Last week, a week-long screen event of the documentary film Miss Representation came to the Seattle area. Word went out to the Seattle area WAVE discussion group (which you can find on  facebook and request to join) and we got a small group to attend together.

View the Miss Representation Extended Trailer

The take home message I got out of the documentary is that it is not enough for concerned citizens to boycott or complain to media outlets regarding inappropriate or inadequate portrayals of women in media, but it is necessary to flood the media with media projects do appropriately portray women and increase the number of women in leadership roles of media projects, outlets and in the public sphere.

The screening that I attended was cosponsored by the non-profit organizations Reel Grrls which provides after school programs to girls where they learn to make their own films and discuss aspects of media literacy. The organization is working to create the next generation of female film makers who tell their own and the stories of women in a realistic way (rather than the way we are typically portrayed in media). I would like to see more stories in the media that show the authentic relationships between women, and them interacting in loving and supportive ways. Recently, the WAVE facebook page hosted a conversation where page members listed their favorite examples of books and film portraying healthy female relationships. Make the click and scroll down to find the topic.

A number of the attendees at the Miss Representation screening were graduates or current enrolles of the program and afterwards, in a brief moderated discussion, were able to express their appreciation of what they learned and how important women’s voices and presence are in the media.

The film, and the moderators of the discussion, challenged attendees to determine ways that they will go beyond the boycott and complaints and take a more active roll in media and the public sphere. I was struck by how many people in the audience agreed with the premise that more women should be involved in media production and public policy, especially government leadership but only spoke encouragement to other women. There seemed to be a glib agreement that its up to other women to fill these roles and the rest of us are supposed to encourage those who do choose to fill these roles.

For myself, I came away feeling like I need to stop selling myself short and I need to be more involved in public policy and prepare myself for a future in law-making. I’ve considered that at some point, I’ll run for the City Council or something in my local community and I would do it after my children were a little older or when I knew I was done having children. But I am influenced by photos such as these:

The film briefly touched on societal reforms that would make public office and virtually all employment more parenting and mothering friendly but at the same time affirmed that women cannot wait for these policies to be enacted to take their place in the public sphere. Indeed, those policies will likely never be adopted until women are more equally represented in public office.

So here I am now thinking of a day where I may run for the state legislature and put my education and experience with public policy from a woman’s perspective to work. I haven’t rejected the idea of someday, after gaining some legislature experience, running for Congressional Senator of my state. However, I cannot see myself running for President so don’t look for me there. By then,the United States better have had some female presidents!

As Mormon women, we have some excellent examples of sisters who have gotten involved in public policy and lawmaking. Martha Hughes Cannon was the first woman to be elected to the Utah State Senate, in 1896. Last year, Mormon.org featured Mia Love, mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah in one of their “I’m a Mormon” videos. There’s at least one other Mormon.org profile of a Mormon woman mayor named Cathy.

If anything, the limited call to women extended by the film Miss Represenation can be critiqued. What are all the women out there who don’t feel drawn to business, media, media production or public policy supposed to do? The website (www.missrepresentation.org) offers opportunites to be representatives for the documentary with as little of 5 hours of your time.

The most substantial critique I have of the documentary is the number of times that a sexist comment made by a woman was included. The comments appeared to be placed here and there for a little comedic relief, and elicted laughs from the audience, but for the most part, I was uncomfortable with the reverse sexism. Another warning for the film is the amount of footage used to describe what is wrong with the portrayals of women in media. Obviously, there was a point in highlighting the problem and a degree of it cannot be avoided.  You can see from the trailer what I mean by that and determine if it is too much inappropriate content to prevent you from seeing the film.

Screenings of the documentary are continuing across the country. Check out their website to see where and when it is being offered near you and if its not, you can work with them to organize a screening in your area. I am certain that when the DVD comes out, I will be sure to purchase it and host a screening of it at my house for local friends, church members and WAVErs. If you are involved in a local book club or WAVE discussion group, please consider doing the same in your community.

The Christmas shopping season is upon us again. Last year, Ask a Feminist was asked about donor organizations that do honorary Christmas gifts at the holidays. This year, the Women’s Service Mission will be looking at other ways to give gifts at Christmas time that downplay the rampant consumerism of the shopping season.

Fair Trade Shopping

Instead of a donation, you are giving work to hardworking craftspeople, empowering them to be able to provide for themselves and their families. You also receive a product in return, which then becomes the holiday gifts you give to your loved ones. This type of shopping is becoming more and more common as the internet connects consumers from the developed world with artisans from the developing world. Below are a few online outlets for shopping that supports artisans and crafters:

Novica is a division of National Geographic that connects consumers with artisans around the world. Their mission states:

We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.

