what you think!
CURRENT
Vermont employees have the right to equal pay for equal work. If you run a business or work in Vermont, this brochure will help you understand Vermont’s Equal Pay Act.
Equal Pay Brochure (PDF file, 65 KB)
Employers and employees: use this tool to protect your workplace against pay equity violations
Link to Business and Professional Women Foundation's Equal Pay Audit
Learn more, get involved: join our Vermont Information Exchange for Women (VIEW) network, a community calendar for women.
Read the lastest VIEW messages:
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
Make your workplace a safe space. Vermont employers and workers: domestic violence doesn't stay home when victims go to work. It can impact productivity, increase absentee rates, and increase the chance of violence in the workplace. VCW partnered with the Vermont Attorney General's office, the Vermont Council on Domestic Violence and other advocates to address domestic violence as a public health and safety issue in the workplace. Download these materials for your workplace:
Domestic Violence: A Workplace Issue
Full Report of 2011 Study: How Does Domestic Violence Affect the Vermont Workplace? A survey of male offenders enrolled in batterer intervention programs in Vermont.
Schmidt, M.C. & Barnett, A. M.C. & Barnett, A. (2011). Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Center for Rural Studies
Executive Summary of Study
Schmidt, M.C. & Barnett, A. M.C. & Barnett, A. (2011). Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Center for Rural Studies
March was Women’s History Month and the Vermont Commission on Women and the Vermont Women’s History Project collaborated again on a panel discussion, Women of Change: Making Strides in Women’s Legal Rights in the 70s and 80s, led by Vermont Law School Professor Cheryl Hanna on March 21st. The expert panel included Sandy Baird, Esquire; Senator Peg Flory; the Honorable Denise Johnson; and Mary Just Skinner, Esquire. The audience learned about how the battle for women’s names to appear in the phonebook was won; what it was like to be one of the first 100 female lawyers in practice; what influenced decisions to run for public office; and what it’s like to serve and represent women, particularly survivors of domestic violence. This event coincided with the release of the VCW’s 6th edition of The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont, a handbook to help the layperson understand legal rights and responsibilities under state and federal law. VCW would like to thank the Action Circles team for capturing this discussion in a video:
http://www.action-circles.com/blog/women-of-change-discussion-panel-video/
Vermont Public Radio presented a week-long commentary series in collaboration with the Commission and the Project – listen on line here: http://www.vpr.net/episode/53211/vermont-women-in-history
Vermont Girls Collaborative Forums - Held in the spring and moderated by Vermont Public Radio’s Jane Lindholm, these forums presented ideas for how to responsibly address racial equality, socioeconomic differences, gender identity and harassment when working with young Vermonters.
Watch the Video: Retooling Youth Programs for Racial Equity
Watch the Video: Class Shouldn’t Determine a Youth’s Future – Thoughts on Leveling the Playing Field
Watch the Video: Gender Identity, Harassment and Creating Positive Communities for Youth
The Vermont Girls’ Collaborative is a network of programs for girls in grades K-12 across the state that works together to: leverage the power of girls’ programs through sharing resources, ideas, and relationships; promote girls’ well-being and social equity; expand the capacity of girls’ programs to meet the needs of Vermont girls.
Vermont Girls Collaborative Members include: Vermont Commission on Women, AAUW-National Girls’ Collaborative Project, American Association of University Women, American Legion Auxiliary (Girls State), Burlington Boys and Girls Club, Center for Technology Essex, DREAM, Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, Girls Move Mountains, Girls on the Run, IBM-Women in Technology, Rosie’s Girls Bennington, Rosie’s Girls Rutland, Tech Savvy Girls, Vermont Equity Training & Consulting, The Vermont Women’s Fund, VINS, Kids-A-Part, Vermont Works for Women, Women Writing for (a) Change and YWCA Vermont.
View VCW's Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 (Governor's Recommend)
Got questions about equal pay, legal rights, starting a new business, sexual harassment, planning for maternity leave? Our publications address topics like these and many more!
"Like" us on Facebook!
Read VCW's agency brochure
Who do Vermont girls turn to with problems? What do they feel are the most important qualities in a friend? How do they use social media to communicate? Find out by reading “What Vermont Teen Girls Say” the annual statewide on-line survey of 6th through 12th grade girls. The survey is created by a panel of girls and facilitated by a partnership of the Vermont Commission on Women and the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. The most recent survey focus was relationships and use of social media. “What Teen Girls Say” survey results from other years captured the attention of Vermont legislators, community officials, schools, and the media. Previous topics included: planning for jobs or college; making, saving, and spending money; bullying and harassment; health and wellness; and growing up in Vermont. Executive summaries of past surveys can be found at: executive summaries from the last 5 surveys.
View our Women in Public Life report
Women's History Month Event to Honor and Acknowledge the Military Service of Vermont Women from World War II to Present - was last year on March 23rd in Montpelier - a day of celebration featuring the stories and experience of Vermont women veterans.
VCW Listening Forum - VCW held a public forum in Brattleboro on women's issues in partnership with the Women's Film Festival last year. Our next Listening Forum took place at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington to hear about the experience and concerns of women inmates. We'll be in Bennington in September 2012 - stay tuned for details!
The Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity produces this helpful guide: "What Should Happen When Your Child Reports Harassment"
Don’t know where to go for help? Try our resource directory, from aging and elder issues to legal support to transportation – over 200 pages of Vermont-based organizations.
Did you know Vermont men with just a high school degree make about the same as Vermont women with a Bachelor’s degree? Learn more facts in our status report (PDF file, 735 KB)
Starting or expanding your Vermont business? Ask us for our business resource listing.
The Vermont Historical Society now provides a permanent home for the Vermont Women's History Project Started by the Vermont Commission on Women (VCW) in 2004, the site is a database of individual women searchable by geographical area, time period, area of significance or influence, etc. In addition, the site features historical background information and links to places in Vermont where users can find additional information about the particular woman or topic.
It’s a tough economy. Vermont workplaces need lower health care costs, lower turnover rates, lower absenteeism rates, and higher employee productivity and morale. How to get them? Lactation support! We partnered with the Vermont's Breastfeeding Network and the Department of Health to offer free help to all Vermont businesses welcoming back their new working moms. You can find out more about the needs and rights of moms returning to work here: Vermont Workplaces Support Nursing Moms
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