Pete for America
For Immediate Release
October 24, 2019
Contact: Nina Smith

Pete Buttigieg Announces Comprehensive Plan to Build and Secure Power for Women in the 21st Century


SOUTH BEND, IN  — Today, Mayor Pete Buttigieg released ‘Building Power: A Women’s Agenda for the 21st Century,’ the most ambitious and comprehensive plan released by any presidential candidate to invest in women’s economic, political, and social empowerment, tackle gender and race-based health disparities, and break down the systemic barriers that have held women back for far too long. Buttigieg's plan is grounded in bold proposals that will close pay, wealth, and leadership gaps, build safe and inclusive communities, aggressively combat the maternal mortality crisis, and protect a woman’s right to choose. 

“Progress for women has come despite systemic sexism and racism, and persistent gender bias. And now, with women’s rights under assault, we can’t wait any longer to ensure women have the power they deserve,” said Buttigieg. “Women’s freedom can’t depend on Washington—it can only come from systematically building women’s power in our economy, our political system, and in every part of our society.”

Women are nearly half the American workforce and hold positions from first responders to CEOs, but they aren’t paid equally for the work that they do. At the current rate, we won’t close the gender pay gap for all women—including the women of color, for whom the gap is largest—for over 200 years. Overwhelming numbers of women face harassment and discrimination, including new and vicious forms of online harassment. Women, particularly Black women and Native American women, are subject to health care policies that restrict their freedom and jeopardize their life and well-being. 

Buttigieg's plan takes a clear position on reproductive freedom and justice, with his plan calling for enshrining abortion rights into law, committing to judicial appointments who share his vision of freedom and choice for all Americans which includes reproductive rights, ending the Hyde Amendment and expanding Title X funding.

Pete understands that freedom for women means achieving lasting power. That’s why Pete’s comprehensive plan will:

  •  Advance women’s health and choice by enshrining abortion rights into law, abolishing the Hyde Amendment, and appointing Supreme Court justices that match the values of his Presidency.
  •  Close the pay gap by requiring gender pay transparency, banning the use of salary history, and passing a $15 minimum wage.
  •  Nominate a Cabinet that reflects America, with at least 50 percent women.
  •  End the maternal mortality crisis and improve maternal and infant health, with a focus on eliminating racial disparities.
  •  Nominate at least 50 percent women for judicial appointments and prioritize diversity in all federal appointments, including in federal agencies, commissions, and boards.
  •  Accelerate the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to establish that the rights granted in the Constitution apply equally to men and women.
  •  End tradeoff between career and family by providing comprehensive support for caregiving, including affordable childcare, paid family and medical leave for all workers, and new Social Security credits for caregiving.
  •  Ensure that workers have fair and predictable schedules, and restore overtime regulations that protect over four million women.
  •  Guarantee every woman has affordable health coverage through Medicare for All Who Want It public plan.
  •  Increase access to startup and scale capital and mentorship for women entrepreneurs by over $50 billion.
  •  Invest $10 billion to end workplace sexual harassment and discrimination against women, and ban forced arbitration clauses that deny women their right to challenge workplace harassment and discrimination in court.
  •  Ensure students in every public school in America receive training in consent and bystander intervention.
  •  Prevent gender-based violence by reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, enacting gun control reforms, and combating rising online harassment of women and girls.
  •  Support survivors of gender-based violence by increasing funding for affordable housing and shelter services to support women and children escaping domestic violence. 

Pete understands that the freedom of women is bound up in the freedom of all Americans. Read Pete’s full plan to build and secure power for women in the 21st Century HERE.

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https://peteforamerica.com/policies/building-power/

BUILDING POWER: A Women's Agenda for the 21st Century. [PDF]

BUILDING POWER

A Women's Agenda for the 21st Century

Women have always been at the forefront of American progress—especially when that progress has required struggle. In the last three years, we’ve watched women lead powerful movements for justice: organizing the Women’s March, insisting on the importance of Black lives, and continuing to drive the #MeToo movement. The 2018 elections marked historic gains for women in Congress, propelled by the activism and commitment of women voters—particularly Black women and women of color.

Women are 51 percent of the U.S. population and nearly half the workforce. Their participation in the labor market over the past 50 years has sparked historic economic growth. But progress for women has come despite systemic, persistent sexism and racism that excludes women from economic, political, and social power.

"Women’s freedom can’t depend on Washington; it can only come from systematically building women’s power in our economy, our political system, and in every part of our society."

