Equal Time With Martha Burk

Twenty years ago this week national women's groups protested the all male Masters Golf Tournament for its exclusion of women. On this 20th anniversary, has anything really changed?

The French Pantheon was created in 1790 to honor those who have done great service to the country. The motto over the door reads "To great men, a great country". In the 21st Century it's very slowly honoring a small number of great women as well.

Let’s stop the abortion debate right now. We already know how. Eliminate the need for abortion. If all babies were planned and could be cared for, women wouldn’t have to seek the procedure. Here’s a modest proposal a la Jonathan Swift: control men’s fertility.

March 14 is date this year when U.S. working women finally reach the amount men earned by the end of last year.  And that’s only when all women are lumped together.  Black women won’t meet men’s last year benchmark until September 21, Hispanic women October 8, and Native women will have to wait until November 30. Twenty years ago the wage difference between what U.S. women and men earn overall was 80 cents on the dollar.  Now it’s 82 cents. Mighty poor progress.

March 8 is International Women's Day, and it's time to check in on where the good ol' USA stands in relation to the rest of the world. Spoiler Alert -- We're not number one.

We've been celebrating President's Day since the 1870's, and it's the same old, same old again this year. Will it ever change?

It's Black History Month, and that means the gals along with the guys. Visit two women you probably never heard of who were "firsts" in their field...

 Analysis of the issues President Biden addressed in his State of the Union Speech in 2022, what was in, what was out, and commentary on what needs to improve in 2023.

House Republicans took early action to help their constituents.  Does that mean you?  Could be -- if you're in a certain group.

Roe v. Wade establishing the right to abortion was decided January 22, 1973. It was argued and won by Sarah Weddington, a young lawyer with little experience. In this 2012 interview on the 39th anniversary of the decision, Martha Burk talked with her on what it was like. Weddington died in 2021, a year before the Supreme Court overturned Roe in 2022.

In January we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., one of the greatest icons of the 20th century, known by all as the strongest advocate for equal rights for African Americans using non-violence.  King was a great man indeed, but we should also be celebrating the January birthday of a female civil rights hero who pioneered non-violence, and preceded King by half a century.

There's been a lot of chaos on Capitol Hill in the past week with Republicans failing multiple times to elect a Speaker of the House. Martha Burk talks with Nancy Pelosi on being an effective Speaker after she was elected for the second time in 2019. Make note of what has changed since then -- and what hasn't.

Are you awake yet? Does your head hurt from a wee bit too much champagne, or were you a good kid who welcomed the new year at church? However you did it, you probably didn’t stray far from U.S. tradition – fireworks, the countdown, popping that bubbly, or lighting a candle for good luck. Come with me on a quick tour around the globe to see how other countries mark the changing of the calendar.

Well, we made it through another year. Let's review some good -- and not so good -- news for the female half.

The annual holiday shopping frenzy is well underway, but quite a number of folks will be MIA

The annual Fox News fueled so-called “War on Christmas” is once again in full swing. Militant Christians say the evergreen tree is a Christian symbol for a Christian holiday. On the other side, folks like a complaining Rabbi say Christmas trees leave out holiday celebrations by other faiths. Turns out, both sides are wrong.

Congress adjourns at the end of the month. Will pregnant workers be shortchanged again?

The last of the turkey has gone to hash, and Black Friday's behind us. Consumers are snapping up the latest gee-whiz gadgets, cheesy clothing, and mountains of plastic soon-to-be-junk from toy stores.  Call a halt -- and start a new tradition.

Thanks giving is a time for food, family, and fellowship. But who will be missing at the bountiful repast?