At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.

We want you to know about who you’re buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.

In the spirit of the Internet, let us bring you together.

Noonday Collection is an innovative company started by a mother who adopted from Ghana and was inspired to find a way to empower the people of the region and prevent the number of children who spend their childhoods in orphanages. The mission of Noonday states: “our passion at noonday collection is to connect you with the lives of artisans struggling for a better future while styling you along the way. fashion and design are a vehicle for opportunity and change. you, too, can be a voice for the oppressed!”

From the Noonday website:

Delicate Fortress Creations‘s mission is to fight human trafficking by empowering victims and survivors through vocational training. The website features household and personal goods made by trafficking victims who are working themselves to economic security.

A little sampling:

The Hunger Site funds at least 25 cups of food for the hungry when you buy products from their site. Rather than directing paying artisans for their work, The Hunger Site send the proceeds to organizations that are fighting hunger in the Horn of Africa and in the United States. You can also shop for different causes: breast cancer, animals, veterans, autism, child health, literacy and rainforest. They offer a wide selection of gifts, home decor, and personal goods. You’ll find that this site offers the widest variety of goods. You’ll probably be able to find something for everyone on your list.

Guancasco focuses on artisans and craftspeople from Honduras. They ensure that each artisan earns enough to pay for food, housing, education, and health care. The site also help them achieve economies of scale by financing and buying materials they need for production in bulk, which lowers costs. The Honduran artistry is truly beautiful.

World of Good is a division of ebay designed to a world-wide marketplace for socially and environmentally responsible shopping. They feature tens of thousands of stylish and unique products from around the world. Their selection is amazing. Here you can also find European and North American sellers.

Crafters Funding Humanitarian Efforts

The following are a different category of shopping. These shops are funded by donations of goods, the proceeds from the products then go to humanitarian organizations.

You’ll recognize Talents of Sisters which was founded by our very own Courtney Cooke. If you have finished crafts, its the perfect time to get them listed on Talents of Sisters in time for Christmas! Make sure to check out their favorites for items listed by supporting etsy sellers.

Mercy House is the online shop for the non-profit Mercy House, founded in part by the mommy blogger “We Are That Family.” The mission of Mercy House is to create a safe house for victims of rape and pregnant women in poverty in Kenya. The program offers a Sustainable Skills program that helps women learn skills and create business to help support them and their children. They too collect donations from crafters and the proceeds go to the Mercy House in Kenya.

Gifts of Donations

Sometimes, the person on your shopping list does not need any more items given to them and they really do appreciate a gift on their behalf to families in the developing world.

Heifer International is one of the best known organizations for Christmas giving. It can be quite fun to shop their catalog and pick out chickens, cows and goats that you know will give to a family who will turn that animal into a source of income and food to provide for their needs and then pass a gift of empowerment onto another member of their communities. I have fond memories of being the recipient of gifts on my behalf.

Kiva is a highly recommended site for empowering individuals throughout the world through microloans to fund their businesses. Each donation is actually a loan, which is paid back over time. Giving a gift to a loved one of a Kiva loan means you can either start them on a cycle of giving where they can reloan the amount again and again or they can take the money out and use it as a gift, after it has first helped a struggling family secure economic stability.

Global Giving is one of the highest ranked charitable giving sites by Charity Navigator. Humanitarian projects from all over the world are listed on the site, in a format similar to Kickstarter, but rather than funding a website or documentary, you can fund a shelter for domestic violence survivors, a healing center for refugees of war, or education opportunities for sex trafficking victims. Options are available to purchase gift cards so your loved ones can “shop” for a cause and choose which humanitarian effort they would like to see succeed.

Women for Women International sponsors survivors of war through their period of recovery and rebuilding their lives. Sponsorships provide  job-skills training, business and money management basics and rights awareness education. This Christmas, you can gift a year long sponsorship to a family or individual on your list, or you can shop for supplies and materials that will be used by the women in the program to become economically stable.

At home, not just abroad

It is not just in the developing world that people struggle economically and to provide for themselves and their families’ basic needs. This holiday season, you can do your part to strengthen your local and national economy, by shopping local, American-made (if you live in the U.S.A.) with small businesses, work at home crafters and artisans.

