Does anyone here belong to AAUW?

[Critters2]

I just ended my membership in American Association of University Women. I was pressured into joining by some parishioners, and because my predecessor belonged. They claim to want to make education available to all women, but only women with a college degree are allowed to join. This bothered me on two levels.

First, I didn't feel good belonging to a club that wouldn't admit a lot of women I love and respect--including my own mother.

Second, it seems to me that, if you want to make something available, you should include in your circle women who haven't had access...to find out what their barriers were and how best to overcome them.

It just seems elitist and garden-club liberal-ish, which always makes me uncomfortable.

Yet, somehow, I feel uncomfortable about quitting. They meet tonight, and I wonder how my AAUW-member parishioners will feel.

Have others had misgivings about this group?

[fortyfeetunder]

1. Be blunt about it.

I am vaguely familiar with AAUW but didn't know a college degree was a prerequisite for membership.

Aren't there associate memberships for those that don't have a 4 year degree? What about the up and coming students?

And yes, your point about barriers for women and post-secondary education is very real, and know it's being addressed by other organizations. If AAUW took that on, well maybe they'd get more members--recruiting tool, eh?

[Critters2]

4. The moment that I decided this was really about

letters behind a name and nothing more, was when they decided that you could join with an Associate's Degree, but not after you'd finished two years at a 4 year school. That seemed beyond silly to me, and not realistic.

Besides, the meetings were horribly run--three hours to get through an agenda that should have taken an hour. Drove me nuts.

[Critters2]

6. Yeah, I think I'm going to look for an organization that really

advocates and works for the well-being of all women to fill my now-free AAUW time.

And no, if you don't have a degree you can't join. My mother quit college in her last year, when my father got his commission. She worked at interesting jobs her whole life. Most of her closest friends were in AAUW, and she sometimes went to meetings as a guest. But they were very clear--she could never join.

[Midlodemocrat]

7. Yes, she could have. She could have gotten her degree and joined.

I don't think the mission statement of the organization should be changed, but that's JMHO, YMMV.

[Critters2]

8. There's the attitude that has me leaving... nt

[Midlodemocrat]

9. What do you expect? That an organization that was founded to

support women with college degrees forgo that? You must be kidding.

The AAUW is designed to help women achieve their academic goals. I know our chapter has raised money for scholarships for years.

The AAUW has a long and proud tradition of assisting women with financial need who wish to attend a four year college and graduate. There is also emotional support, guidance on matriculation as well as personal counseling available.

To me, it's ludicrous to suggest that the group abandon their mission and focus. The idea is to get women to want to be a member, so that they finish a four year degree. What is so hard to understand about that?

[REP]

17. Another Member With No Problems With the Organization

American Association of University Women. I graduated from a University. I meet the membership requirements. They want to make higher education more accessible to women - not grant non-degreed women membership. I see to no problem. They're strongly pro-choice, which is my primary reason for membership.

[Midlodemocrat]

2. I belong and don't think it is any more elitist than other groups that

have membership requirements.

I have a doctorate, but I can't be a member of the AMA because I'm not a medical doctor. I can't be a member of the bar because even though a JD is commesurate with a PhD, I'm not a lawyer.

[flamingyouth]

3. I'm a member of AAUW too and I agree with what you've said.

[GalleryGod]

12. I know three women who are members-heck I even married two!

I found it to be a wonderful organization !
AAUW stands for what? American Association of UNIVERSITY women
And was founded when? 1881

Please...give me the night off from this not so subtle attack-shiite:evilgrin:

Heavens to Betsy..it's The Elite Police !?!:nuke:

[flamingyouth]

15. You and I were in there on the fraternity/sorority thread too

Good evening, sir! :patriot:

[Critters2]

5. Yes, but the AMA doesn't claim that one of its goals is making

everyone a doctor. If they did, I'd think they'd want to hear why you're not one.

AAUW claims that it advocates education for all women. So, why not ask those without a degree to be involved in the conversation?

[lizziegrace]

10. I agree

I considered joining after attending a couple meetings but never felt I fit in.

[Lady President]

11. Former AAUW Member

I'm also a former AAUW member. The club in my area had an elitist feel to it also, but I still believe that this kind of attitude is contrary to the mission statement. I really like the idea of an organization of educated women gathering together with the goals of furthering educational opportunities, and representing other women/girls without a voice.

Unfortunately, the garden-club aspect made it impossible for me to be a real member. My chapter holds almost every meeting during the day. The other members are either retired or stay-at-home moms who can meet from 11-2 on a weekday afternoon. I can't take a couple hours off in the middle of the day. Personally, I think they are missing out by not including working women, but I decide there was no point in continuing to pay my dues-- I'll send that money to a different group/candidate.

Bottom line... life is too short to be part of a social organization that brings a single moment of discomfort.

[lizziegrace]

13. I wonder if I ran into you at a meeting?

I read your profile. :hi:

[femmocrat]

14. Former member here...

I was an officer and attended their state conventions a couple of times. I really enjoyed it, but don't have time to do volunteer work now that I am working full-time. We had a really active membership with plenty of interesting committees and interest-groups, like International Affairs, scholarships, community activists, literacy volunteers, etc. We raised tons of money for scholarships through our book sale and wine-tasting events. A lot of our scholarship money went to "non-traditional" learners, i.e., women returning to college to finish their degrees. It was NOT an elitist group, but it was "feminist."

And... when I was an undergrad, I received an AAUW loan!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

16. I joined for one year during my teaching career

While I shared their goals of encouraging women's education, I never felt that I fit in with their "ladies who lunch" social milieu.