WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) celebrates Equality Day, which commemorates women in the U.S. gaining the right to vote following the ratification of the 19th Amendment 101 years ago this month.
Women living in the U.S. today are better off than ever before. In every U.S. presidential election since 1984, women have voted at slightly higher rates than their male counterparts. Since 2019, women have made up a majority of college graduates in the country, and women now make up a quarter of all legislators in the 117th Congress, the highest percentage in U.S. history. It is clear that women have made incredible gains over the last 101 years, though the need for additional progress remains.
However, some so-called feminists would like us to reverse this progress by passing the unnecessary Equality Act and the outdated Equal Rights Amendment. “Women and men are already recognized as equal under the law, and the Equal Rights Amendment would not grant women any better protection than they already enjoy,” said Inez Stepman, senior policy analyst at Independent Women’s Forum. “Current laws on the books recognize important differences between men and women that protect women and allow for facilities like same-sex locker rooms and prisons. Despite the rhetoric, passing the Equality Act and Equal Rights Amendment will put both women’s opportunities and safety at risk.”
These same feminists, including Vice President Kamala Harris, have been noticeably silent on the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Andi Bottner, senior advisor at Independent Women’s Forum and former director of the Office for International Women’s Issues at the Department of State, adds, “Back in 2019, now-Vice President Kamala Harris told the Council on Foreign Relations that she wanted to ensure we ‘protect the gains that have been made for Afghan women and others…’ Vice President Harris has said very little about the dangers Afghan women and girls are facing today under the Taliban. We must continue to fight for Afghan women and their rights. So-called feminists like Kamala Harris have shown their true colors with their cowardly silence and betrayed the commitment made by this country to Afghan women and girls.”
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Independent Women’s Forum is dedicated to developing and advancing policies that aren’t just well intended, but actually enhance people’s freedom, choices, and opportunities.