Issues

While there are many issues that affect women and girls that merit our presidential candidates’ attention, it is particularly important to hear their policy goals for the next four years on economic opportunities, personal safety, and health care.
Economic Opportunities

Which policies will best maximize women’s full economic potential?

Women’s education and employment are key not only to our nation’s economic growth but also as a powerful force against income inequality. Despite increased education and labor force participation, many women still face economic hardships with women and children accounting for more than 70 percent of the nation’s poor. Almost half of American households now include a mother who is either the sole or primary earner for her family. Tax, compensation and benefit policies that support working women and their families will help alleviate domestic pressures and reduce economic gender gaps. Get the facts on economic disparity from AAUW.
  • Competent, affordable childcare
  • Education, STEAM
  • Employment and earnings
  • Family-friendly policies
  • Support for pregnant & nursing moms
  • Tax/financial policies
  • Women in leadership
  • Women-owned businesses
Personal Safety
Which programs will help prevent and provide recourse for sexual violence and exploitation?
Violence against women in the United States occurs in many forms, including domestic violence, human trafficking and slavery, sexual assault and harassment. More can be done to provide support for survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and challenge exploitation on the internet and in the media that perpetuates violence. Stricter enforcement of existing laws as well as increased leadership on the international stage are needed to protect and provide social justice for women and girls. Get the facts from on domestic violence from NCADV.
  • Domestic & intimate partner violence
  • Human trafficking
  • Sexual assault on campus, in the military, in prisons
  • Sexual exploitation online, in the media
  • Sexual harrassment & rape
Health Care
Which health care proposals address the specific needs of women?
Despite significant progress to eliminate gender discrimination, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains costly as women see their insurance premiums rise and access to doctors of their choice limited. Additionally, working women may be at greater risk if employers cut the number of employees or reduce their working hours in order to avoid paying health insurance. Legislation affecting health care that impacts the health and well-being of women are an ongoing concern as alternatives to ACA are being debated during this election year. Get the facts on insurance and health care issues from Kaiser Family Foundation and AHRQ. Read Equality Now’s fact sheet on female genital mutilation in the US.
  • Access to health care services
  • Affordable health insurance
  • Maternal and infant health
  • Reproductive health
  • Treatment and prevention of cancers and diseases
Influential Voices on the Issues
Updates on the Issues

NYC Launches Affordable Loans for Women-Owned Businesses

Mar 29, 2017 |

An initiative of the mayor’s office, the Contract Financing Loan Fund was launched by NYC Department of Small Business Services which allows minority- and women-owned businesses to apply for low-interest contract financing loans of up to $500K with interest rates capped at 3%. Despite their trillions in contribution to U.S. economy, women-owned businesses receive only 16% of conventional small business loans and 17% of SBA loans.

Source: Fortune.com

World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report

Oct 25, 2016 |

The Global Gender Gap Index was first introduced by the World Economic Forum in 2006 as a framework for capturing the magnitude of gender-based disparities and tracking their progress over time. The Index benchmarks national gender gaps on economic, education, health and political criteria, and provides country rankings that allow for effective comparisons across regions and income groups. The rankings are designed to create global awareness of the challenges posed by gender gaps and the opportunities created by reducing them. The methodology and quantitative analysis behind the rankings are intended to serve as a basis for designing effective measures for reducing gender gaps.

View the grades of over 144 countries.

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