NPR broadcast features OU professor Jo Reger in discussion of NOW

A recent National Public Radio broadcast featured Oakland University’s Jo Reger, associate professor of sociology and women’s studies, in preparation for the presidential election of the National Organization for Women.

Reger’s commentary for the national organization served to promote the ideas behind the NOW organization itself, rather than take sides or support candidates.

"You can't say NOW is not relevant,” she said during the broadcast. “There are social organizations like the NAACP that have been around a long time, and they're important. Part of the reason they are important is because of the work they do, but also the fact that they symbolize that the movement is still there, and I think NOW does the same thing."

NPR contacted Reger after finding a number of her published works that relate to NOW and the modern feminist movement.

“I was very excited,” she said. “I love NPR. I was happy they were calling and interested in talking about social movements.”

Reger was happy to discuss the changing views and significance of feminism throughout the past few decades. She said that most current feminist efforts can be found across different organizations and throughout a variety of social networks.

“We live in a time considered to be post-feminist, where many people think feminism is dead or irrelevant. But feminism isn’t dead. The work of NOW leads to a bigger conversation. There is space for the movement today, it has just taken on a different form.”

The contest between the two presidential candidates, Latifa Lyles, 33, and Terry O'Neill, 56, played out largely based on age. Reger dismissed this campaign tactic, asserting that no one should assume that someone older or younger has a specific viewpoint.

Ultimately, O’Neill won the vote and will take office on July 21.

To hear Reger’s commentary, visit the NPR Web page for the audio commentary  and print version of the story.