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We envision all women as fully contributing
members of society. Women lacking economic self-sufficiency struggle
every day to meet their own and their family’s most basic
needs — food, housing, transportation and child
care. To be fully contributing members of society, women need access
to education and training to prepare for participation in the workforce.
They also need opportunities to choose and perform work without
systemic barriers.
Women today still run into glass ceilings and wage disparities.
Many women are faced with the high cost of quality early care and education
for their children and barriers to accessing health insurance. These
realities demonstrate the critical need for advocacy programs and strategies
that increase opportunities for women and families to move from
poverty to living wage jobs and economic security. Ensuring that all women
have access to quality child care and adequate-paying jobs is critical
to a strong, healthy and self-sufficient workforce and economy.
As
they mature, girls need affordable and confidential access to both
sex education and health services to ensure that, as women, they
can have economic security, a better quality of life and career
choices.
Women with independent
income have fewer unintended pregnancies and are less likely to
be in violent or unhealthy relationships. As family income rises,
low-income families increase spending on their children’s
education, health care and nutrition. The effects cumulatively accrue
to society as educated daughters become adult providers for their
families and invest in the next generation.
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