At the current rate, we won’t close the gender pay gap for all women—including women of color, for whom the gap is largest—for over 200 years.1 Women today are more likely to die from pregnancy than their mothers were; Black and Native American women die from pregnancy at rates three times higher than white women.2 Overwhelming numbers of women continue to face illegal harassment and discrimination at work and in their personal lives. Women’s right to control their own bodies is under assault all over the country.

Women’s freedom can’t depend on Washington; it can only come from building women’s power in our economy, our political system, and in every part of our society. And while we must create opportunity for all women, we know that women of color, trans women, and low-income women face unique barriers that require intentional policy solutions.



As president, Pete will:

Close the Pay & Wealth Gaps

From first responders to CEOs, women make up nearly half the American workforce. But across the board, women aren’t paid equally for the work they do. On average, women are paid 82 cents for each dollar paid to a white man; Black women are paid 62 cents and Latinas 54 cents.3 By retirement age, that means women of color have lost $1 million in earning compared to men. And the pay gap gets bigger as women advance in their careers.

The injustice goes beyond pay: for every dollar of wealth held by men in the United States, the average woman has 32 cents.4 Women start businesses at similar rates to men, but receive less than 3 percent of venture capital funding—even though women-led businesses generate better returns.5 The pay gap is further widened by illegal discrimination and workplace harassment, which rob women of income and opportunities to advance at work. Over 40 percent of women have faced discrimination at work, and 35 percent say sexual harassment is a problem in their workplace.6

[GRAPHIC: Women pay gap and wage gap]

To invest in equal opportunity for women, Pete will address the following issues:

Pay Gap

REQUIRE GENDER PAY TRANSPARENCY AND HOLD EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR DISCRIMINATION.


Pete will make the pay gap—for women and people of color—at every large company public information, giving visibility into whether women are being fairly paid and promoted. Transparency puts power in the hands of women as they make decisions about where to work and salary negotiations. It also puts pressure on companies to hire, promote, retain, and pay women equally. Pete will also reinstate pay data collection by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission and act aggressively to hold employers accountable for evidence of discrimination.

ADDRESS FACTORS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGET WOMEN OF COLOR AND WIDEN THE RACIAL WAGE GAP.

Pete will ensure that jobs and industries that disproportionately employ women of color have strong workplace protections, provide fair pay and opportunities for advancement, invest in training and apprenticeship programs that provide access to jobs in growth industries, and ensure that data analyses from federal agencies are performed with an intersectional lens to make visible the distinct experiences of women of color.

END THE TRADE-OFF BETWEEN CAREER AND FAMILY BY ENSURING ALL WORKING AMERICANS HAVE ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE.

Pete will ensure that all working Americans have access to 12 weeks of comprehensive paid family and medical leave by supporting the FAMILY Act to create a national paid family and medical leave fund. He will also make sure benefits for lower-income workers are high enough that workers can afford to take leave and still pay their bills. Pete’s forthcoming comprehensive child care plan will make high-quality child care free for families most in need, and affordable for all.

REDUCE THE BURDEN ON UNPAID FAMILY CAREGIVERS AND PROTECT THEIR FINANCIAL SECURITY.

Two-thirds of the over 40 million unpaid caregivers in the United States are women. Pete’s plan will provide new support for long-term care, including removing barriers to home- and community-based services for individuals in need of long-term services and supports. Under Pete’s plan, Social Security will finally recognize caregiving as work by providing unpaid caregivers credit toward Social Security benefits for a given period of years.

PASS A $15 FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE INDEXED TO WAGE GROWTH AND END THE TIPPED MINIMUM WAGE.

60 percent of low-wage workers are women, the majority of whom are single, supporting children under 18, or both.7 Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2025 will benefit 13.6 million women with direct wage increases.8

MAKE CORE INVESTMENTS IN PROFESSIONS WITH MAJORITY-WOMAN WORKFORCES, INCLUDING TEACHING, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AND CAREGIVING.

Many industries that disproportionately employ women have low wages—even when they require expensive credentials. Pete will invest in workforce development for K-12 teachers, early childhood educators, and caregivers to ensure fair wages and pathways to advancement.

BAN THE USE OF SALARY HISTORY TO DETERMINE WAGES AND PASS THE PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT.

We cannot wait any longer to pass this bill, which was introduced 20 years ago and will ban employers from using salary history to determine wages, ensure that workers have the right to discuss wages without retaliation, and require employers to justify any pay discrepancies. 9

ENSURE THAT WORKERS HAVE ACCESS TO FAIR AND PREDICTABLE SCHEDULES, AND RESTORE OVERTIME REGULATIONS THAT PROTECT OVER 4 MILLION WOMEN.


