Equal pay. Eliminate discrimination. Push for equity.
Within the United States, women are more likely to live in poverty than men. According to data compiled by the U.S Census Bureau in 2018, of the 38.1 million recorded individuals living in poverty, 56% were women. Before the pandemic, the Census found that within Virginia’s 11th District, the largest demographic group living in poverty was single women ages 18-44. Despite the important progress made towards gender equality, women continue to face multiple forms of discrimination. Now, with an unprecedented wave of women leaving the workforce and women of color disproportionately facing socioeconomic challenges from COVID-19, we need to make sure all the progress made to advance women’s rights is not erased. Our situation calls for a series of strong measures to promote gender equity. Therefore, we must:
- Ensure equal pay for everyone by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act
- Support victims of violent crimes by reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act
- Eliminate discrimination in the workplace by passing the BE HEARD Act
- Guarantee legal gender equality by adding the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution
- Repeal the Hyde Amendment to help women with low-income gain access to abortion
- Repeal the tax on sanitary products and ensure that they are free to those who cannot afford them