Highlights from the 2006 WOMENS WAY Women & Influence Conference

On November 18, 2006, over 200 women (and a few enlightened men) gathered at WOMENS WAY’s 4^th Annual Women & Influence Conference hosted by Temple University’s Institute for Public Affairs and sponsored by the Citizens Bank Foundation. The program focused on challenges facing low-wage women and their families.  A key goal of the event was to counter the myriad “opt-out” articles that suggest that hoards of women are voluntarily choosing to leave the workforce to raise their children.  Such stories have two primary flaws: (1) they focus on a tiny, privileged sliver of American women (white, well-educated and affluent); and (2) even among this group of women, they downplay the fact that for many, workplace inflexibility was a driving factor in their all-or-nothing career decision.

For some women, staying home full time is the right decision for them and for their families.  But more than three-quarters of American mothers work – most because they must.  Many of them are the only wage earner in their family.  They are working more hours than ever before, facing increased financial, physical and emotional strain, simply to make ends meet as the gap between the very wealthy and the rest of us grows ever wider.

WOMENS WAY invited a group of local experts to provide their views on critical issues impacting low-wage women and their families: 

Donna Cooper, Secretary of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Planning, reminded the audience that about half of the 12-13 million low-wage workers in the US are women, and that 70% of them are the single wage earner in their family.  She encouraged a more holistic view of low-wage women that recognizes the many stressors they face, not all of which are strictly economic. She noted that 1 in 3 women has dealt with sexual trauma, which often leaves deep emotional scars. She also pointed out that most low-income families have little or no access to the cultural institutions that enrich the lives of the more affluent.   Cooper stated it is critical to give women the supports they need to succeed at work and as individuals- quality child care, job training for high wage work, assurance that when they move from welfare to work they and their kids will not lose their health coverage (bill about to be introduced to remove this disincentive). 

Paul Vallas, CEO of the Philadelphia School District, spoke about the need to create paid opportunities for low-wage parents to get involved in their children’s schools, and to make schools a hub through which other services, such as healthcare, can be provided. 

Dana Barron, Associate Director of the Institute for Public Affairs at Temple University, reminded participants that the US is alone in the world in the way it treats working mothers and the intersection of work and family.  Most other countries provide paid family leave/wage replacement and job security.  Barron stated that surveys continually find that what workers want and need most is workplace flexibility in order to better manage their family lives.  Unfortunately, the US views caregiving as a private dilemma rather than a public responsibility.

Blondell Reynolds Brown, Councilwoman-at-Large, highlighted the need for access to quality childcare and afterschool programs.  She also stressed the importance of having women in government who care about issues that are important to women and their families.

Carol Goertzel, President and CEO of PathwaysPA, identified several key issues impacting low-wage women: access to affordable, quality healthcare and child care (including after school care & summer care); violence; lack of economic self-sufficiency; education and  training for well-paid jobs.  She stressed the need for hope in these women’s lives, and the fact that they should be able to access public supports when necessary without stigma.  Goertzel pointed out that while the gender wage gap remains at all educational levels, education has a bigger impact on wages than any other factor.   The lack of paid leave options for workers means they have little or no flexibility in caring for themselves or loved ones.  Pennsylvania has no state disability benefit and does not require that employers provide paid sick leave or disability coverage.  As a result, workers – especially low-skilled, low-wage workers - regularly lose their jobs if they become ill or must care for someone else. For many low-wage workers who lack seniority and flexibility in their jobs, healthcare issues can be the cause of rotating on and off of welfare. 

Jean Hunt, Executive Director of the Campaign for Working Families, reminded attendees that the personal is still political.  She also stressed that economic power is the key to the next phase of the women's movement, and that under current conditions, it is nearly impossible for the average worker to find any level of economic security.  Three quarters of Philadelphia’s families are living on $50,000 or less; we know that it takes at least $43,000 for a family of four to meet its most basic needs in this region.  That leaves almost no money for any other expenses. As a result, many fall prey to predatory lending practices including high interest credit cards, payday loans and tax rebate advances.  She stated that, to thrive, a democracy needs a strong middle class, but protections for that middle class have eroded and must be restored.

Conference participants emphasized the following:

Participation in the political process is vital to influencing policy change – this includes voting, making careful choices on Election Day, letting one’s political voice be heard, and encouraging campaign-finance reform so that more people have the ability to run for office. 

Society’s “values” discussion should shift from divisive conversations about abortion and gay marriage to conversations about basic issues of education, healthcare and economic self-sufficiency.

Workers need a  living wage, paid leave, education, fair credit practices, information about available resources, role models for entrepreneurship, workplace flexibility, access to affordable healthcare, housing; hope and a sense of future; attention to unresolved emotional issues.

Society needs to raise boys who believe in fundamental respect and equality for women and girls.

We need more forums for discussions like the one at this conference.