AAUW San Fernando Valley Branch

06/12/2026

06/12/2026

The decisions that shape women's lives happen at every level of government.

Education. Economic opportunity. Pay equity. With more than 110,000 seats on the ballot this year, understanding what's at stake has never been more important.

Join AAUW's It's My Vote! 2026 webinar to learn how you can help women become informed, engaged voters.

Register today:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jcuC_NTvRN-lrmcGAWErhQ

05/25/2026

Some women do not shout.
They document. They organize. They persist.

Meet Josephine Groves Holloway — the woman who quietly pushed to desegregate the Girl Scouts in the South.

In the 1920s, when Black girls in Tennessee were not allowed to join white troops, Holloway did not accept the limit. She organized separate troops for Black girls in Nashville. She kept records. She wrote letters. She built participation so undeniable that the system eventually had to respond.

Change did not begin with policy.
It began with her persistence.

By the 1950s, Girl Scouts began formally integrating troops in the South. That shift was not random. It was built on decades of groundwork laid by women like Holloway.

And the image you’re looking at?

That’s Holloway standing beside her granddaughter, Nareda.

That is more than a photo.
That is proof of impact.

The woman who fought to let Black girls wear the uniform is now watching her own granddaughter wear it freely.

That is how legacy works.

05/25/2026

The current Secretary of Defense has not been showering women in the military with the praise, honor, and respect they deserve, so today we especially remember the women who have served this country as members of the armed forces, medical staff, and civilian volunteers. We thank them for their service.

Three million women have served in or with the Armed Forces since the American Revolution. Originally constructed as the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, the Military Women's Memorial is the leading monument and education center honoring the commitment, contributions, and experiences of servicewomen.

The Memorial maintains a register of American servicewomen to record and preserve their stories that would otherwise be lost to history and unknown to future generations. Learn about the Register, why registering is important, and who can register: https://womensmemorial.org/make-herstory/



Photo credit: National Park Service

05/16/2026

Are you registered to vote in California? If not, registration is EASY.

Re-register if you have moved, changed your name, or changed your party preference

Register or re-register here: https://registertovote.ca.gov/

Still deciding on your candidates? Check out the AAUW California Voter Guide for more information. https://www.aauw-ca.org/voter-guides-and-information/

Shoutout to our friends at CalMatters.org for a great voter guide. Check out the AAUW California Voter guide here (20+) Facebook

05/16/2026

05/12/2026

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/

05/12/2026

AAUW California has compiled a voter guide for the Governors Primary Election based upon issues that are important to AAUW. Candidates’ positions on larger issue areas, listed in the chart below, were determined based on their positions on a series of key policies or topics within that issue area. AAUW California Public Policy determined that candidates fall into one of four positions, support, oppose, mixed, or unknown--based on the committee's
assessments of each candidate's voting records, public statements, campaign position papers, and/or information posted on the internet from trusted sources. Candidates were also given an opportunity to respond directly to AAUW California to offer their position statements. If candidate's responses or public records showed that the candidate strongly opposed a key policy or topic within a larger issue area (e.g., does not support policy that expands civil rights for all people), we have placed them in an “oppose” position to the entire issue area (e.g., protection of civil rights). All candidates polling above 2% have been surveyed; however, only those who have polled above 5%, based on reputable polling sources
(e.g., Emerson; CBS) are listed in the chart above. KEY: green is support, red is opposed, grey is unknown #

05/11/2026

Are you registered to vote in California? If not, registration is EASY.

Re-register if you have moved, changed your name, or changed your party preference

Register or re-register here: https://registertovote.ca.gov/

Still deciding on your candidates? Check out the AAUW California Voter Guide for more information. https://www.aauw-ca.org/voter-guides-and-information/

05/11/2026

Please join us in person or on Zoom for this important and interesting talk by Alex Wellerstein, son of board member Wanda Wellerstein.
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