Women won the right to vote 95 years ago, but the fight for full equality continues today.
This Women’s Equality Day we both celebrate the progress we’ve made and recognize the work that needs to be done to achieve women’s economic security in Texas.
Safeguard Reproductive Health: Texas women need comprehensive reproductive health services—including access to abortion care. Policies that shutter abortion clinics and slash family planning funding have left Texas women and families without access to the healthcare they need to thrive.
Close the Coverage Gap: Because Texas has chosen not to expand Medicaid, 483,480 uninsured Texas women do not qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford to purchase a plan through the Affordable Care Act health exchange.
Ensure Equal Pay for Equal Work: Texas women make 79 cents for every dollar that Texas men make. If the wage gap continues to close at its current rate, women will not receive equal pay until 2073. The wage gap is even larger for African American and Latina women in Texas, who make 57 cents and 45 cents respectively for every dollar that white men make.
Raise the Minimum Wage: Women make up a disproportionate share—almost two-thirds—of minimum wage workers in Texas.
Provide Paid Sick Leave: There is no Texas law requiring employers to provide employees earned, paid sick leave. Too many women can’t afford to take sick leave to take care of their own health, a sick child or aging parent. Allowing employees to earn paid sick days helps keep families and communities healthy.
Promote Women’s Political Leadership: Women are dramatically underrepresented in political office in Texas. Texas ranks 37th among all state legislatures for the proportion of women in office. Only one woman holds a statewide non-judicial office. We have no women in the U.S. Senate, and only 3 of our 36 U.S. Representatives are women.
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