Etsy is likely the best known place to shop for hand-made artisans goods where you know that you are supporting independent entrepreneurs in sustaining themselves economically. There is also the shop local feature where you can find crafters local to you for your Christmas shopping. By shopping with Etsy crafters, you will not be sending your money to large corporations or overseas, unless you are shopping with one of the many overseas crafters, and even then you know that your money is going to an individual. Etsy is also the  host of Talents of Sisters and the many shops that have reserved items for Talents of Sisters.

ArtFire is another site for crafters and entrepreneurs. They are growing in popularity and selection and definitely worth checking out.

Ebay remains a viable option to shop local and to support small business owners. And really, who doesn’t like to win their purchases instead of just buy them?

I hope this is a helpful guide in finding some new and socially responsible options for Holiday shopping and gift giving. If there are stores and websites, or individual sellers that you especially enjoy that match these categories, please share in the comments. There are so many wonderful products out there that you can feel good giving and we’ll all benefit from learning from each other.

Patty Bartlett Sessions, famous LDS Midwife

There was a time in LDS history when women were called and set apart as the ward midwife to serve their sisters. As the overarching American culture (the cultural context of the early LDS church) turned away from midwifery and homebirth and toward the hospital, this official calling fell by the wayside and faded out of use. However, woman-to-woman birth support is experiencing a resurgence as women around the world are realizing that the need has not faded for a birthing woman to feel supported and understood not only physically and mentally, but spiritually as well during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Many LDS women are discovering that the Spirit is leading them to birth work and pregnant and birthing LDS women have expressed interest in finding birth workers who share their religious beliefs.

With this in mind, we have created Birthing in Zion, a resource list of LDS midwives, doulas, obstetricians, gynecologists, childbirth educators, lactation specialists & consultants, and other birth workers. Our purpose is to provide a centralized venue where those wanting a care provider who understands their spiritual needs can come to find what they need.

If you would like to be added to the directory, please share the following information in the comments and it will be added to the directory. If you wish to send it by email, please send the following information to birthinginzion@gmail.com.

Name

What stake do you live in? Please include city, state and country.

What area do you serve? How far are you willing to travel?

Occupation (midwife, doula, OB, IBCLC, etc.–include applicable organizations (CAPPA, BAI, DONA, etc.) or state “volunteer peer support” if not licensed or certified)

Preferred method of contact (office, home, or cell phone, e-mail, Website (if applicable)

Short Bio (100-200 words) including description of services, experience, philosophy, rates, or anything else you want people to know about you and your work.

Certification is not required but please indicate that in “Occupation.” If you are not certified or licensed in your area, please state that you are “volunteer peer support” or working towards certification.

Please refer any LDS birth workers you know our site and share our information with them so we can get them listed here. The ideal we are working towards is being able to list LDS birth workers in each stake of the church.

If you would like to help maintain and compile the directory, we’re accepting volunteers. Please contact birthinginzion@gmail.com for more information.

To learn more about the history of Midwifery as a calling, enjoy this article over at The Gift of Giving Life.

If you are considering becoming a birth worker, whether midwife, doula, OB, breastfeeding counselor, massage therapist, etc., please visit our Facebook page and ask our community there for their recommendations for education, training and certification in your area.

Shared with permission from TopHat.

It’s that month for raising awareness of an evil that harms families, children, and costs more than $5.8 billion each year. Less than 1/5 of victims seek medical treatment. 85% of victims are women, with women in the 20-24 age range at greatest risk. One in every 4 women will find themselves a victim at some point in their life. And it is 100% preventable.

It’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

I don’t know if the fact that this is completely preventable is something hopeful or disparaging. It’s disparaging because… wow… It’s really bad. Just think of the women in your immediate family as a sample size. 1 in 4. Or on your street, or at your knitting group or church group or on the bus, or in the line at the grocery store. 1 in 4. But on the other hand, there is wonderful potential to bring those numbers down to 0. Every incidence is preventable.

So take this month and donate to your local women’s shelter, as shelter services decrease the incidence and severity of future violence (in the 3-12 month period) more than court or law enforcement or moving to a new place. Check yourself for abusive behavior. Learn and practice nonviolent communication; if we can speak without violence, we can act without violence. Teach your children that it is never ok to hurt another person and how to report abuse to you or another trusted person. Love, love, love.

Image by National Domestic Violence Hotline on flickr  

Sources, Resources, and Links
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Awareness Project
Domestic Violence Fact Sheet
Domestic Violence Resource Center (Oregon)

The budget debate is a mess right now. U.S. politicians are facing quite the challenge as they make policy decisions to keep the country going. President Obama’s recent speech called all Americans to weigh into the debate and contact their federal representatives. Whatever side you are on, you have the right and ability to influence public policy through your representatives. If you haven’t yet, weigh in:

If you are on the conservative side, The Heritage Foundation provides a public petition to Congress.

