The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Below the Belt: A Column by NOW President Kim Gandy

December 18, 2008

In the holiday spirit of giving, I'd love nothing more than to bestow upon every woman and girl the gifts that keeps on giving: opportunity, justice, respect, empowerment -- in other words, full equality. But this present can't be bought at Target or through Amazon. It must be won with lots (and lots) of hard work and a "never give up" attitude. Oh yeah, and it's almost impossible to achieve without a president who recognizes that inequality still exists and sincerely wants to do something about it.

But will our new president make advancing women's equality a top priority? And just how big of a role will women play in the next administration?

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that voters -- a majority of them women -- elected Barack Obama president and Joe Biden vice president of the United States, and I have much hope for the next four years. But, as you already know, our work is far from over.

Now is not the time to sit back and be complacent, just because we think we have an ally on our issues in the White House. If anything, now is the time to speak out loud and clearly about what we expect from the new president.

For starters, there are only five women nominated for the Obama-Biden Cabinet so far: Hilda Solis (who was just named Labor secretary, NOW is happy to report), Hillary Clinton, Janet Napolitano, Lisa Jackson, and Susan Rice. With only two picks to go, the best result will have women comprising a little less than a third of Cabinet (and Cabinet-rank) positions and more likely just 23 percent –- only a little better than our paltry representation in Congress. We don't have a lot of time left, but I promise to keep lobbying until the last nominee is named, and of course we are working to increase women's representation in the thousands of presidentially appointed positions below Cabinet level.

The lack of women appointees is not for want of excellent women to choose from! Since Nov. 4, NOW and other women's rights groups have worked together to promote women's equality within and through the executive branch. For the past six weeks, we have been collectively compiling the names of top-notch women for top-level White House positions and directing them to the Obama transition team, and will continue to press for more gender balance in the 8,000 (give or take a few thousand) government jobs that are appointed by the president.

Next on our wish list, NOW developed a Feminist Action Agenda for 2009 and Beyond, which details more than 100 policy goals across nine broad issue areas. This agenda is ambitious, but if there was ever a time to think big, this is it. In addition to submitting this agenda to the transition team, we are conducting an online survey to find out how important these issues are to you and what other calls for changes we should seek.

My sister NOW officers and I also have been organizing and participating in various meetings with Obama-Biden transition staff, giving us the chance to present our issues and make our case face-to-face. One issue we are pressing is the need to consciously include women in the economic stimulus plan that's in the works. While Obama's strategy of rebuilding this nation's infrastructure and creating more green jobs is essential, our human infrastructure is crumbling as well and needs the same level of attention and action.

The stimulus program must invest in jobs that women traditionally fill, jobs that will support the people who make up our communities and determine our future, such as teachers, teachers' aides, home health workers, social workers, child care workers, and many more.

This all leads to the effort I'm most excited about. In just the last few weeks, NOW helped put together a coalition of nearly 50 groups that are asking President-elect Obama to create a new Cabinet-level Office on Women. The Office on Women would address not only the status of women, but also the many inequities that women face in our society, our nation, and our world. The director would hold Cabinet rank and report directly to the president. Establishing this office would be another historic first for Obama and a giant leap toward equality.

The Office on Women would seek new ways to foster the full potential of tens of millions of women and girls of all races and from all walks of life, through policies, budgeting, inter-agency coordination and special initiatives. Let's face it, many of our federal programs were designed at a time when women's roles in our society were very different, and these programs need to be reviewed and reassessed.

Because women, especially women of color, are differently affected by so many laws and policies -- from health care to the economy -- it is crucial that women be taken into account as each and every critical decision is made by the administration. Women need an advocate at the policy-making table whose specific responsibility is considering and weighing in on the potentially positive or negative impact on women's opportunities for advancement. A Cabinet-level office is the most effective way to accomplish this goal.

The office would have leadership of a revived and strengthened White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach and a restored Interagency Council on Women, both of which existed under the Clinton administration but could stand a few upgrades this time around.

In addition, the Office on Women would interrelate with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Commission on the Status of Women, and the Status of Women Commissions of many states, counties and municipalities across the country.

Equality ain't cheap and it ain't easy. You won't fortuitously receive it in your office gift exchange or stumble upon it on eBay (oh, if only!). But it's a gift everyone can share, and one that will never go out of style.

Happy holidays everyone, and here's to a brilliant New Year.

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Read the letter to the Obama-Biden transition team asking for an Office on Women, and take action now.

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