Independent Women's Forum

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Independent Women's Forum
Revenue (2013)
$5,680,509[3]
Websiteiwf.org

The Independent Women's Forum (IWF) is an

non-profit organization focused on economic policy issues of concern to women.[4][5] IWF was founded by activist Rosalie Silberman to promote a "conservative alternative to feminist tenets" following the controversial Supreme Court nomination of Clarence Thomas in 1992.[6]
IWF's sister organization is the Independent Women's Voice (IWV), a 501(c)(4) organization.

The group advocates "

anti-feminist by critics.[9]

Origin and history

Founded in 1992 by Rosalie Silberman, Anita K. Blair, and Barbara Olson,[6][10] the IWF grew out of the ad hoc group "Women for Judge Thomas," created to reinforce Clarence Thomas against allegations of sexual harassment and other sex-based illegal behavior and in his stance as EEOC Chair refusing to enforce of laws against sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace.[11] By 1996 the organization had some 700 dues-paying members who met regularly at luncheons to network and share ideas.[12] Silberman was the IWF's first president; subsequent leaders have included Nancy Pfotenhauer and Anita Blair. The current president of the organization is Carrie Lukas.[13] The IWF has been described as "a virtual 'Who's Who' of Washington's Republican establishment."[12][14] In 2006, the organization had 20,337 members and a budget of $1.05 million.[4]

Equity feminism

The IWF opposes many mainstream feminist positions, describing them as "

Dallas Morning News, IWF Vice-president Carrie Lukas attributed sex disparities in income to "[IWF] women's own choices", writing that [IWF] women "tend to place a higher priority on flexibility and personal fulfillment than do men, who focus more on pay. [IWF women] tend to avoid jobs that require travel or relocation, and they take more time off and spend fewer hours in the office than men do. Men disproportionately take on the most dirty, dangerous and depressing jobs."[15]

The IWF also argues that feminists manufacture domestic violence legislation that "is misleading because it is premised on and mean to advance feminist ideology."[16] This falls under their larger belief that "feminists ... lie about data, are opportunistic, construct men as the enemy, and cast women as helpless victims."[16]

Conservative commentators have praised the IWF; Linda Chavez credited Women's Figures: An Illustrated Guide to the Economic Progress of Women in America, a 1999 book published in part by the IWF, with "debunk[ing] much of the feminists' voodoo economics."[17] Writing in Capitalism Magazine, John Stossel cited Michelle Bernard's 2007 book Women's Progress as evidence that "American women have never enjoyed more options or such a high quality of life."[18]

Some writers have asserted that feminist rhetoric is used by the IWF for anti-feminist ends.

New York Times editorial described the IWF as "a right-wing public policy group that provides pseudofeminist support for extreme positions that are in fact dangerous to women."[20]

Domestic policy and programs

United States healthcare policy

In 2009, IWF produced a political advertisement run on YouTube and in eight states arguing that "300,000 American women with breast cancer might have died" if U.S. healthcare included a government-funded option.[21][22] FactCheck.org labeled the IWF ad "a false appeal to women's fears", finding that the IWF ad relied on "old statistics, faulty logic and false insinuations."[23]

Title IX enforcement

Since shortly after the organization's inception, the IWF has joined with groups like the National Wrestling Coaches Association in opposing the manner in which the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has enforced Title IX legislation requiring sex equality in public educational investment. The 1972 Title IX law that states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."[24][25][26]

Campus programs

The organization emphasizes patriarchal sex roles and cultural norms as essential for civil society. In particular, IWF encourages young women to embrace what it presents as a healthy attitude towards dating, courtship, and marriage.[27] This emphasis is reflected by high-profile, sometimes controversial[28] work on college campuses where IWF sponsors advertising campaigns and literature distribution to promote its views. One such effort included the running of advertisements with provocative headings such as "The Ten Most Common Feminist Myths."[29] IWF also offers internships and sponsors an annual essay contest open to full-time female undergraduate students.[30]

As a reaction to reports of growing promiscuity on college campuses[31] and the V-Day movement founded by Eve Ensler, IWF created its "Take Back the Date" campus program to "reclaim Valentine's Day from radical feminists on campus who use a day of love and romance to promote vulgar and promiscuous behavior through activities like The Vagina Monologues."[32] Specifically addressing the controversial play, IWF's "Take Back the Date" release states that, "although the play raises money for a good cause, the hyper-sexualized play counteracts the positive contributions of the feminist movement and degrades women."

