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BARNARD
HOSTS MAYOR BLOOMBERG AT BREAKFAST TRIBUTE FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY
MONTH
College Announces Partnership on Working Women's
Survey
 New
York, NY, March 11, 2003-- Barnard President Judith Shapiro
hosted New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and the City
Commission on Women's Issues Tuesday (03-11-03) for a campus
breakfast to commemorate Women's History Month and the College's
partnership with the Commission on a survey to improve women's
advancement in the workplace and the overall quality of life
for women in the city.
Acknowledging the many women holding important leadership
positions in his administration, including Ester Fuchs, the
Barnard political scientist, Mayor Bloomberg affirmed his
dedication to leading a city free of gender discrimination.
"New York City's women have a strong history of battling
inequality and an equally proud tradition of making their
mark in their chosen professions," said Mayor Bloomberg.
"During my administration, I have been committed to ensuring
that city government represents the diversity, spirit, talent
and dedication of New York's population. We must have zero
tolerance for discrimination in all of its forms."
In addition to women leaders from city agencies and elected
women officeholders, such as Manhattan Borough President C.
Virginia Fields, along with members of the Commission on Women's
Issues, the breakfast at Barnard Hall drew community and business
leaders.
Anne Sutherland Fuchs, chair of the Commission on Women's
Issues, described the Bloomberg administration's initiative
to restore the Commission over the last six months, including
its first objective - a survey of the 50 top companies in
New York City to identify the best employer practices in critical
areas such as health benefits, child care and promotion policies.
The purpose of the survey will be to spotlight what practices
work and to encourage others to follow, or try new ideas to
make the workplace free of gender inequality. The goal is
to help companies identify and act on issues of greatest interest
to women employees.
"It is our hope that the survey will be a constructive
means of understanding the current status of working women
in New York City," said the Commission Chair, Anne Sutherland
Fuchs. "Our primary objective is to showcase New York
as an excellent place for women to work."
The result of the survey will be distributed on a website
to be launched later this year.
In 2003 and 2004, Barnard, through its Center for Research
on Women, will carry on the survey and publish an annual report
titled "The Barnard Report on Working Women in New York
City."
"Enhancing the status of working women in New York City
is truly one of Barnard's priorities," said President
Shapiro. "We are honored to have the opportunity to join
with the Bloomberg administration and the Commission on Women's
Issues in serving this goal. There is much to be learned from
this important survey project and, as New York City's first
true liberal arts college for women, Barnard is honored to
carry on this work."
Contact:
Suzanne Trimel, (212) 854-7583, strimel@barnard.edu
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