The Women’s Initiative develops robust, progressive policies and solutions to ensure all women can participate in the economy and live healthy, productive lives.
A woman introduces her newborn baby to her grandmother, November 2020, in Los Angeles. (Getty/Brandon Bell)
What We're Doing
Advancing a proactive abortion agenda
Abortion rights are under attack. Our proactive agenda provides a road map for state and federal lawmakers to develop and enact policies that ensure equitable, safe access to abortion. In coalition, we will push back against restrictions that impede access to this critical health care service.
Addressing the maternal health crisis
People are more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes in the United States than in any other high-income country. Working closely with partners, we develop policy interventions to curb the maternal health crisis, eliminate racial disparities, and advance investments in maternal health care.
Closing the gender wage gap
To address pay disparities, especially for women of color, our comprehensive work advocates for measures such as the Paycheck Fairness Act (PFA). The PFA would strengthen equal pay protections, prohibit employer retaliation, and limit employers’ reliance on salary history to make hiring decisions.
Building a stronger economy by prioritizing women
Women are crucial to a thriving economy and families’ economic stability and must be at the heart of any economic recovery. We research solutions that maximize women’s economic participation and respond to competing demands of work and family, such as a national paid family and medical leave program.
The Women’s Initiative works to secure women’s health and bodily autonomy, economic stability, equality, and access to equitable opportunities and uphold other reproductive, civil, and human rights. We firmly believe that the diverse experiences of women across race, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, faith backgrounds, and other factors—and the challenges they face—must be at the center of the national policy debate.
Fast Facts: Economic Security for Women and Families in Texas
In order to advance economic security for women and families in Texas, policymakers should prioritize policies that ensure economic equality and health care access for all.
Fast Facts: Economic Security for Women and Families in Pennsylvania
In order to advance economic security for women and families in Pennsylvania, policymakers should prioritize policies that ensure economic equality and health care access for all.
Fast Facts: Economic Security for Women and Families in New Hampshire
In order to advance economic security for women and families in New Hampshire, policymakers should prioritize policies that ensure economic equality and health care access for all.
Fast Facts: Economic Security for Women and Families in Georgia
In order to advance economic security for women and families in Georgia, policymakers should prioritize policies that ensure economic equality and health care access for all.
Fast Facts: Economic Security for Women and Families in Florida
In order to advance economic security for women and families in Florida, policymakers should prioritize policies that ensure economic equality and health care access for all.
Fast Facts: Economic Security for Women and Families in Arizona
In order to advance economic security for women and families in Arizona, policymakers should prioritize policies that ensure economic equality and health care access for all.
Fast Facts: Economic Security for Women and Families in West Virginia
In order to advance economic security for women and families in West Virginia, policymakers should prioritize policies that ensure economic equality and health care access for all.
Women, especially women of color, in the United States are more likely to live in poverty than men, and they need robust, targeted solutions to ensure their long-term economic security.
Robin Bleiweis, Diana Boesch, Alexandra Cawthorne Gaines
Pursuing concrete solutions that prioritize survivors, disrupt power imbalances, challenge systemic biases, and cut across the many issues driving gender-based violence is essential to ending this violence in all its forms.