In an article in The Guardian, feminist writer Jessica Valenti asserted that the program was merely "[r]evamping outdated notions of femininity and positioning them as cutting edge."[33]

International programs

Condoleezza Rice speaking to an IWF audience in 2006 after receiving the organization's "Woman of Valor" award

Since its founding, IWF has sponsored numerous conferences, panels, and other programs designed to promote its message to an international audience. These primarily include activities and events discussing or taking place in the countries of Iraq[34] and Afghanistan, and focus on promoting female participation in democracy.[35]

The IWF has also had a hand in international women's programs and initiatives. For example, "in the spring of 2002, the IWF's President, Nancy Pfotenhauer, was appointed by U.S. President George W. Bush to be a delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women."[36]

In October 2004, the

neo-conservative think tank.[citation needed
]

Funding

Donors to IWF have included

Walton Family Foundation have also given money to the organization.[41]

Board members

IWF Chairman Heather Higgins appearing on Real Time with Bill Maher, 2006

The board is chaired by businesswoman

Lynne V. Cheney, writer Midge Decter, Kimberly O. Dennis, economist Wendy Lee Gramm, Elizabeth Lurie, journalist Kate O'Beirne, Nancy Pfotenhauer, Sally Pipes, Michaelon Wright, Randy Silberman, and Louise V. Oliver.[42]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Members Give: Independent Women's Forum (GivingExpress Program)". guidestar.org. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016.
  2. ^ Staff writer. "The Voices of the Independent Women's Forum". iwf.org. Independent Women's Forum. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007.
  3. ^ "Organizational Profile: Independent Women's Forum". ProPublica.
  4. ^
  5. ^ See also:
  6. ^
    Washington Post
    . Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  7. ^ .
  8. ^ Chapin, Bernard (February 7, 2007). "Post Super Bowl Feminism". The American Spectator. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  9. via Internet Archive
  10. ^ "IWF Celebration Dinner and Woman of Valor Award". Independent Women's Forum. May 27, 2005. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008.
  11. S2CID 144134935
    .
  12. ^ a b "Independent Women; Independent Women's Forum Members speak out on their views of feminism vs. the traditional". 60 Minutes. August 11, 1996.
  13. ^ McVeigh, Karen (January 10, 2012). "Does the GOP have a problem with women?". The Guardian.
  14. .
  15. on September 30, 2007.
  16. ^ a b Schreiber, Ronnee (2008). Righting Feminism: Conservative Women & American Politics. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 67.
  17. ^ Chavez, Linda (April 6, 1999). "How to spend Equal Pay Day". Jewish World Review.
  18. ^ Stossel, John (December 5, 2006). "Women's Progress: Damsels in Distress?". Capitalism Magazine. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 15, 2007.
  19. ^ "Sarah Palin: New Face Of Feminism?". All Things Considered. NPR. September 7, 2008.
  20. New York Times
    . Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  21. ^ Rachel Maddow Show. MSNBC (Microsoft and NBC Universal). Archived from the original on August 6, 2009. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
  22. ^ Kurokawa, Nicole (August 20, 2009). "IWF in the News: Battling Cancer Under Obamacare". iwf.org. Independent Women's Forum. Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
  23. ^ "A False Appeal to Women's Fears". FactCheck.org. September 4, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  24. ^ 20 U.S.C. § 1681
  25. Sunday Morning. CNN
    .
  26. The Huffington Post
    .
  27. ^ Glenn, Norval; Marquardt, Elizabeth (2001). Hooking up, hanging out, and hoping for Mr. Right: college women on mating and dating today. Institute for American Values. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2015. Pdf. Archived July 23, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ Morse, Anne (September 1, 1999). "A little beige controversy". Boundless. Focus on the Family. Archived from the original on December 19, 2011.
  29. ^ Young, Cathy (May 31, 2001). "Ad anger". Reason.
  30. ^ "Mrs. Cheney honors IWF essay contest winners". IWF.org. Independent Women's Forum. May 23, 2006.
  31. ^ Denizet-Lewis, Benoit (May 30, 2004). "Friends, friends with benefits and the benefits of the local mall". The New York Times.
  32. Salon.com
    .
  33. ^ Valenti, Jessica (July 28, 2006). "Chastity is chic". The Guardian.
  34. ^ "Project: Women in Iraq: The War in Iraq, The War Against Terrorism, and The Fight for Democratic Freedom". iwf.org. Independent Women's Forum. Archived from the original on June 21, 2007.
  35. ^ Lukas, Carrie; Noory, Lida (February 9, 2006). "Afghan Optimism". National Review Online. Archived from the original on January 10, 2008.
  36. S2CID 140980839
    .
  37. ^ Staff writer (October 5, 2004). "State Department Funds Anti-Women's Rights Group To Train Iraqi Women". Feminist Majority Foundation. Archived from the original on February 6, 2005.
  38. ^ Greenberg, Zoe (January 20, 2015). "Major Conservative Women's Group Hides Anti-Choice Connections". RH Reality Check. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  39. ^ Shipps, Joan (November 25, 2014). "Look Who's Funding This Top Conservative Women's Group". Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  40. ^ "John M. Olin Foundation". SourceWatch. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  41. ^ Koch-backed group fuels opposition to school mask mandates, leaked letter shows. The Washington Post, October 1, 2021.
  42. ^ a b "About Us". Independent Women's Forum. Retrieved May 9, 2015.

Further reading

  • Spindel, Barbara (2003). "Conservatism as the 'Sensible Middle': The Independent Women's Forum, Politics, and the Media".
    S2CID 144134935
    .

External links