Women Empowerment in the USA: USA has the highest rate of women’s labor force participation at 56.8 %. Half of the people who went to college are women. 78 % of women who work for themselves love their job. Only around a quarter of women are in charge as managers or leaders. Canada is in 78th place globally for how many women are in parliament, with almost 23.6 % of the seats in the House of Commons held by women in 2023. Immigrant women had 14 % of seats in the Parliament, which is a bit more than USA-born women.
In this article, we are going to discuss Women’s Empowerment in the USA in detail.
Women Empowerment in the USA – Notable Statistics
In America, women are still behind men in many ways. They earn less, are more likely to be poor, face more health issues, and do not have as many roles in politics. Even though things have gotten better, there is still a long way to go for women to be treated equally. Here are some major statistics as mentioned below.
| Year | Data and Statistics |
|---|---|
| 1950 | Women constituted 30% of the US civilian labor force. |
| 2017 | Women’s median earnings were 80% of men’s. |
| 2019 | 78.4% of women of reproductive age (15–49 years) had their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods. |
| 2021 | 27.3% of seats in parliament were held by women. |
| 2023 | Women made up 47% of the US civilian labor force. |
| 2023 | The US ranked 43rd among 146 countries on its global gender parity index, based on gaps in work, education, health, and political leadership. |
| 2023 | Women outnumbered men in the U.S. college-educated workforce, constituting 51% of those ages 25 and older. |
| 2023 | Less than 30% of women held positions in the House of Representatives, the Senate, Fortune 500 CEOs, and governors. |
Women Empowerment in the USA
In 2023, around 56.8% of women in the country were working. Among different age groups like 25 to 34 years, 35 to 44 years, and 45 to 54 years, more than 75.0% were working, with the age group of 25 to 34 years having the highest participation rate at 77.6%. The United States ranked 43rd among 146 countries on its global gender equality scale, compared to 27th place the previous year. This scale considered differences in four main areas: jobs, schooling, health, and political leadership.
Gender Equality
- In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women across the nation the right to vote, even though some states had already granted this right as early as 1869.
- The creation of the Women’s Bureau of the Department of Labor in 1920 aimed to watch over and improve working conditions for women in the workforce.
- The President’s Commission on the Status of Women began in 1961, led initially by Eleanor Roosevelt, revealing significant unfair treatment of women at work.
- The passage of the Equal Pay Act in 1963 made it against the law to pay women less than men for the same job, addressing pay differences.
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate against someone in employment based on gender, including hiring practices, firing, and differences in pay.
- Affirmative action policies, starting in 1965 and expanding in 1967, began to include women and racial minorities to address past unfair treatment.
- The Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade in 1973 established a woman’s right to access safe and legal abortion under the Constitution.
- In 1968, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission made it illegal to separate job ads by gender, promoting equality in job opportunities.
- Title IX of the Education Amendments, passed in 1972, aimed to prevent discrimination based on gender in educational programs funded by the federal government.
- The significant court case of Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson in 1986 recognized sexual harassment as discriminatory and against the law.
- The Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 ensured that new parents could keep their jobs for 12 weeks after having a child, providing job security.
- The Violence Against Women Act in 1994 offered legal protections, support services, and funding for victims of rape and domestic violence.
- United States v. Virginia in 1996 determined that admissions policies based on gender were unconstitutional, prohibiting discrimination in education.
- The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 allowed employees, mostly women, to report pay discrimination to the government.
- Despite being approved by Congress in 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment, aimed at ensuring equal rights under the law regardless of gender, failed to be ratified by enough states and expired in 1982.
Voting Rights
- The 19th amendment, approved in 1920, legally gave American women the right to vote after a long and tough fight.
- This success was the result of years of agitation, protest, and activism by multiple generations of suffragists, who engaged in various forms of advocacy such as speaking, writing, marching, lobbying, and civil disobedience.
- Despite facing significant opposition, suffragists organized, petitioned, and protested for women’s voting rights starting from the 1800s, but it took them many years to achieve success.
- Between 1878 and August 18, 1920, when the amendment was approved, suffrage advocates used different strategies, including pushing for state suffrage acts and challenging male-only voting laws in courts.