Economic Opportunity

GROW SUCCESSFUL WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.

Expanding access to capital, particularly for underserved women of color—who are starting businesses at increasingly fast rates—will kickstart business growth to generate returns for women and their communities.10 A Buttigieg administration will increase access to capital and mentorship for women entrepreneurs by over $50 billion; require business and consumer lenders to disclose demographic information about submitted and approved loan applications to reduce discrimination; and increase federal contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses.

BUILD ACCESS TO QUALITY JOBS IN GROWING INDUSTRIES.

Pete will ensure that women can compete for high-paying fields like computer science and construction through investments in workforce development and education programs. The path to STEM and technical careers starts early, so he will invest in relevant training for young girls, particularly girls of color.

ENSURE PUBLIC SYSTEMS LIKE THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM TREAT WOMEN FAIRLY.

Pete will make social services easier to navigate and better-integrated across programs, ensuring that benefits like WIC and SNAP reach those who need them most. He will also ensure that women don’t bear the brunt of criminal legal fines and fees of their loved ones by eliminating for-profit bail and ending the privatization of phone calls.


Workplace Discrimination


INVEST $10 BILLION TO END WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN.

Pete will increase accountability and prevent workplace discrimination by banning forced arbitration and non-disclosure clauses, treating workplace violence as a safety issue, and guaranteeing that workers in small companies are federally protected from sexual harassment. Pete will also endorse the National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights and pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act so no woman has to risk economic security for her health.

HOLD EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE BY DOUBLING FUNDING FOR THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION (EEOC).

Increased EEOC funding will enable the Commission to fully investigate claims, proactively address potential employment discrimination patterns, and modernize data management practices. Pete will also appoint his EEOC Chair as a member of the White House Council on Women and Girls. His administration will ensure that women across the country have resources near where they live by providing funding to EEOC field offices and local worker rights organizations.

PROMOTE HEALTHY, HARASSMENT-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENTS FOR LOW-WAGE WORKERS.

A Buttigieg administration will improve transparency around sexual harassment by requiring public companies to disclose the aggregate number of workplace sexual harassment incidents reported and investigated annually. Pete will require companies in industries with the highest risk of harassment to conduct climate assessments and create or update harassment prevention plans every three years.11

EMPOWER WORKERS TO FILE FORMAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION, AND STOP COMPANIES FROM HIDING PROBLEMS.

90 percent of people who experience workplace harassment never file a formal complaint—meaning that perpetrators and the companies that enable them can’t be held to account. 12 Pete will work to pass the EMPOWER Act, which stops companies from hiding sexual harassment and discrimination by banning nondisclosure and non-disparagement clauses that cover workplace discrimination and harassment.

ENSURE WOMEN IN FIELDS LIKE CHILD CARE, DOMESTIC WORK, AND HOME CARE WORK HAVE POWER AND REPRESENTATION IN THE WORKPLACE.

Pete will allow multi-employer bargaining to protect workers by ensuring bargaining rights for independent contractors, supporting the right for temporary and contract firm workers to bargain directly with the firm that sets their terms of employment, and cracking down on employee misclassification that hurts women workers.


Advance Health & Choice

Health care is a human right. Yet across the country, more than 10 million women still do not have health insurance— especially women with low incomes and women of color.

Women are increasingly subject to health care policies that restrict their freedom, threaten their safety, and jeopardize their lifelong well-being. Many federal and state-level policies prioritize women’s health only within the context of pregnancy. Some rely on abstinence-only education, which leaves young people unprepared to plan for families, prevent sexually transmitted diseases, have healthy relationships, and much more. Other policies attack a woman’s access to abortion and comprehensive reproductive care or limit family planning options under Title X. And still others impose work requirements to obtain Medicaid coverage. All of these policies are closely associated with poor health outcomes for women.

To advance women’s health and choice, Pete will:

GUARANTEE THAT EVERY WOMAN HAS AFFORDABLE HEALTH COVERAGE THROUGH MEDICARE FOR ALL WHO WANT IT.

Through Pete’s Medicare for All Who Want It plan, anyone will be able to opt in to an affordable, comprehensive public plan. The public plan will cover preventive and comprehensive reproductive care for women, including abortion. This approach gives the American people a choice and trusts them to set the pace at which our country moves in a better direction on health care.