And on the liberal/progressive side, MoveOn.org takes the opposing tack.

Whichever side you find yourself on, you have the opportunity to engage in government in the way a republic is designed. This also provides an opportunity to take a step back, and look at the bigger picture.

One of the central features of the debate in government spending is social services for the poor and the needy. A common argument against government funding for social services is that it is not the government’s responsibility to care for charity cases. However, it is less common to hear proposals that would meet the needs of the poor and the needy residing in the United States, without using government funding to do so. And yet, there are petitions encouraging U.S. policymakers to give money to other countries struggling with extreme poverty. If the United States cannot provide for the needs of its own poor, how can it conscionably appropriate funds to relieve poverty of other countries?

For the record, I agree that governments ideally would not use taxpayer money to the care of people in other countries, especially when there are such severe needs in our own country. With the proposed budget cuts, there will be low-income elderly, children in poverty and  disabled who will be without heat this winter, facing exposure and increasing the likelihood of health complications. And government funded heating programs are just one area expecting to be cut.

At the same time, I recognize the Christian and humanist duty for all people of the world to care for the poor and the needy. Though, the people of the United States may feel the need to prioritize the people of their own communities and country first, the suffering of people in developing countries are equal in value and importance.

Enter limited resources. If the money is not coming from governments, who does it come from?

Peter Singer, in The Life You Can Save, promotes the idea that everyone, especially those blessed with the affluence of the developed world have a percentage of their income to share with those who are in more need than they.  The Live You Can Save has been called the Billionaire’s pledge for people of all income groups.

Since I doubt we have any billionaire’s reading this blog, the pledge calculator conservatively estimates the percentage of income that a given household can comfortably donate to charitable and humanitarian organizations. Giving What We Can‘s donation calculator can tell you which percentage of the world is more wealthy than you. Chances are, if you are lower-middle to upper middle class, in a developed country, you are in the 20% percent of the world’s wealthiest and your earnings are 4 or more times those of the typical person.

So, the proposal:

Over a period of a few years, the United States government passes off the responsibility for social services to its citizens through incentivizing freewill donations to private sector non-profit organizations that take over service delivery. A suggestion for organizing and making needs known and accessible to potential donors is to use a website organization much like the one already in use by Global Giving.

The incentive from the government may be in the form of a tax credit or a tax deduction that is exempt from itemizing. A PSA and public education campaign similar to Let’s Move, maybe called Let’s Give, can be developed and promoted around the country.

While at the same time promoting citizen donations to social services, the proverbial Let’s Give campaign can encourage giving to international humanitarian efforts like those recommended by The Life You can Save, Giving What We Can and Global Giving. Singer asserts, “If everyone who can afford to contribute to reducing extreme poverty were to give a modest proportion of their income to effective organizations fighting extreme poverty, the problem could be solved. It wouldn’t take a huge sacrifice.” All it requires is the coordinated will, cooperation and some effective marketing.

We have the means available to meet the needs of all those who suffer from poverty, but it will require more people working together. Governments can play a role in the promotion of these values, but the domestic needs of their countries need to be their first priority. Sure, its redistribution of wealth, but this proposal addresses its biggest objection: voluntary giving. A good deal of resentment exists at the compulsory means of collecting funds for social services. If those who object so much were given the ability (and the incentive) to choose for themselves, perhaps we would see the Christian mandate to give of one’s wealth accomplished and relief for the poor and the suffering of the world.

Likely the most misunderstood and sometimes debated phrase in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” is “In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.”  Most Mormons seem to  believe that the division of labor between mother as nurturer and father as provider is a form of “separate but equal” each in their own sphere providing for the needs of children and family. The debate in that phrase comes from those who hope that it suggests each partner working equally in each “primary” responsibility, and that those tasks are shared equally. Maybe there is a chance that the church and its leadership is moving to a time where women are encouraged and supported in President Hinckley’s declaration “The whole gamut of human endeavor is now open to women” where they can do just as the prophet said which is to: “Set your priorities in terms of marriage and family, but also pursue educational programs which will lead… to a sense of security and fulfillment in the event you do marry.” (1)(2)