- Some suffragists resorted to more direct tactics like protesting, silent demonstrations, and hunger strikes, often facing harsh resistance, including insults, imprisonment, and physical abuse.
- By 1916, most major suffrage organizations were aligned in their support for a constitutional amendment, and political momentum shifted with New York granting woman suffrage in 1917 and President Wilson’s endorsement in 1918.
- The House of Representatives approved the amendment on May 21, 1919, followed by the Senate two weeks later, and Tennessee’s approval on August 18, 1920, marked the final step in obtaining the required three-fourths agreement from the states.
- Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby officially confirmed the approval on August 26, 1920, marking a significant change in the American electorate.
- Despite the approval, achieving full voting rights was an ongoing struggle, particularly for minority women, including African Americans, who continued to face unfair state voting laws.
- Many women remained unable to vote well into the 20th century due to these unfair practices.
Labour Rights
- The EEOC enforces laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which stops unfair treatment based on gender at work.
- In 2014, nearly 30% of the cases filed with the EEOC were about unfair treatment because of gender, with women making up about 74.4% of these cases.
- The most common problems in these cases were getting fired, being treated badly, and sexual mistreatment.
- EEOC has 53 offices across the country to fight unfair treatment at work, like unfair hiring or mistreatment.
- In 2014, EEOC solved around 26,000 cases of unfair treatment because of gender, getting back $106.5 million for people and making changes to company rules to stop future unfairness without going to court.
- Making sure women get paid fairly is a big focus for EEOC, and they teach workers about their rights and try to fix the pay gap between men and women.
- Since 2010, EEOC has got more than $85 million for people who were paid unfairly because of their gender.
- EEOC has also taken cases to court for women who were paid unfairly in jobs like teaching or working in restaurants.
- Discriminating against pregnant women is still a big problem, and EEOC updated its guidance on pregnancy in 2014 and got over $14 million for victims through agreements with employers.
- EEOC has fought against discrimination for pregnant women in areas like hiring, promotions, and not letting them do certain work because of their pregnancy.
- Stopping workplace mistreatment is very important for EEOC, with one in four women facing mistreatment at work according to what people said.
- Commissioners Victoria Lipnic and Chai Feldblum are leading a group to find good ways to stop mistreatment at work.
Supporting The Rights of Women and Girls
- Embrace a feminist foreign policy that prioritizes peace, gender equality, and environmental integrity, as only a few countries have done so far.
- The U.S. should take the lead in adopting this policy by integrating girls’ education and sexual/reproductive health into its foreign policy, development, and humanitarian assistance.
- Momentum for this idea exists in Congress, with legislation introduced by Congresswomen Jackie Speier, Lois Frankel, and Barbara Lee.
- Increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) towards gender equality, aiming for at least 20% of aid to focus on gender equality as a main goal.
- Currently, the U.S. falls short of this recommendation, lagging behind countries like Sweden and Canada.
- Gender transformative leadership is crucial for progress in girls’ education and gender equality.
- Leadership should come from both individual figures and collective efforts, such as bipartisan working groups.
- The U.S. has influential feminist leaders who should drive gender equality efforts in international development.
- Existing policies like the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act provide a foundation for further action.
- Congress should build on these policies to address barriers to girls’ education globally.
- Departments like the Department of State and USAID should prioritize strategies to empower adolescent girls in governance and human rights.
- This would ensure womens and girls rights are central to foreign policy decisions.
Protecting Women’s Rights In The USA
Women’s rights are considered fundamental human rights, especially in the USA where historical disparities in treatment have been significant. USA has various legal mechanisms in place to safeguard equality for women, including constitutional protections and legislation.
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a big legal win, seen as giving women more freedom at work and the right to expect fair treatment. It marked the end of various struggles in US history.
- This law, acting as written law, said no to unfair treatment of women at work under § 703, covering hiring, firing, pay, and other work conditions.
- Courts interpreted the law more widely, saying a “bad work environment” could mean unfair treatment based on gender.
- As more court cases happened, the body of common law got bigger, building on what Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 started.
- Groups in charge of rules made the law clearer with programs like affirmative action, making rules just for certain groups.
