Over the span of President Obama’s administration, he has been particularly vocal about his support of women’s rights and equality. “I didn’t run for President so that the dreams of our daughters could be deferred or denied,” said the President on International Women’s Day in 2010. “I ran for President to put the same rights, the same opportunities, and the same dreams within the reach for our daughters and our sons alike.” He has put those words into action by proposing and enforcing numerous initiatives that benefit the social and economic equality for women and girls. Of Obama’s many pro-women efforts, BlackEnterprise.com highlights five. Read on, and share some of your favorites.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
President Obama made his stance on women’s equality clear when he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination, was the first piece of legislation the President signed when he entered into office. He still advocates for the Paycheck Fairness Act, which was blocked by republicans multiple times, and he has convened an Equal Pay Task Force. The force is to protect women from pay discrimination and ensure that existing equal pay laws are being implemented.
Insurance Coverage for Women with Pre-existing Conditions
As of 2014,
insurance companies are no longer legally able to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions under the Affordable Care Act. This largely benefits women, as before companies could deny coverage to women due to their pre-existing conditions, including pregnancy and cancer. Additionally, it is illegal for insurers to charge women higher premiums than they charge men.Quality Health Care for Minority Women
Women of color and LGBT women are disproportionately uninsured. Obamacare actively seeks to offer increased access to insurance coverage and increased funding for community health centers, among other provisions. As a result, approximately 5.5 million African Americans, 6.1 million Latinos, 2.7 million Asians, and 0.3
million Native Americans have received preventive service coverage with no cost sharing under the health reform law. Obamacare Facts reports that a significant percentage within each of these groups is women.Increased Credit and Counseling Services for Women-Owned Businesses
Small Business Administration loans are three to five times more likely to be granted to minority and women-owned businesses than conventional small business loans made by banks, according to Obama Administration Record for Women and Girls. The President increased SBA lending, “making more than $7 billion available through 29,000 SBA loans to women-owned businesses between 2009 and September 2011.” The SBAÂ has over 100Â Women’s Business Centers throughout the country, offering training or counseling to more than 139,000 people.
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
In December 2010, President Obama signed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which provides funding for nearly 1,700 shelters and programs for victims of domestic violence and their children. One in every four women will experience domestic violence, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, so women especially benefit from this legislation. The act also supports the National Domestic Violence Hotline, a resource that links victims with the necessary resources to live safe lives.
Share below some other pro-woman moments under Obama’s administration.