If there were to be a way where mothers could work and continue in their ever important role as the nurturers of children, it seems that Equally Shared Parenting would be that way. The basic premise is that fathers and mothers share all family responsibilities equally: about half and half with childcare, household upkeep and employment. Families live within their means, love and nurture their children with little reliance on outside childcare, and find personal fulfillment and unity as parents and partners. In fact, it has recently been said that this concept of equally shared parenting is a close cousin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Likely, this concept appeals to feminists since both husband’s and wife’s all around needs are taken in account, with each helping the other in all aspects. Its a far cry from the feminist agenda of the 1960’s where feminists advocated for women to assimilate into the male workforce and keep the same rules expected of male employees while at the same time being the mothers their children needed (or never becoming mothers at all) and doing the majority of the housework and daily living responsibilities of a household and family. Feminists of the era have since admitted that their ideas caused a great disservice to women who heeded their call

Its not a matter of women being in or out of the workforce now, however. Just like Apostle Quinten L. Cook counseled members, “we should all be careful not to be judgmental or assume that sisters are less valiant if the decision is made to work outside the home. We rarely understand or fully appreciate people’s circumstances.”(3)

In a time of economic downturn with husbands unemployed for long stretches at a time, many mothers find that they must work to meet the needs of their families. Stay at home dads are learning what many stay at home mothers have known: something vital is missing from a parent’s life when his/her education and skills are removed from the workplace. Betty Freidan called it “housewife’s syndrome” and perhaps now, many house husbands are feeling it too.

The Women’s Service Mission has covered this topic in a couple of different ways in the past. The review of Radical Homemaker’s found gospel principles in the idea of husband and wives sharing household responsibility by cutting consumerism and creating families that produce more than they consume–what the author called “units of production.” On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, WSM featured the book The War on Moms: On Life in a Family Un-Friendly Nation which called for national reforms to the employment system to create jobs that allow families to provide for their needs and contribute to their overall well-being rather than continue to enslave them to a workforce that stretches parents too thin and places children in the care of people other than their parents for the majority of the time. Another book on this topic, written by the advocacy organization MomsRising, entitled The Motherhood Manifesto, outlines the MomsRising platform that calls for flex time work options for men and women in additional to supplemental (not primary or full-time) child care for families who need to make use of it.

The book Equally Shared Parenting takes a step back  from the policy debate and tells stories of families who are living the lifestyle they love without waiting for society to change for them. The authors interviewed 40 families most of whom have two parents working part-time to full-time, with little to no outside childcare needed. Many families are homeschooling their children. Fathers are just as capable of preparing lunches, soothing owies and teaching school lessons while mothers did their share of nurturing and homemaking and later being an integral part of their workplace. (4)

It sounds idealistic and it is, unabashedly so. Families across the country are making this work, even without the family friendly public policy advocated by feminists and apostles. (5) As more and more families embrace this way of living and enjoying life, these policies will be in greater demand and  Mormons may learn exactly what “equal partners” really look like.

Have you heard of Equally Shared Parenting? Are you or any one you know living this arrangement? What does the phrase “equal partners” from the Proclamation mean to you? Please respond in the comments.

Are you involved in advocacy for family friendly policies? Tell us about your efforts by writing a guest post. Email to service@ldswave.org.

Since this topic is focused women with children, the quoted was edited to leave out women who are do not marry or have children. If you are a single woman or are married but do not have children yet, would you consider the concept of equally shared parenting in your future family?

Gordon B. Hinckley “Ten Gifts from the Lord,” Ensign, Nov. 1985, 89.

Quentin L. Cook “LDS Women are incredible!” Ensign, May 2011.

You can hear from the authors of Equally Shared Parenting in their interview with KRCL Salt Lake’s RadioActive.

In Quentin L. Cook’s address linked above, he counseled, “I would hope that Latter-day Saints would be at the forefront in creating an environment in the workplace that is more receptive and accommodating to both women and men in their responsibilities as parents.”

Catherine currently lives in Helana, Montana and works as a freelance writer and owner of a small publishing company specializing in outdoor guides to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Her passions are environmental advocacy, women’s history of the West, and grandchildren. She has four children. You’ll find her commenting frequently at Exponent and Feminist Mormon Housewives.

The prevalence of toxic chemicals in our environment is a hot topic in the news these days. Hardly a day goes by when there isn’t an article about one chemical or another, and its dangers, in a major newspaper or magazine, both in print and online. This information is of particular importance to women for several reasons: many chemicals accumulate in fat, and women generally have a higher percentage of fat tissue than men; many chemicals stored in a woman’s body are passed onto her child during pregnancy and breast-feeding; women have a higher exposure to toxic chemicals in household and commercial cleaners (at home and in the housekeeping industry) and home pesticide products which contain endocrine disrupting chemicals; women have a higher exposure to toxic chemicals in personal care products (hair, skin, make-up, and nail); women still have the primary care of infants and children in our society, and infants and children, because of their small, and still developing, bodies are at the greatest risk of chemical poisoning when exposed to toxins in the environment.

