LOS ANGELES, March 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To
stand up for their communities, their families and their futures,
women must first stand up for themselves.
This is one of the key takeaways from the release of the 2017
Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California™, a
comprehensive compilation of current research focusing on the
issues and trends affecting California's 19.7 million women and girls.
Each year, a public event highlights the year's key findings and
generates discussions among policymakers, experts and community
leaders. On March 23, Mount Saint Mary's convened a forum on women's
health and wellness that showcased local and national experts
dedicated to ensuring the physical, mental and spiritual health of
women and girls everywhere.
"To take advantage of the opportunities ahead of us, and to rise
up to the challenges, we must be healthy, strong and resilient."
University President Ann
McElaney-Johnson said. "Resiliency is key to our ability
as women to care for ourselves and the communities we serve.
Research indicates that health, energy and resilience are deeply
intertwined with successful leadership. As a university that
prepares leaders, we understand this."
Academy Award-winner Geena
Davis, founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in
Media at Mount Saint Mary's University,
also spoke, noting that unconscious gender bias can be seen on
screen, too.
"We learn our value by seeing ourselves reflected in the
culture," Davis said. "So, if female characters are
one-dimensional, or sidelined, or stereotyped, or hypersexualized
on screen — or not there at all — what are we saying to kids? We
are teaching kids that women and girls are less important."
Following a pair of health and wellness panels, Emmy-winning
reporter and producer Maria
Shriver moderated an Architects of Change conversation
with Academy Award-winner and goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow, and Dr. Roberta Brinton, director of the Center for
Innovation in Brain Science at the University
of Arizona Health Sciences.
To read and share this year's Report on the Status of Women and
Girls in California™, visit msmu.edu/statusofwomen. The report is
created annually by the faculty of Mount Saint
Mary's University, and published by the University's Center
for the Advancement of Women.
On April 8, Mount Saint Mary's will once again take action on
its own report, by hosting Ready to Run™, a nonpartisan campaign
training program for women. Women currently account for 22% of
seats in the California State Legislature and 19% of the U.S.
Congress. This year's Ready to Run™ training will include a keynote
talk by former U.S. Sen. Barbara
Boxer.
About Mount Saint Mary's
University
Mount Saint
Mary's is the only women's university in Los Angeles and one of the most diverse in the
nation. The University is known nationally for its research on
gender equity, its innovative health and science programs, and its
commitment to community service. Weekend, evening and graduate
programs are offered to both women and men. Mount alums are
engaged, active, global citizens who use their knowledge and skills
to better themselves, their communities and the world. msmu.edu
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SOURCE Mount Saint Mary's
University