[GRAPHIC: Abortion and maternal mortality]
California has the fewest restrictions on access to abortion. States like Missouri and Louisiana have the highest number of restrictions. They also have some of the highest maternal mortality rates. This is not a coincidence.  Access to all reproductive health care services, including abortion, is critical to ending the maternal mortality crisis.

SAFEGUARD THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION AND RELATED CARE.

A Buttigieg administration will ensure that women permanently have access to safe, affordable, and legal abortions by codifying the right into law to protect women from state-level interference, abolishing the Hyde Amendment, prohibiting interference in public and private insurance coverage of abortion, and increasing the number of clinicians capable of providing abortions. Pete is committed to appointing judges that share his vision of freedom and choice for all Americans, which includes reproductive rights.

ENSURE ACCESS TO FAMILY PLANNING, REPRODUCTIVE CARE, AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES.

Pete’s Medicare for All Who Want It plan will guarantee contraception coverage and cover all family planning methods at no cost sharing. Pete will also ensure that Title X funding only goes to grantees that provide comprehensive and evidence-based family planning services and the full range of methods.

END THE MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS AND IMPROVE MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH, WITH A FOCUS ON ELIMINATING RACIAL DISPARITIES.

A Buttigieg administration will ensure coverage to improve pre-pregnancy and postpartum health; increase access to maternal health services in rural, Tribal Nations, and other underserved areas; reduce the closure of obstetric units; and protect the health of women who are incarcerated while pregnant. Pete will support policies that provide implicit bias training and expand the maternal health workforce, research into disparities in pregnancy outcomes, and Medicaid coverage for pregnant women to one year postpartum.

ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO CARE FOR TRANSGENDER WOMEN AND ENSURE LGBTQ+ PEOPLE RECEIVE RESPECTFUL CARE.

Pete will enact policies that not only require coverage of gender-affirming care but also address care shortages. He will support initiatives that ensure clinicians understand sexual orientation and gender identity, use inclusive language, appreciate the unique health needs of the LGBTQ+ community, and provide trauma-informed care—particularly for LGBTQ+ people of color.

LGBTQ+ PEOPLE
LGBTQ+ people, particularly trans women of color, face significant discrimination. Read more about Pete's plan to combat challenges at this intersection.  READ THE PLAN
 
REDUCE DISPARITIES IN WOMEN’S HEALTH OUTCOMES.

Significant disparities in women’s health outcomes and access to health care services result from systemic racism,13 as well as the marginalization of women of color, women living in rural areas, and transgender women. Pete will address these disparities by establishing Health Equity Zones, diversifying the health workforce, expanding funding for research into conditions that affect women and communities of color differently, and supporting states in repealing taxation on menstrual hygiene products.

RESTORE OUR GLOBAL LEADERSHIP TO ADVANCE HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.

A Buttigieg administration will not only restore and increase investments in global health, but also end all policies meant to restrict access to family planning and abortion services abroad.

Secure Power & Influence

When women are an equal part of decision-making, better decisions are made. Women are 51 percent of the American population, but are shut out of leadership positions in government and beyond—meaning that decisions about their health care, economic opportunities, and communities are made by male-dominated state legislatures and a U.S. Congress with three men for every one woman. Women of color are particularly underrepresented, holding fewer than one in ten seats in Congress.14

Pete understands that policy only works when it’s informed by diverse experiences. He is committed to fielding a full team of America’s most talented leaders and pushing the private sector to do the same.

To secure women’s power and influence, Pete will:

NOMINATE AT LEAST 50 PERCENT WOMEN FOR THE CABINET AND JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS, AND PRIORITIZE DIVERSITY IN ALL APPOINTMENTS ACROSS FEDERAL AGENCIES, COMMISSIONS, AND BOARDS.

Pete will nominate a gender- and racially-diverse Cabinet to ensure meaningful representation across federal agencies and throughout government. He will challenge governors, mayors, and county executives to do the same.

[GRAPHIC: Women in Government Diversity]

SECURE WOMEN’S LEGAL EQUALITY BY PASSING THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

The ERA establishes that the rights granted in the Constitution apply equally to women and men, creating a strong legal standard for reviewing sex discrimination. Introduced 96 years ago, it is time to remove the ratification deadline and work with states and Congress to finally get it ratified.

