American Association of University Women
Encyclopedia
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity
for women and girls through advocacy
, education, and research. It was founded in 1882 by Ellen Swallow Richards
and Marion Talbot. The organization has a nationwide network
of 150,000 members, 1,500 branches, and 500 college and university partners.
The AAUW Educational Foundation is one of the world's largest sources of funding exclusively for women who have graduated from college. It provides funds to advance education, research, and self-development for women and to foster equity and positive societal change. Each year the Foundation provides $3.5 to $4 million in fellowships, grants
, and awards for outstanding women and for community action projects. The Foundation also funds pioneering research on women, girls, and education.
The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund, a program of the Foundation, is the United States' largest legal fund focused solely on sex discrimination against women in higher education. LAF provides funds and a support system for women seeking judicial redress for sex discrimination in higher education. Since 1981, LAF has helped female students, faculty, and administrators challenge sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, pay inequity, denial of tenure and promotion, and inequality in women’s athletics programs.
AAUW has opposed all forms of discrimination and supported constitutional protection for the civil rights of all individuals. AAUW has supported a strong system of public education that promotes gender fairness, equity, and diversity; economic self-sufficiency for all women; and equality, individual rights, and social justice for a diverse society.
AAUW sponsors grassroots and advocacy efforts, research, and Campus Action Projects and other educational programs in conjunction with its ongoing programmatic theme, Education as the Gateway to Women's Economic Security. Along with three other organizations, it founded the CTM Madison Family Theatre in 1965. AAUW joined forces with other women's organizations in August 2011 to launch HERVotes to mobilize women voters in 2012 on preserving health and economic rights. In 2011, the AAUW Action Fund launched a initiative to encourage women to vote in the 2012 election. The campaign was aimed to increase the volume and direction of women’s voices.
AAUW's most recent research report addresses sexual harassment in grades seven through 12.
AAUW's national convention is held biennially. AAUW also sponsors a student leadership conference, designed to help women college students access the resources, skills, and networks they need to lead change on campuses and in communities nationwide. The student leadership conference is held annually in Washington, D.C.
AAUW's headquarters is in Washington, D.C.
to purchase one gram of radium for her experiments. The organization funds studies germane to the education of women.
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
for women and girls through advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
, education, and research. It was founded in 1882 by Ellen Swallow Richards
Ellen Swallow Richards
Ellen Henrietta Swallow Richards was the foremost female industrial and environmental chemist in the United States in the 19th century, pioneering the field of home economics. Richards graduated from Westford Academy...
and Marion Talbot. The organization has a nationwide network
Social network
A social network is a social structure made up of individuals called "nodes", which are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.Social...
of 150,000 members, 1,500 branches, and 500 college and university partners.
The AAUW Educational Foundation is one of the world's largest sources of funding exclusively for women who have graduated from college. It provides funds to advance education, research, and self-development for women and to foster equity and positive societal change. Each year the Foundation provides $3.5 to $4 million in fellowships, grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
, and awards for outstanding women and for community action projects. The Foundation also funds pioneering research on women, girls, and education.
The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund, a program of the Foundation, is the United States' largest legal fund focused solely on sex discrimination against women in higher education. LAF provides funds and a support system for women seeking judicial redress for sex discrimination in higher education. Since 1981, LAF has helped female students, faculty, and administrators challenge sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, pay inequity, denial of tenure and promotion, and inequality in women’s athletics programs.
AAUW has opposed all forms of discrimination and supported constitutional protection for the civil rights of all individuals. AAUW has supported a strong system of public education that promotes gender fairness, equity, and diversity; economic self-sufficiency for all women; and equality, individual rights, and social justice for a diverse society.
AAUW sponsors grassroots and advocacy efforts, research, and Campus Action Projects and other educational programs in conjunction with its ongoing programmatic theme, Education as the Gateway to Women's Economic Security. Along with three other organizations, it founded the CTM Madison Family Theatre in 1965. AAUW joined forces with other women's organizations in August 2011 to launch HERVotes to mobilize women voters in 2012 on preserving health and economic rights. In 2011, the AAUW Action Fund launched a initiative to encourage women to vote in the 2012 election. The campaign was aimed to increase the volume and direction of women’s voices.
AAUW's most recent research report addresses sexual harassment in grades seven through 12.
AAUW's national convention is held biennially. AAUW also sponsors a student leadership conference, designed to help women college students access the resources, skills, and networks they need to lead change on campuses and in communities nationwide. The student leadership conference is held annually in Washington, D.C.
AAUW's headquarters is in Washington, D.C.
History
Originally known as the Association of Collegiate Alumnae, AAUW assumed its present name in 1921 after merging with the Southern Association of College Women. In 1919 AAUW raised $156,413 as a grant to enable Marie CurieMarie Curie
Marie Skłodowska-Curie was a physicist and chemist famous for her pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first person honored with two Nobel Prizes—in physics and chemistry...
to purchase one gram of radium for her experiments. The organization funds studies germane to the education of women.
External links
- AAUW national website
- American Association of University Women (AAUW) - information
- American Association of University Women records, 1935-1955 from the Smithsonian Archives of American ArtArchives of American ArtThe Archives of American Art is the largest collection of primary resources documenting the history of the visual arts in the United States. More than 16 million items of original material are housed in the Archives' research centers in Washington, D.C...
- American Association of University Women Papers at Smith College