Gender equality

November 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez today stated that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is a “top legislative priority” of the Obama Administration. The remark came during a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing focused on the legislation.

Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the chief Senate co-sponsor of ENDA, applauded the comment as a major endorsement of the Senate’s efforts to pass a fully inclusive version of the bill.    » read more »

Nordic countries continue to have the smallest equality gaps between men and women

New York, USA, 27 October – Iceland (1) has claimed the top spot of the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2009 from Norway (3) which slipped to third position behind Finland (2). Sweden (4) completed the Nordic countries’ continued dominance of the top four. The report’s Index assesses countries on how well they are dividing their resources and opportunities among their male and female populations, regardless of the overall levels of these resources and opportunities.    » read more »

NEW YORK, June 8 -- Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management led all financial services firms on Barron's "Top 100 Women Financial Advisors" list again this year, with 35 in the rankings (including Banc of America Investment Services).

Among the top 10 were Saly Glassman of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, Lorna Meyer of San Francisco, California, Melissa Harrison of Denver, Colorado, and Debbie Jorgensen of San Francisco, California.    » read more »

04/28/2009 -- WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today made the following statement on equal pay:

"One of the most fundamental principles on which our nation was founded is the belief that we are all created equal.

"Yet today, women earn just 78 cents for every dollar a man earns. Women of color earn even less. Countless women are losing thousands of dollars in salary, income and retirement savings over the course of a lifetime. As a result, women often must work longer or harder to make ends meet.

"As the secretary of labor, I am committed to ensuring that the women in our country and around the world have a voice and advocate.    » read more »

April 28, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today signed Senate File 137, a bill that mandates pay equity in Iowa’s workplaces. During the ceremony, the Governor also signed a proclamation declaring Equal Pay Day in Iowa to highlight the need for greater fairness in our state.

“Our state has a long history of identifying, and protecting the rights of individuals, not just in the workplace, but in every field,” said Governor Culver. “Wage discrimination is wrong. From this day forward, discrimination of this nature is, plain and simple, illegal. By doing so, we are living up to our progressive history, and moving Iowa forward – toward our common goal of equality under the law.”    » read more »

March 11, 2009 -- By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order as follows:

Section 1. Policy. Over the past generation, our society has made tremendous progress in eradicating barriers to women's success. A record number of women are attending college and graduate school. Women make up a growing share of our workforce, and more women are corporate executives and business owners than ever before, helping boost the U.S. economy and foster U.S. competitiveness around the world. Today, women are serving at the highest levels of all branches of our Government.    » read more »

March 11th, 2009 -- A little while ago the President signed an Executive Order to ensure there is always an eye kept on how every government agency is addressing the challenges confronted by women of all ages. The White House Council on Women and Girls will be chaired by Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, with Director of Public Liaison Tina Tchen serving as Executive Director, and will made up of Cabinet Secretaries and other top White House staff. It will begin its work immediately by asking each agency to analyze their current status and ensure that they are focused internally and externally on women.

During its first year, the Council will also focus on formulating comprehensive, coordinated policies in the following areas:    » read more »

Study also covers the impact of the economic crisis on women’s jobs and incomes and reveals costs of violence against women

March 05, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) - - A new report released by the ITUC for March 8, International Women’s Day, has revealed that the pay gap between men and women worldwide may be much higher than official government figures. The report, “Gender (in)Equality in the Labour Market”, is based on survey results of some 300,000 women and men in 20 countries. It puts the global pay gap at up to 22%, rather than the 16.5% figure taken from official government figures and released by the ITUC on March 8 last year.    » read more »

January 29, 2009 -- Washington - This morning, a dozen SEIU members and Anna Burger, Chair of the Change To Win Labor Federation and SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer, will witness history as President Obama signs into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The Ledbetter Act, passed by Congress with strong majorities earlier this week, strengthens the rights of women and all workers to pursue justice for wage discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age or disability.    » read more »

January 28, 2009 -- SANTA FE - New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today signed an executive order creating the Task Force on Fair and Equal Pay. The Task Force will examine gender, ethnic and racial pay equity and job segregation within state government and recommend specific solutions to eliminate gaps.    » read more »

June 23, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today issued the following statement to mark the anniversary of the enactment of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972:

“Title IX has unlocked doors and created opportunities for millions of women in America. In the 36 years since Title IX’s enactment, there has been a massive increase in the number of women participating in high school and college sports.    » read more »

June 23, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement to commemorate the 36th Anniversary of Title IX.

"Thirty-six years ago today, America took a bold step forward on the long march toward justice and equality when Congress enacted Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, banning gender discrimination in all education programs that receive federal money.

Barack Obama in New Mexico: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)    » read more »

In 2000, Congress passed a provision requiring the SBA to award 5% of contracts to women owned businesses

May 1, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today sent the following letter to the head of the Small Business Administration (SBA), Steven Preston, objecting to the SBA's proposed rule, entitled Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance procedures, which would do little or nothing to rectify the underrepresentation of and discrimination against women owned businesses in government contracting awards.

Senator Barack Obama: Photo by abbyladybug (CC)    » read more »

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Would Restore Fair Rule for Filing Claims of Pay Discrimination

April 23, 2008 -- Washington, DC—Senator Hillary Clinton spoke on the floor of the United States Senate today, urging the Senate to pass legislation to remove an obstacle that denies women and other workers a fair opportunity to seek redress when they are the victims of pay discrimination.

Senator Hillary Clinton: Photo by Daniella Zalcman (CC)    » read more »

April 23, 2008 -- Nevada Senator Harry Reid discussed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 (Fair Pay Act) that was blocked by Republicans today. The act would help to ensure equal pay for equal work for all workers, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability.

Nevada Senator Harry Reid: Photo courtesy Senator Harry Reid's office

"I don't know how anyone would oppose something like this. It just makes sense that people should be treated fairly," Reid said. "Today, Democrats tried to restore equal pay for equal work regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability, but were again blocked by Republican tactics."    » read more »