FEMALE EMPOWERMENT IN LAS VEGAS Alyssa Coulter GRC 480 - Spring 2019
BRAINSTORM What is important to you? What sticks out? What can design do?
• Magazine, networking group for female empowerment. Resources, events, stories, traveling talks, etc. • Portable security for women (bracelet? key chain?) • Video game/board game that detects toxic masculinity characteristics in children • App that rewards children for playing outside/doing homework/etc. (Instead of paying for coins/tokens/etc.) • Broke college students • Non-bias political discussion network for college/high school students • Restore old/broken technology and resale cheap to developing countries (more access to tech) • Cash mob • Group project app that delegates responsibility, ensures accountability, keeps everyone updated. • Fake news “de-bunker.” Provides correct info, lists common fake sources, tips for avoiding it. • Sustainability: safe kitchen products.
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Yes, some women now have the same opportunities as men, but often without the support or resources necessary to be successful. -Sarah Jane Blithe
Graduate Studies Director, UNR
ISSUES WOMEN FACE IN THE U.S. STEREOTYPES
VIOLENCE + ABUSE
WAGE GAP
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS + HEALTH
WORKPLACE GLASS CEILING
BODY IMAGE
LACK OF ROLE MODELS
MOTHERHOOD
IGNORANCE
ISSUES WOMEN FACE IN NEVADA 2nd highest rate of domestic violence in the U.S., 2nd highest rate of women killed by men.
Reports of sexual assault rose 25% from 2016 to 2017. Reports increased further in 2018.
NV ranks #40 in the U.S. for female health and well-being.
NV ranks #43 in the U.S. for female employment and earnings.
NV ranks #42 in the U.S. for female political participation.
NV ranks #39 in the U.S. for female poverty and opportunity.
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The goal is not only to bring these issues to light - but to inspire women to do something about them by giving them the resources they need to make a difference. -Me
EXPERIENCE + OBSERVATIONS
I’ve had exposure to female org(s) and have noticed that many women are not sure how to get involved or don’t know that they exist. During a meeting at Shade Tree, they discussed having a weekly group meeting with strong male role models for the boys and male teens living there. Majority of my clients are females that own businesses. MY ROOMMATE.
Photo courtesy of Yahoo! News https://news.yahoo.com/ argentine-women-protest-teen-girls-rape-killing-203330853.html
COLLECTED DATA
Random sample of 100 women in Las Vegas
56%
Q1: Do you know of 1 or more female organizations that exist in Las Vegas? 56% said NO.
76%
Q2: Are you a part of any female organizations? 76% said NO.
66%
Q3: Do you know how to go about joining a female organization? 66% said NO.
53%
Q4: Are there any constant sources of female inspiration in your life? 53% said YES.
58%
Q5: Do you often hear stories of women in power or successful women in Las Vegas? 58% said NO.
98%
Q6: Do you think there should be a resource for connecting inspirational women across Las Vegas? 98% said YES.
Only 32 women responded to the question “What are some of the female organizations or resources that you know of?�
HAS THE PROBLEM BEEN SOLVED? LAS VEGAS WOMAN MAGAZINE Lifestyle publication that provides the women of Las Vegas with a positive resource to find information such as events, fashion, health, food, career, female features, and family. Problems: • Not modern, not innovative • Doesn’t appeal to everyone • SO. MANY. ADS. NEVADA NOW Work on a broad range of women’s rights issues, some of which include economic justice, pay equity, racial discrimination, women’s health, women with disabilities, reproductive rights and justice, family law, LBTQIA rights, representation of women in the media, and eco-feminism. Problems: • Not kept up-to-date • Focus on activism and legislation, not everyday inspiration GIRL BOSS Inform, entertain, and inspire action through content and experiences. Problem: Not location-specific
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GOOGLE “POWERFUL WOMEN’S MAGAZINES”? Cosmopolitan Women’s Health Elle Vogue
Personal photo
What do they all have in common? Fitness tips Makeup, perfume ads Beauty
Harper’s Bazaar
Sex tips
InStyle
Fashion
Woman’s Day
Home
Allure
Health
People
Gossip
Vanity Fair
These don’t inspire women in terms of career, ambition, or community.
How you can change yourself to fulfill society’s standards!
PROBLEMS WITH CURRENT ZINES
»» Emphasis on beauty, fitness, the home »» Subject-specific (business, money, Beauty, etc.) »» Not enough options (unless you’re looking for female objectification and false notions of beauty we’ve got plenty of that) »» Don’t focus on important issues »» Local zines aren’t targeted at young women »» Not visually engaging, not FUN! Photo courtesy of Ali Express: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fight-Like-A-Girl-T-shirts-Summer-2017-WhiteT-shirt-Women-Tops-Short-Sleeve-O/32831012342.html
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING RESOURCE Women’s resources in Las Vegas are often subject-specific (business, lifestyle, beauty, activism, etc.) This outlet works to combine all topics for women in an effort to INSPIRE. Connects multiple groups and resources through several mediums. LOCATION-SPECIFIC There are national outlets that work to empower women (like girlboss) but they don’t focus on the specific issues that women face in Las Vegas. MAKE WOMEN SEEN Showcasing inspirational stories of women across the valley. Highlighting all kinds of women: business owners, trans women, activists, etc. CONNECT By being more than a magazine, opportunities for women in Las Vegas to connect with one another is possible. STRAY FROM THE NORM NO makeup ads, perfume samples, etc. Not just a magazine.
WORKS CITED “About Us.” Girlboss, www.girlboss.com/about. “About Us.” Las Vegas Woman Magazine, 14 Nov. 2018, lvwomanmagazine.com/about/. “About Us.” NV NOW, www.nevadanow.org/who-we-are/. Blithe, Sarah Jane. “This Is Not Where We Thought We Would Be: Reviewing the Promise of Feminism at the Intersection of Women and Work.” Women & Language, vol. 39, no. 2, Spring 2017, pp. 32. EBSCOhost, http://web.a.ebscohost. com.ezproxy.library.unlv.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=7&sid=eae35dce-a829-4bc6-af47-d3f7e406716f%40ses sionmgr4007 “The Best Women’s Magazines (US).” Ranker, www.ranker.com/list/best-women-and-_39_s-magazines-_u-s-_ranker-books. Coulter, Alyssa. “Women’s Empowerment in Las Vegas”. Questionnaire. 25 Jan. 2019. Las Vegas, NV. Sample of 100 women. Lupiani, Joyce. “Nevada Ranked No. 2 for Domestic Violence Deaths.” KTNV, 28 Sept. 2017, www.ktnv.com/news/nevada-has nation-s-2nd-highest-rate-of-women-killed-by-men. “Problems Women Face in Society.” Soldadera Coffee, soldaderacoffee.com/blogs/soldaderas-blogs/problems-wom en-face-in-society. “Rape Crisis Center Raises Funds As Number Of Reported Rapes Increases.” Nevada Public Radio, 27 Apr. 2018, knpr.org/ knpr/2018-04/rape-crisis-center-raises-funds-number-reported-rapes-increases. Staff, Sun. “Is It Good to Be a Woman in Nevada?” LasVegasSun.com, 15 May 2017, lasvegassun.com/news/2017/may/15/sta-