WOMEN in BUSINESS - February/March 2009 - (Page 32)

“When I began working and went to apply for jobs,” she says, “there were signs that says ‘ jobs for men,’ ‘ jobs for women.’ Women couldn’t get credit in their own name. There were back-alley abortions. Harassment was part of the job. There were no laws to protect you.” “i still don’t walk normally,” maloney says. “i have a limp when i’m tired.” what she learned after the accident about overcoming obstacles would stay with her for life. “it makes you feel like you’ve been given a second chance. You’re very aware that you came within a hair’s breadth of being killed, so i think you value every second every day with a greater degree of appreciation.” “Carolyn Maloney has given us a factual, lively, life-saving book full of reasons why American women are told we’re already equal—when we’re anything but. If you have time for only one book to save your sanity, advance women’s equality, and connect your life to politics in this election year, Rumors of Our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated is definitely it.” —Gloria Steinem, American feminist icon, journalist, and women’s rights advocate 32 w o m e n i n b us i n e s s F E B / M A R 2 0 0 9 After graduating in 1968 from Greensboro College in north Carolina, her home state, maloney moved to new York and set out to pursue what would become a lifelong mission to help women, children and families. “i think it’s important to have a goal and work toward it and be clear about your goal, then everything falls into place.” she became a teacher in the city school system, quickly moved into administrative positions and fought for welfare education programs. she later became an influential legislative staffer and was elected to the new York City Council. Then in 1992, maloney ran for Congress against a 14-year Republican incumbent who outspent her five to one. Her victory was considered one of the biggest upsets in the country. she was the first woman to represent the district, something she never dreamed possible when she started her career. “when i began working and went to apply for jobs,” she says, “there were signs that said ‘jobs for men,’ ‘jobs for women.’ women couldn’t get credit in their own name. There were back-alley abortions. Harassment was part of the job. There were no laws to protect you.” when pregnant with her first child, maloney faced the question of whether she should quit her job, or if her employer would even give her the choice. “i called the personnel office and asked about leave and they said there is no leave, women just leave. i said, ‘well i want to come back’ and they said, ‘well it’s never happened before.’” Her employer decided to allow her the time off, and keep her job available until she returned. since those days maloney has been in the forefront of women’s issues, with passage of the Family and medical Leave Act, legislation to expand affordable child care, provide annual mammograms for women on medicare, to name a few of her many accomplishments. she also authored the Debbie smith bill to process DnA kits, which has been called the most important anti-rape legislation in history. Along with women’s issues, maloney has worked extensively on security, financial services and the economy, and was recently named Chairman of the Joint economic

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of IN BUSINESS - February/March 2009

IN BUSINESS - February/March 2009 Contents ABWA Member Benefits Letter from the Executive Director Letter from CEO ABWA Board News A New Era Unfolds Money Matters ABWA Announcements Personal Skills Style Breaking Down Barriers Legal Matters Business Spotlight Workplace: Working Online to Build ABWA Teams Mind & Body Workplace

IN BUSINESS - February/March 2009

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