- Papers from when laws were made, like from Congress, give clues about why laws were made and what they should do.
- During talks about the Civil Rights Act, Congressman Howard Smith added women to the list of protected people, showing what lawmakers meant.
- Before women had equal rights at work, they couldn’t easily fight unfair treatment.
- Women got the right to fight unfair treatment at work with laws, so they could take legal action if they were treated unfairly.
- In the past, women didn’t always have these rights under the law, so they had few ways to fight unfair treatment.
- Old lawsuits by women often failed because they didn’t have strong legal reasons, but modern lawsuits based on equal rights laws have been successful.
- Court decisions have made clear rules for women to make sure they get treated fairly at work.
Women In the USA History – (1701-2023)
In the early history of the U.S., women were mainly confined to domestic duties. However, the role of women underwent significant change during the 20th century. Labor shortages during WWII resulted in a large number of women entering the workforce, paving the way for the women’s liberation movement of the 1960s and ’70s.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1701 | First sexually integrated jury in Albany, New York |
| 1769 | American colonies follow English common law, subordinating married women’s legal status to their husbands |
| 1777 | All states strip women’s right to vote |
| 1789 | US Constitution ratified, uses terms like “persons” and “electors,” potentially including women |
| 1839 | Mississippi grants women the right to own property with husband’s permission |
| 1848 | Seneca Falls Convention: Declaration of Sentiments calls for end to women’s discrimination |
| 1855 | Missouri v. Celia declares enslaved Black women as property |
| 1866 | 14th Amendment defines citizenship and voting rights for males |
| 1869 | Wyoming passes first woman suffrage law |
| 1870 | 15th Amendment prohibits denying voting rights based on race |
| 1872 | Susan B. Anthony fined for voting |
| 1873 | Bradwell v. Illinois excludes married women from practicing law |
| 1875 | Minor v. Happersett allows states to prohibit women from voting |
| 1879 | Belva Lockwood becomes first woman to argue before Supreme Court |
| 1890 | Wyoming grants women full suffrage |
| 1900 | All states adopt legislation granting married women property rights |
| 1908 | Muller v. Oregon upholds protective labor laws for women |
| 1916 | Margaret Sanger challenges anti-contraception laws |
| 1916 | Jeanette Rankin elected first woman in US House |
| 1918 | Margaret Sanger wins case for contraceptive advice |
| 1920 | 19th Amendment ratified, granting women suffrage |
| 1922 | Florence Ellinwood Allen becomes first female state supreme court judge |
| 1923 | National Woman’s Party proposes Equal Rights Amendment |
| 1924 | Radice v. New York upholds restrictions on women’s work |
| 1925 | American Indian suffrage granted |
| 1928 | Genevieve Rose Cline becomes first female federal judge |
| 1932 | National Recovery Act limits government jobs for women |
| 1933 | Frances Perkins becomes first female cabinet member |
| 1936 | United States v. One Package of Japanese Pessaries legalizes birth control |
| 1937 | Supreme Court upholds minimum wage laws for women |
| 1938 | Fair Labor Standards Act establishes minimum wage regardless of sex |
| 1946 | UN establishes Commission on Status of Women |
| 1947 | Fay v. New York says women can serve on juries |
| 1949 | Women’s Paycheck Act (California) enacted |
| 1961 | Hoyt v. Florida upholds biased jury selection |
| 1963 | Equal Pay Act passed by Congress |
| 1964 | Civil Rights Act, Title VII, bans employment discrimination based on sex |
| 1965 | Weeks v. Southern Bell opens previously male jobs to women |
| 1965 | Griswold v. Connecticut legalizes contraception |
| 1968 | Executive Order 11246 bans sex discrimination by government contractors |
| 1969 | Bowe v. Colgate-Palmolive opens male-only jobs to women |
| 1969 | California adopts “no-fault” divorce law |
| 1971 | Phillips v. Martin Marietta bans discrimination against women with children |
| 1971 | Reed v. Reed first case striking down gender-based law |
| 1972 | Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in education |
| 1972 | Eisenstadt v. Baird allows unmarried individuals access to contraceptives |
| 1973 | Roe v. Wade legalizes abortion |
| 1974 | Fair Housing Act bans sex discrimination |
| 1974 | Cleveland Board of Education v. LaFleur protects pregnant women’s work rights |
| 1974 | Women’s Educational Equity Act funds gender equity in education |
