Keeping America's Women Moving Forward: The Key to an Economy Built to Last. The White House Council on Women and Girls

摘要

Today, more than ever before, women are playing a central role in the American economy. Women now make up nearly 50% of our workforce, are a growing number of breadwinners in their families, and are the majority of students in our colleges and graduate schools. American women own 30% of small businesses, which generate $1.2 trillion a year in sales. Since 1962, women's participation in the labor market has risen by 20 percentage points while the United States' Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has more than quadrupled. And according to a report by McKinsey, if the United States raised female labor participation rates to the average participation rate of the top 10 states, our economy would add 5.1 million women workers, the equivalent of a 3-4% increase in GDP. Consequently, when women still face barriers to participation in the workplace and marketplace, that is not just a 'women's issue.' The statistics are very clear: The success of American women is critical for the success of American families and the American economy. And in order for our nation to keep moving forward, women must be able to help provide for their families and contribute fully to our economy. That is why, within months of taking office, President Obama created the White House Council on Women and Girls with the explicit mandate to ensure that every agency, department, and office in our federal government - with the policies they draft, the programs they create, and the legislation they support - takes into account the needs and aspirations of American women and girls. Over the past three years, the Obama Administration has worked tirelessly to promote equality; enhance women's economic security; and ensure that women have the opportunities they need and deserve at every stage of their lives, from obtaining training and education, to succeeding in the workforce and supporting their families, to retiring with dignity and security. This report provides a sampling of the policies, programs, and legislative initiatives that have resulted from these efforts. It is by no means a comprehensive list, but rather a reflection of the depth and breadth of the President's commitment to the lives of women and girls.