REINSTATE THE WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON WOMEN AND GIRLS TO ENSURE THAT GENDER EQUITY IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF POLICY PRIORITIES AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Pete’s Council on Women and Girls will work closely with senior staff on the White House Domestic Policy, National Economic Council, and National Security Councils to ensure that every policy is analyzed with an intersectional lens. Pete will charge its leadership to work with agencies and the White House to coordinate, monitor, and report the progress of federal efforts to close the wage gap, wealth gap, and leadership gap between men and women across racial and ethnic backgrounds.

INVEST IN WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ACROSS POLITICS.

By pursuing campaign finance reform, implementing a small-dollar matching program for federal elections, and expanding paid entry-level and service opportunities in the federal government to build the next generation of talent, Pete will fight for women’s opportunity in government.

HONOR WOMEN’S HISTORY AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS BY SUPPORTING A WOMEN’S HISTORY MUSEUM ON THE NATIONAL MALL AND PUTTING HARRIET TUBMAN ON THE TWENTY-DOLLAR BILL.


Build Safe & Inclusive Communities

Everyone deserves to live in safety. But one in four women in the United States experiences domestic violence over the course of their life, and a woman is murdered by a male intimate partner with a gun every 16 hours.15 Sexual violence and harassment are pervasive on college and university campuses. 16 Not only are women of color, transgender women, and poor women at higher risk of being targeted for violence, but they are also less likely to receive support from law enforcement.17

[Graphic: Women Domestic Violence]

We need a 21st century approach to ending gender-based violence, one that recognizes how technology and culture interact. The federal government must do more to both hold institutions accountable for protecting women at risk of discrimination and violence, and proactively build safe communities

To support women’s right to live free from violence, harassment, and discrimination, Pete will:

REAUTHORIZE THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA).

This will provide federal resources for addressing and preventing domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, and for supporting survivors of those crimes. Pete will also ensure that future VAWA reauthorizations cannot be held up for political reasons by implementing automatic reauthorization.

COMBAT RISING ONLINE HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.

Pete will support the SHIELD Act to criminalize revenge porn at the federal level, increase funding for law enforcement training, and work with industry to eradicate online harassment on their platforms.

WORK WITH STATES TO DEVELOP TRAININGS FOR ALL STUDENTS IN CONSENT AND BYSTANDER INTERVENTION TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION.

College consent and bystander intervention training have reduced incidence of sexual assault and harassment,18 but long-term culture change requires starting earlier. Pete’s Department of Education will collaborate with states to ensure that students in public schools learn how to identify and address gender discrimination and bias.

CLOSE THE BOYFRIEND LOOPHOLE AND ENACT GUN CONTROL REFORMS THAT IMPROVE SAFETY FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES.

Pete will immediately close federal loopholes to prevent abusive partners and convicted stalkers from possessing guns, and strengthen existing laws that require domestic abusers to relinquish their guns. Pete also supports federal legislation requiring notification of state or local law enforcement whenever a domestic abuser or convicted stalker tries to buy a gun.

COMBATTING THE GUN LOBBY

Pete believes we need to take immediate, comprehensive action on gun control.

EMPOWER WOMEN TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN COLLEGE THROUGH STRONG TITLE IX PROTECTIONS.

Pete’s administration will defend—not undermine—Title IX. He will enact a student-centric process to amend Title IX regulations, focusing on early intervention and prevention programs, offering supports like counseling and academic accommodations, and making clear that schools owe each student a transparent, full investigation.

ADDRESS VIOLENCE AGAINST NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN BY PUSHING CONGRESS FOR A STATUTORY OLIPHANT FIX AND APPOINTING A COMMISSION DEDICATED TO THE CRISIS OF MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TRANSGENDER WOMEN OF COLOR.

So far this year, at least 18 transgender individuals have been murdered, including 17 Black trans women.19 Pete will vigorously enforce the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. He will also train law enforcement and require reporting on issues specific to LGBTQ+ people.

STRENGTHEN ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS AGAINST GENDER- AND SEXUAL IDENTITY-BASED DISCRIMINATION BY PASSING THE EQUALITY ACT.