| 1975 | Taylor v. Louisiana grants women right to serve on juries |
| 1976 | General Elec. Co v. Gilbert allows unemployment benefits during pregnancy |
| 1976 | Craig v. Boren sets stricter standards for sex discrimination |
| 1978 | Pregnancy Discrimination Act passed |
| 1981 | Supreme Court overturns state laws favoring husbands |
| 1981 | Sandra Day O’Connor becomes first female Supreme Court Justice |
| 1982 | Mississippi ratifies 19th Amendment |
| 1984 | Radice v. New York upholds anti-women work laws |
| 1984 | Belva Lockwood becomes first woman to argue before Supreme Court |
| 1986 | Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson recognizes hostile work environment |
| 1987 | Johnson v. Santa Clara County permits affirmative action |
| 1989 | Webster v. Reproductive Health Services restricts abortion funding |
| 1993 | Harris v. Forklift Systems defines sexual harassment |
| 1993 | Family and Medical Leave Act enacted |
| 1993 | Ruth Bader Ginsburg becomes second female Supreme Court Justice |
| 1994 | Gender Equity in Education Act funds gender equity |
| 1994 | Violence Against Women Act funds anti-domestic violence services |
| 1996 | United States v. Virginia opens VMI to women |
| 1997 | Title IX applied to college athletics |
| 1998 | Oncale v. Sundowner includes same-sex harassment under Title VII |
| 2000 | United States v. Morrison limits Violence Against Women Act |
| 2000 | Stenberg v. Carhart protects abortion rights |
| 2003 | Nevada Department of Human Resources v. Hibbs upholds FMLA |
| 2005 | First women elected to Congress in record numbers |
| 2008 | Elena Kagan appointed to Supreme Court |
| 2009 | Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act passed |
| 2009 | Sonia Sotomayor becomes first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice |
| 2010 | Affordable Care Act mandates birth control coverage |
| 2013 | Ban on women in military combat lifted |
| 2016 | Hillary Clinton first female presidential nominee |
| 2018 | California mandates women on corporate boards |
| 2021 | Kamala Harris becomes first female Vice President |
| 2022 | Violence Against Women Act reauthorized |
| 2022 | Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturns Roe v. Wade |
| 2023 | Record number of women elected to Congress |
Conclusion – Women Empowerment in the USA
United States has the highest rate of women’s labour force participation and they can contribute their country’s economy as they are empowered by laws. But in America, women are still behind men in many ways. They earn less, are more likely to be poor, face more health issues, and do not have as many roles in politics. In 2023, around 56.8% of women in the country were working. Among different age groups like 25 to 34 years, 35 to 44 years, and 45 to 54 years, more than 75.0% were working, with the age group of 25 to 34 years having the highest participation rate at 77.6%. Women’s rights are considered fundamental human rights, especially in the USA where historical disparities in treatment have been significant.
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FAQs – Women Empowerment in the USA
What is women empowerment in USA?
USAID’s vision is of a prosperous and peaceful world in which women and girls, men and boys, and gender-diverse individuals, throughout their lives, enjoy equal rights; have the agency to secure better lives for themselves, their families, their communities.
Which country has the most women empowerment?
Denmark is the top country in the world to be a woman, according to the 2023 Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index, which was launched today at the Norwegian Mission to the United Nations in New York.
What is the current situation of women empowerment?
In India, status of women has better considerably in history few decades, but still in malevolence of having so many laws and instrument of wakefulness; women are still discriminate based on their gender. Women are naturally underrepresented in command and decision-making role.
Who started women empowerment?
A Glimmer of Hope: The Beginning of Women’s Empowerment in India. It all starts with Savitribai Phule, India’s first female educator. When women see one woman rise, it ignites their freedom-fighter hearts and drives them to break free from oppression.
Where does the US rank in women’s rights?
The report ranked the United States 43rd among 146 countries examined, compared to 27th last year on its global gender parity index. The rankings were determined based on gaps in four main areas: work, education, health and political leadership.