So, what are the chemicals and why should we be concerned?

Some of the most frightening are those that mimic natural hormones and are called endocrine disruptors. Most of us have heard of BPA, a petrochemical-based xenoestrogen that is found in plastics and the lining of canned foods. Xenoestrogens have been linked to early puberty (especially in girls), increased risk of cancers, weight gain, depression, tumors, and autoimmune deficiency.[1] In several studies, including one done at the University of Utah, exposure to air pollution from automobile traffic and industries that emit toxic chemicals and heavy metals has been linked to the increasing incidence of autism spectrum disorders.[2] Phthalates, fragrance carriers in glass cleaners, deodorizers, laundry products, and virtually anything that is scented, have been linked to adverse effects on boys, reduced sperm count in adult men, and increased allergies and asthma in children.[3] The list could go on and on.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that virtually everyone has these chemicals in their bodies.[4] They are everywhere in our environment—in the air we breath (from auto exhaust, industrial pollutants, your neighbor’s dryer vent, and the perfume you sprayed on this morning), the water we drink (from industrial waste, pharmaceuticals that are flushed down the toilet, and the residue of pesticides and herbicides you spray on your lawns and gardens), in the foods we eat (from pesticides, artificial colors and flavors, and preservatives) and in the walls and floors of our own homes (carpets and other building materials).

If you live in the modern world, you can’t entirely escape them. The best we can do to reduce the chemical load on our fragile immune systems is to reduce our exposure as much as possible and urge others to do likewise. How this is done is going to vary with individual and family circumstances, but here are some ideas that might help.

1) Use safer cleaning and personal care products. Eliminate synthetic fragrances by using products labeled fragrance free. Buy only those products that list the ingredients (which is not required by law) and avoid those containing sodium laureth sulfate (soaps, shampoos, thoothpaste), hydroquinone (skin lighteners), triclosan (antibacterial products and frangrances), PEG (soaps and shampoos). Make your own products (see link to WVE below).

2) Opt for fresh or frozen foods instead of canned. Use glass containers for food storage and reheating.

3) Use nail polishes and hardeners labeled “three-free” or “formaldehyde-free” and avoid chemical hair straighteners.

4) Use unscented laundry products and replace dryer sheets with the nubby dryer balls. (To avoid static, don’t overdry clothing.)

5) Eat and garden organically grown foods as much as possible, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables.

What we do personally is only part of the battle. Here are a few ideas for promoting a cleaner, safer environment for everyone:

1) Put your money where your mouth is and buy only from companies that clearly label their products. Send letters and email messages to those which don’t asking them to be more transparent. (Check out the websites below to help you find these companies, the good and the bad.)

2) Support federal regulations that set industry standards for clean air, water and soil, as well as safe manufacturing processes.

3) Encourage you state congressional representatives to pass legislation requiring companies to disclose all ingredients in household cleaners on product labels and to replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives.

4) Ask your representatives to support reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the means to enforce it.

5) Join groups that advocate for a healthy environment, like those listed below, or look for a local group in your area.

6) Help educate others, through your blog, Facebook, family reunions, and church activities.

Some useful websites with further information and opportunities for activism:

Safer Chemicals Healthy Families: www.saferchemicals.org

Environmental Working Group: www.ewg.org

Toxie Awards: www.toxies.com

Women’s Voices for the Earth: www.womensvoices.org

Utah Clean Air Alliance: http://utahcleanairalliance.org

Utah Moms for Clean Air: www.utahmomsforcleanair.org

References:

[1] “Toxic Overload: 15 Percent of Girls Now Reach Puberty by Age 7,” http://preventdisease.com/news/11/060211_toxic_overload_puberty.shtml .

[2] Heather May, “Utah researcher says autism-pollution link needs serious study,” Salt Lake Tribune, June 11, 2011.

[3] “What’s Under Your Sink: Potential Hazards of Home Cleaning Products,” Women’s Voices for the Earth Fact Sheet, www.womensvoices.org.

[4] “Toxic Chemicals: The Cost to Our Health,” Safer Chemicals Healthy Families, www.saferchemicals.org/resources/health.html .