FOOTNOTES
  1. Holtzman, Tessa, Ariane Hegewisch, and Claudia Williams. “Women's Median Earnings as a Percent of Men's, 1984-2017 (Full-Time, Year-Round Workers) with Projections for Pay Equity, by Race/Ethnicity.” Institute for Women's Policy Research. June 1, 2019.Back to content
  2. Rabin, Roni Caryn. “Huge Disparities Found in Deaths Linked to Pregnancy.” The New York Times. May 7, 2019.Back to content
  3. America’s Women and the Wage Gap.” National Partnership for Women and Families. September, 2019.Back to content
  4. McCulloch, Heather. “Closing The Women's Wealth Gap.” January 2017.Back to content
  5. Abouzahr, Katie Brooks, Frances Brooks Taplett, Matt Krentz, and John Harthorne. “Why Women-Owned Startups Are a Better Bet.” BCG. June 6, 2018.; Hinchliffe, Emma. “Funding For Female Founders Stalled at 2.2% of VC Dollars in 2018.” Fortune. Fortune. January 30, 2019.; Unnikrishnan, Shalini, and Cherie Blair. “Want to Boost the Global Economy by $5 Trillion? Support Women as Entrepreneurs.” BCG. July 30, 2019.Back to content
  6. Parker, Kim, and Cary Funk. “42% Of US Working Women Have Faced Gender Discrimination on the Job.” Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center. December 14, 2017.Back to content
  7. National Women’s Law Center. “Interactive Map: Women and Men in the Low-Wage Workforce.” 2019.; Patrick, Kayla. “Low-Wage Workers are Women: Three Truths and a Few Misconceptions.” National Women’s Law Center. August 31, 2017.Back to content
  8. Cooper, David. “Raising the Federal Minimum Wage to $15 by 2025 Would Lift Wages for over 33 Million Workers.” Economic Policy Institute. July 17, 2019.Back to content
  9. DeLauro, Rosa.“The Paycheck Fairness Act of 2019.” January 24, 2019.Back to content
  10. Cheng, Michelle. “Why Minority Women Now Control Nearly Half of All Women-Run Businesses.” Inc. November 2018.Back to content
  11. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. “Chart of Risk Factors for Harassment and Responsive Strategies.”Back to content
  12. Lilia M. Cortina and Jennifer L. Berdahl.Sexual Harassment in Organizations: A Decade of Research in Review, The Sage Handbook of Organizational Behavior 469, 469-96 (J. Barling & C. L. Cooper eds., 2008).Back to content
  13. Committee on Health Care for Underserved Women. “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Obstetrics and Gynecology.”Back to content
  14. Warner, Judith, Nora Ellman, Diane Boesch. “The Women’s Leadership Gap.” Center for American Progress. November 20, 2018.Back to content
  15. DePas, Penney. “Shocking statistics show need for congressional action on domestic violence.” The Progressive Pulse. July, 16, 2019.Back to content
  16. New forms of online harassment like revenge porn move faster than existing legal remedies.Dills, J., Fowler D., and Payne G. “Sexual Violence on Campus: Strategies for Prevention.” National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2016.https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/campussvprevention.pdfBack to content
  17. Martinez, Gina and Tara Laws. “Two Recent Murders of Black Trans Women in Texas Reveal a Nationwide Crisis, Advocates Say.” Time. June 12, 2019.Back to content
  18. Coker, Ann L., Bonnie S. Fisher, Heather M. Bush, Suzanne C. Swan, Corrine M. Williams, Emily R. Clear, and Sarah Degue. “Evaluation of the Green Dot Bystander Intervention to Reduce Interpersonal Violence Among College Students Across Three Campuses.” Violence Against Women 21, no. 12 (2014): 1507–27.Back to content
  19. Violence Against the Transgender Community in 2019.” Human Rights Campaign. Accessed September 30, 2019.Back to content

What People Are Saying About Pete’s Comprehensive Women’s Plan


NBC News: Pete Buttigieg Thursday unveiled a new set of policy proposals to address issues involving women’s health and economic empowerment centering on several key areas of improvement including: Gender pay and wealth equity, Women’s health and choice, Securing power and influence, Building safe inclusive communities for women and families. [...]

The South Bend, Indiana mayor says he will commit to nominating a cabinet and judiciary that is at least half women as well as prioritizing diversity in all presidential appointments across federal agencies, commissions and boards. He also calls for reinstating the White House Council on Women and Girls.


Vox: On Thursday, [Buttigieg] released a 26-page agenda focused entirely on women’s rights. It’s one of the most detailed plans focused on women so far in the Democratic primary. Much of the agenda includes promises that other candidates have already made, such as guaranteeing 12 weeks of paid leave to new parents and endorsing the Equal Rights Amendment. But he goes even further than others in some cases.

For example, he vows to nominate women for at least half of the cabinet positions and judicial seats if he makes it to the White House. He also said he would support the creation of a Smithsonian Women’s History Museum on the National Mall and would establish a commission to increase the number of national monuments dedicated to women. He would also put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill.

