AAUW Manatee County Branch

05/27/2026

AAUW CEO Gloria L. Blackwell was featured in The Dallas Morning News discussing the economic realities behind declining birth rates and how persistent inequities shape women’s choices.

Her insights highlight how factors like pay gaps, caregiving responsibilities, and lack of workplace supports continue to impact women’s financial security and decision-making around parenthood.

“For women, having a child is rarely just a personal decision — it’s also a financial one.”

Read the full article: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/damm-women-fewer-kids-women-direct-policy-resp-22220169.php

05/14/2026

05/13/2026

More on the gender pay gap

Forbes has compiled gender pay gap data and sliced and diced it by industry, location, ethnicity, age, and education level. No matter how you slice the numbers, men almost always come out ahead of women financially. The gender pay gap affects women’s earning potential and long-term economic stability, leading to significantly lower income in retirement compared to men.

Check out the report to see which industries and states have the lowest and highest gender pay gaps, how race and ethnicity are linked to even greater wage disparities, and how the gender pay gap actually widens for women with higher education: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/gender-pay-gap-statistics/

05/13/2026

Anyone surprised?

A new study published in the British Journal of Social Psychology finds that men prefer women leaders who support the male-dominated status quo and are less likely to rock the boat by promoting gender equality.

Male participants in the study were asked to rank four fictitious candidates to join their leadership team. The four candidates, two males and two females, were given equal qualifications, but one male and one female indicated an interest in advancing women into leadership positions.

The male reviewers rated the woman candidate who supported the status quo as more competent and a better fit for the company than the woman candidate who expressed interest in promoting equal opportunities for women. The male reviewers selected the status quo supporting female candidate at a higher rate than the male candidates, regardless of their support for gender equality. The researchers surmise that the status-quo supporting female candidate “functions as a compromise” for male-dominated leadership teams, allowing them to avoid accusations of gender bias while protecting the status quo culture from major structural change.

The researchers offer three key takeaways for employers seeking to advance women leaders. Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelletravis/2026/04/30/men-prefer-women-leaders-who-support-the-status-quo-new-study-reveals/

05/07/2026

What about you or your mom?

05/02/2026

Before Computers Were Machines, They Were Women. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-american-womens-history-museum/2026/04/06/before-computers-were-machines-they-were-womenhere-are-six-places-where-human-computers-built-modern-science/

04/05/2026

Title IX continues to play a critical role in advancing equity and protecting civil rights in education — but the work is far from over.
Join AAUW for “Title IX and Beyond: Defending Civil Rights in Education,” a timely webinar where experts will explore how policies are implemented, the challenges institutions face, and what’s needed to ensure meaningful protections for all students.
Featured speakers:
• Jacqueline Cruz, Ph.D. – Anti-violence consultant and co-founder of Beyond Compliance
With over two decades of experience in higher education and the sexual violence field, Dr. Cruz’s work focuses on helping institutions align their practices with their commitments to equity.
• Kenyora Lenair Johnson – Chief Executive Officer of End R**e On Campus (EROC)
A nationally recognized leader and advocate, Ms. Johnson brings extensive experience working with students, institutions, and policymakers to address campus sexual violence and support survivors.
• Anna Posbergh, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Florida State University
Dr. Posbergh’s research examines gender, policy, and governance in sport, with a focus on how policies impacting women athletes are developed and implemented.
Moderator:
• Gloria L. Blackwell – Chief Executive Officer, AAUW
📅 April 23, 2026
⏰ 2:30 – 3:30 PM ET
Secure your spot: https://my.aauw.org/event-information?id=a0lQr000001oHMrIAM

03/24/2026

Congratulations, Ashley! Our branch loves working with you!

As we continue the countdown to , we’re honored to spotlight another incredible honoree making a lasting impact in our community. 💙

Congratulations, Ashley Brown, recipient of the Charles Clapsaddle Community Spotlight Award 🌟

This award recognizes an outstanding nonprofit professional who embodies the spirit of philanthropy and lifts up others in their work, and Ashley does exactly that every day.

Through her transformative leadership at The Women's Resource Center, Ashley and her team have ensured more women can access critical resources when and where they need them. 💚

Join us as we continue to celebrate the remarkable leaders behind Spirit of Manatee. 💫

12/10/2025

Sunday, Jan 12, 1:00PM at the Sarasota Unitarian Church - Abigail Adams, America’s Second First Lady
A One-Woman Show to Inspire & Empower – Performance by Sheryl Faye
All proceeds support AAUW Sarasota to fight to remove the barriers and biases that stand in the way of gender equity.
Click here to buy tickets https://aauwsarasota.org/aauw-fundraiser-2026/