Equal Time With Martha Burk

The U.S. Women's Soccer Team won't be in the World Cup finals this year, but even if they were and took the trophy, it wouldn't have been their greatest victory. That happened in 2022 off the playing field. And it will last much longer than any given game.

I said I wasn’t gonna do it, but in the end I gave in. Went to see the Barbie movie. She’s still tall, thin, white, sporting signature long blond hair. But Barbiedom is diverse now. A few non white girls (one is a Black future President). One fat Barbie, one wheelchair Barbie briefly in the opening scene. And don’t forget a  Ken who’s supposed to be gay -- but not too gay. Has anything really changed?

The Civil Rights Act  prohibiting pay discrimination against women and minorities was passed August 1964. Some thought it was a joke  As Black Women's Equal Pay Day is marked in August of 2023, it's looking like they were right.

Rockefeller, Astor, Carnegie, Stanford. Rich guys from the late 1900s for sure, but what else? Robber barons. Big boys at the top of U.S. business, who used unethical methods to exploit workers to line their own pockets big time. They’re back, and you know their companies very well  

When Neil Armstrong touched down on the moon in 1969, NASA had a "No Girls Allowed" sign firmly on its figurative door. Come 2024 that giant step will be for humankind.

A new group is mobilizing Moms across the country, hoping to change the way schools teach and operate, and they've got some high profile support. Would you want your Mom to join?

July 4, 1776 marked the Declaration of Independence from Britain. But the founding fathers made one mistake that endures to this day.

June is Pride Month, and June 28th is Pride Day, marking the unofficial beginning of  "Gay Liberation" in 1969 with the Stonewall riots in New York.  Since then  the LGBTQ+ movement grown steadily and gained acceptance.  But is rough sledding ahead?

Juneteenth, marking June 19th, 1865 is a federal holiday celebrated each year to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. Most people think that was the day President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves. Wrong. 

The annual June Father’s day shopping binge is upon us. Stores are touting the latest gizmos, and everybody loves Dad. All except corporate America, that is. Only 23% of U.S. private-sector workers have access to paid family leave in order to care for a new child. The majority of recipients are new mothers – precious few employers give fathers the same benefit.  

June 6 marks the anniversary of D-Day, the day in 1944 when Allied forces in World War II invaded France from offshore. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Thousands never made it out of the water, making the landing on Normandy one of the deadliest days of the war. In an all-out push, 150,000 men – and one woman -- hit the beaches.

Memorial Day is when we honor those who died while serving in the armed forces. It dates from 1866, when women decorated graves from both sides of the civil war. Even back then there were female warriors, though most disguised themselves as men. Women can join any branch of the military today, and hiding their sex is no longer necessary. But for years it seemed like women would be better off if they did. But at long last time's they are a-changin.'

Whether you're a Republican, Democrat, Independent, Something Else or Nothing at all, you've got to admit the Mexican border is a colossal mess. But you might be surprised at who gets hurt the most.

President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy are meeting over what gets cut in arguments over raising the debt ceiling, with most social programs on the chopping block. But where does the average tax payer's money really go?

The U.S. is far behind other developed countries when it comes to support for motherhood.  Most mothers are in the paid workforce, and we need new policies that match reality.

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.  Didn’t know we celebrated such a thing?  You’re not alone. Lesser known than Black History Month or Women’s History Month, AAPI Heritage Month as it’s usually called, celebrates U.S. citizens from 15 countries in the Far East and the Pacific Islands.

April 1st was officially  “All Fool’s Day,” but politically it’s been All Fools Month, at least when it comes to candidates already gearing up for the 2024 election. Before the month of fools fades, let’s take a look at a couple of the presidential hopefuls so far.

Way back in the '70s there were country songs bemoaning taxes. Things have changed a lot since then -- for the worst.  In those days the rich paid their fair share.  Now ordinary workers pay far more than those who don't go to work at all -- fat cats living off dividends and capital gains.  To paraphrase another '70s ditty -- "they got the gold mine, we got the shaft."

I grew up on country western music – but whether you’re a casual fan, love it or hate it, there’s a message, and it ain’t all good. Some very prominent artists agree – take a listen an see what you think.

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?