All in all, Buttigieg’s campaign seems to have a deep understanding of some of the biggest challenges women are facing.


Blavity Opinion: Kareemah Fowler: As Mayor of South Bend, Pete has repeatedly shown his understanding of the challenges women face, as well as his ability to get things done. Knowing that many of us struggle to balance career and family, he implemented a new family leave policy for city employees that gave new moms and dads up to six weeks of leave at full salary. He created a city fund that distributes grants to childcare providers — expanding access for more families. And at a moment when women’s ability to control their own health care decisions are under attack, he prevented a crisis pregnancy center from opening next to an abortion clinic, appreciating how much harder that would make it for women making difficult personal decisions. [...]

Finally, just like Pete supported me in elected office, Pete will ensure women have an equal shot at leadership. He’ll implement campaign finance reforms to make it easier for women running for office to raise money. [...]

Pete empowered me to reach my full potential, and as president he will ensure millions of others can do the same.


HuffPost: Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg announced a $10 billion proposal on Thursday aimed at ending sexual harassment and discrimination against women in the workplace. [...]

The proposal would fight gender inequity by focusing on the pay gap, protecting abortion rights, bringing gender parity to Cabinet and judicial appointments, ending the maternal mortality crisis and guaranteeing 12 weeks of parental leave. It also includes measures to eradicate sexual and domestic violence.


WMUR: Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg promises to nominate women to at least 50 percent of all Cabinet and judicial posts and spend $10 billion to end workplace sexual harassment and discrimination in a new plan released Thursday. The South Bend, Indiana, mayor will make women’s economic empowerment and health policy a centerpiece of his two-day, six-stop visit to the Granite State today and Thursday, according to his campaign.


The Gazette: Pete Buttigieg is rolling out a women’s policy agenda today that calls for closing the pay gap, increasing women’s numbers in leadership, improving women’s health and protecting the right to abortion. [...]

Buttigieg said he would invest $10 billion to end workplace sexual harassment and discrimination against women, ensure equal pay for work, give Americans access to 12 weeks of paid family leave and make high-quality child care available free to low-income families and affordable for all.


InDepthNH: From health care to the economy to safety, every issue is a woman’s issue. So empowering women requires a comprehensive approach that touches every aspect of our society — and that is exactly what Pete Buttigieg’s latest plan does. His far-reaching policy recognizes what it means to be a woman in today’s society.


Motherly: It's a bold plan that highlights just how far America currently is from achieving gender equality and how it could become a leader on this front. No country in the world is currently on target to meet the UN's targets for gender equality. Buttigieg wants to change that and wants America to show the rest of the world how it can be done.

In his plan to close the wage and pay gaps Buttigieg states that he plans to eliminate "the trade-off between career and family with affordable child care and paid family leave." This is a good first step. We know America needs paid parental leave and that the cost of day care is almost as much as rent in some cities. [...]

America is facing a maternal health crisis and Buttigieg's plan recognizes that, building on his previous plan to address the wider mental health crisis in the nation. [...]

He also plans to reduce the closure of obstetric units through payment reforms and encourage medical providers to serve patients in rural and tribal areas by expanding and reforming the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and "diversify the health workforce and train our current health workforce to combat discrimination and bias–especially racial bias–when treating patients."


The Hill: Buttigieg releases plan to build power for women

White House hopeful Pete Buttigieg unveiled a new plan Thursday that he says would boost women’s economic, political, and social empowerment.[...]

The South Bend, Ind. mayor’s multi-pronged platform promises to address the gender pay gap and workplace discrimination and support women-owned businesses.

Buttigieg says he will increase transparency on the gender pay gap by making such inequities between men and women at ever large corporation public information...Buttigieg also plans on investing $10 billion to end workplace sexual harassment and discrimination against women.

His plan would also ban forced arbitration and non-disclosure clauses, treat workplace violence as a safety issue and double funding to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enable it to fully investigate claims and address potential employment discrimination patterns.


Adrienne Kimmell, Chief Communications and Research Officer, NARAL Pro-Choice America: “The stakes are high for abortion rights and we’re encouraged by Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s new plan that outlines steps he would take as president to safeguard the fundamental freedom for everyone to make their own decisions about pregnancy. Every single candidate vying for the Democratic nomination must make clear their commitment to reproductive freedom and how they will stand up for women and families in the White House.“

 

On Twitter:


Ilyse Hogue @ilyseh: Great to see @PeteButtigieg put out such a strong plan on gender equity where reproductive freedom is a core component. There's no gender equity without the fundamental right to control our own bodies. Thank you Mayor Pete!


