As of this year, a woman makes 77 cents to a man’s dollar- this is down 10 cents from 1989. I’m going to say that again, in case you didn’t understand the first time: In the United States, women make 10 cents less now than they did 19 years ago. Yeah, we were angry too. Equality between has been hard won. While progress certainly has been made, with the passage of Roe vs. Wade and the Equal Pay Act, society has not always been consistent in enforcing these laws. Women of Action is a student club comprised of socially conscious men and women who are working toward a society where success in politics, education, and/or one’s personal life, are based more on individual potential and less on chromosomes.

Earlier this year, we joined with National Organizational of Women (NOW) to celebrate Love Your Body Day. Everyone who attended the event left with a T-shirt depicting a positive and inspirational message regarding body image, which is so often distorted in our society. During this event everyone in attendance had the opportunity to speak openly about what makes them feel beautiful and their favorite part of their bodies. About a week later we gathered for Take Back the Night, a program aimed toward the elimination of sexual assault, especially on college campuses. That night, we had pizza at Hofstra USA and discussed ways to combat assault and how to make the general campus feel safer. Some of the suggestions that were emphasized were carrying pepper spray whenever you would be traveling alone, or even if you are out with someone you don’t know so well and taking a self-defense class. The benefits of these actions are two-fold they build confidence so predators are less likely to victimize you and they can help save your life if you ever are victimized. Our most highly anticipated event of the year is the sexual pleasure workshop. This is when we have an associate from Babeland, a sex toy company in New York City, come and explain the use of a few of their toys. It is their position that everyone should be able to enjoy intimate relationships, so they work towards making sure that happens.

Women of Action meets every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. in the small clubs office. Come see what we’re about. We not only work to increase gender equality, we showcase it in the way that the club is run. We have no executive board, which allows everyone to have an equal say.

Elizabeth Borino is a junior sociology and public relations student.