Presidential Commission on Women Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the latest news on the commission campaign?
On April 2, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif) introduced H.R. 1887, legislation that establishes a Presidential Commission on Women. The bill was inspired by WomenCount’s campaign, launched last November, calling for the creation of such a Commission. Rep. Speier first learned of our campaign through a WomenCount e-mail and contacted us about the legislation. WomenCount has been working with Rep. Speier’s office since last year to make the legislation a reality.
WomenCount is providing grassroots support to persuade Congress to pass this important legislation, through partner organizations and a petition signature campaign, among other tactics.
2. Why now?
The 2008 election was historic. In addition to having elected our first African American President, women’s roles in the election, as candidates for president and vice president and as voters, have never been greater. In our country’s history, Hillary Clinton is the first woman to have ever won statewide in a presidential primary, and she won more votes in a presidential primary than any other candidate. Sarah Palin is only the second woman ever nominated as a vice presidential candidate.
The election exposed extreme gender bias in the media, in politics, and throughout our culture. This demonstrated that although women in the United States have come a long way since the last Presidential Commission on the Status of Women in 1961, we still have far to go. The current economic crisis highlights the increasing impact on working couples as well as single parents and minimum wage workers, who are mostly women.
Women were at the forefront of the election and our political discourse. WomenCount is committed to making sure that women stay there.
We believe that now is the time for our country to have a national conversation to ensure a better future with equality, respect and full human rights extended to all women.
3. Why is the call for a Presidential Commission on Women important?
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of studies published, books written, and organizations established that are directed at issues and barriers that women face in their lives, with numerous recommendations to improve the lives of women in our nation.In 1961, women activists of the time, including Esther Peterson and Eleanor Roosevelt, encouraged President John Kennedy to convene a Commission on the Status of Women, the first of its kind. Now, 48 years later, as a result of issues that emerged during the presidential campaign, WomenCount believes those lessons must be used to start a national conversation about the future of women in our country.
We need a vehicle to discuss and implement all of these thoughts, ideas and recommendations at the national level.
We need to bring together the efforts of the many organizations devoted to women’s issues and causes, and create a common movement to benefit the future of all women.
We believe that it is time for a Presidential Commission on Women to serve as that vehicle.
A new generation can be positively influenced by the actions of such a Commission.
4. What else has WomenCount done?
WomenCount has two arms: a non-profit that conducts issue-related campaigns and a PAC that raises and donates funds to candidates for office. You can learn more about WomenCount on our About Us page.
Some highlights of our accomplishments:
WomenCount PAC ran three ad campaigns during the presidential primary contest and endorsed and donated funds to nearly two dozen woman candidates for Congress in 2008.
WomenCount.org has been a watchdog for news about women in politics and has launched two major campaigns prior to the Presidential Commission on Women. The first, conducted last August, resulted in language about gender bias being included in the Democratic Platform for the first time ever. The next campaign, “I’m a woman. I have issues” gives women a voice in the process by encouraging them to tell the stories behind their issues.
5. What's in the bill?
Read it here and see for yourself.
6. How can you help?
Join us in supporting legislation for the Presidential Commission on Women by signing the petition now.Send the petition to everyone on your e-mail list. Here’s the link that makes it simple to forward the petition. Don’t forget to include a few personal lines.
If you are an organization, please join our list of partner organizations now.
If you’ve got a Facebook page, please join our Cause to Create a Presidential Commission on Women and invite your friends. (If you’re not on Facebook yet, there’s no time like the present! Create a profile now.)
If you’re a blogger, or like to comment on blogs, get out there and tell everyone why it’s so important that there’s a new Presidential Commission on Women. Always remember at the end to urge readers to sign the petition page: here’s the link.
If you’re a blogger, or like to comment on blogs, get out there and tell everyone why it’s so important that there’s a new Presidential Commission on Women. Always remember at the end to urge readers to sign the petition page: here’s the link.
If you have a website, add our link to the petition on your homepage.