Betsy Hodges @BetsyHodges: I appreciate the plan and the care and attention you took,

@PeteButtigieg, to lay out real, do-able, results-oriented solutions for the causes and results of sexism, both structural and interpersonal. Thank you.


Kareemah Fowler @KareemahFowler: New Plan—Social equality for all women in America! We made history in South Bend in 2015 with the support of @PeteButtigieg demonstrating his values, as I became the first minority woman elected to a full-time executive office. @Blavity @BlavityPolitics


Donna Brazile @donnabrazile: @PeteButtigieg: Four ways I'll make America a better place for women via @usatoday


Sejal Hathi @SejalHathi: From @PeteButtigieg, a plan to ensure that every woman—no matter her creed, or the color of her skin—under his presidency builds lasting economic, social & political power. It’s ambitious, inspiring yet wholly unsurprising from PB. And he will get it done.


Molly Dillon @mollyd522: Excited about this comprehensive platform. Smart policy understands that issues affecting women are inherently intertwined (like sexual harassment & the pay gap). 

Also thrilled about more national monuments honoring women! We’re at 3/129 (or 2%). We’re part of history too.


Vicki Shabo @VShabo: I'm excited to see @PeteButtigieg take the 2020 campaign to the next level by proposing a strong, comprehensive and cohesive plan for gender equity, leadership, power, safety, health & dignity. #equalpay #paidleave #harassment #reprohealth #representation + much more.


Yasmin Radjy @yasminradjy: THANK YOU, @PeteButtigieg for naming that advancing women's freedom will require building POWER: "Women’s freedom can’t depend on Washington; it can only come from building women’s power in our economy, our political system, and in every part of our society." ⅕


Yasmin Radjy @yasminradjy: & thanks @PeteButtigieg for directly addressing the clear disparities in health among women: " And while we must create opportunity for all women, we know that women of color, trans women, and low-income women face unique barriers that require intentional policy solutions." ⅖


Steve Grossman @SteveGrossmanMA: I’m proud that as President, @PeteButtigieg plans to invest over $50 billion to grow women-owned businesses. Hope you’ll read Pete’s proposal which is all about breaking down barriers that have held women back for far too long. #PeteForAmerica #Pete2020


Dara Kass @darakass: When the majority of your staff is 🚺 and you commit to equity principles early and often, it should not be surprising that your gender equity agenda is this comprehensive. Strong work @PeteButtigieg - 👍🏻 from me.


Laura A. De Veau @deveautrain: As a woman, I also believe in the responsibility of allies to put women first. When I saw the team that @PeteButtigieg curated in South Bend, including @SBILaura & @KareemahFowler - I saw a leader who appointed women & supported female candidates. 2/6


Janeen Sollman @SollmanJaneen: .@PeteButtigieg understands that investing in women means investing in our future. I'm proud to support this plan and endorse him to be our next President. #TeamPete


Sharman Sacchetti @SharmanTV: For the next couple of days during his campaign stops @PeteButtigieg is talking about his proposals to help women advance.  The campaign also announcing the endorsement of ten women community leaders and activists from across NH


Nicole Sganga @NicoleSganga: NASHUA, NH — Mayor Pete Buttigieg unrolls his 26 page agenda focused on women’s rights, including:

🚺Nominating women for >50% of cabinet & judicial seats

🚺Creation of a Smithsonian Womens History Museum

🚺12 weeks paid family leave

🚺ERA endorsement

🚺Harriet Tubman on $20 bill


Jack Turman III @jackturmaniii: Ahead of his New Hampshire campaign visit, @PeteButtigieg released a plan focused on promoting women’s equality and empowerment across socio-economic, political and health care sectors.


Jack Turman III @jackturmaniii: Some features of the plan:

-Invest $10 billion to combat workplace sexual harassment and discrimination against women

-Buttigieg would nominate a cabinet that is at least 50% women

-Increased accountability in regards to gender pay transparency for large companies


Beatrice-Elizabeth Peterson @MissBeaE: Mayor @PeteButtigieg talks about parts of his new 26 page policy proposal focused on women. He noted that the majority of the @PeteForAmerica staff are women, he said “we’re proud of that.”


Sharman Sacchetti @SharmanTV: In Nashua, @PeteButtigieg points out his campaign team is mostly women and says “we’re proud of that”