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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
March 2005 |
Native American women cited as one of most neglected
The United Methodist Women's Division Office of Public Policy is urging its one-million member organization to become involved in advocacy with Native American women.
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Suicide and poverty rates are at disproportionately high numbers. |
The office released an action alert this week citing Native American women as one of the most neglected populations in the United States. The report states that years of violence, disease and unjust government policies have created the problems.
According to the Friends Committee on National Legislation, suicide and poverty rates are at disproportionately high numbers:
"Suicide is second highest cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives age 15 to 24 and the third cause of death for Native American children age 10 to 14. Native Americans have among the highest rates of diabetes and chronic kidney failure. The poverty rate on Native American reservations is 31 percent, the highest poverty rate in America. Approximately 46 percent of Native Americans are unemployed."
For Native American women, the problem worsens. According to the report, a large percent are earning less than white women, are less educated, are living in poverty and do not have access to decent healthcare.
The action alert highlights ideas from "The Status of Women in the States," a report written by the Institute for Women's Policy Research. It recommends public and private policies to improve the status of women, including:
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Greater enforcement of equal opportunity laws and recruitment of Native American women into training and education programs for jobs not traditionally held by women.
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Living wage laws and raising minimum wages, that would particularly help Native American women as they are more likely to be in low-wage work.
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Tribally designed economic development strategies and reinforced tribal sovereignty.
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Affirmative action to encourage higher education for women and increased investment in tribal-colleges.
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Policies that reduce barriers to Native American women's access to health resources, including health insurance, preventive care and screenings for disease.
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Recruitment of Native American female candidates into political parties.
The Women's Division Office of Public Policy provides monthly action alerts on issues affecting women and children that are of concern to the denomination. The Division represents United Methodist Women, a one-million member organization whose purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. Members raise approximately $25 million a year for programs and projects related to women, children and youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world.
The Division is urging members to read the full article at http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wdnews.cfm?articleid=2962.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008