Due to a reporting error, this story incorrectly listed what the Orange County Women’s Agenda Assembly voted as the fourth most significant problem facing women. The fourth spot was actually tied between civil participation and immigration. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.
The Orange County Women’s Agenda Assembly held its biannual meeting Thursday night, inviting local residents and a panel of guest speakers to discuss problems women face in the county and beyond.
Several experts on a range of issues addressed the crowd, which later divided into smaller discussion groups to rank problems by relative importance.
At the end of the meeting, attendees voted to rank economic self-sufficiency, health care, education, and violence against women as the four most significant problems they think women face today.
The Agenda Assembly will send these rankings to N.C. Women United, a women’s rights group, which will present the rankings to state legislature.
The meeting resulted from a collaboration between several local and state organizations such as the Carolina Women’s Center and Democracy North Carolina.
Jennifer Frye, chairwoman of the Orange County Commission for Women, said the meeting represents a rare opportunity for people to make their voices heard.
“We live in a democracy but unfortunately I don’t think there are enough venues for people to come together and give voice to their concerns in a very concrete way,” she said.
“These issues affect women across the state and nation.”
Frye also said women’s rights issues exist not only nationally but also on a local level.
“We are hearing about issues that are happening in Orange County,” she said.
Speakers addressed a multitude of problems that directly affect local women, from financial independence to domestic violence.
When Milan Pham, the last speaker of the evening, took the podium to address economic self-sufficiency for women, the ramifications for local women became more evident.
“The average Orange County woman makes 79 percent of what her male peers make,” she said.
“She has an 86 percent chance of becoming an administrative assistant.”
Frye said she hoped the event proved to attendees that they have the potential to change social norms and political policies that favor men.
“Whether that’s constantly speaking out or joining one of these organizations or whether that’s contacting local or state leaders and holding them accountable for solutions,” Frye said.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
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