Tag Archives: women

18 Aug

What can we do to empower women in today’s economy?

“We hold these truths to be self-evident:
that all men and women are created equal…”

[ DECLARATION OF SENTIMENTS ]Thus began the Declaration of Sentiments drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton—borrowing from our nation’s Declaration of Independence. Stanton read these words at the Woman’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, NY in 1848. She then outlined injustices against women in the United States and called for women to be granted the same civil, economic, and political rights as men. This launched the women’s suffrage movement that waged for decades until the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified granting women the right to vote—one hundred years ago today.

womens suffrage

As we celebrate this important centennial, let’s also recognize how much further we have to go and find ways to hasten that progress.

Here are a few options:

  1. Identify the women-owned businesses that you can support in an ongoing fashion such as suppliers to your business, makers of products that you buy, restaurants in your neighborhood, etc.  Women and specifically women of color have increasingly become key players in a business community that has been dominated by white men.  Now, as we reopen our economy, these women face additional obstacles from economic stimulus inequities.  Vote with your dollar to keep their businesses strong!
  2. Help close the gender pay gap in your company and demand the same from companies that you support.  The gender pay gap continues unabated with women earning 20% less than men for the same work. Accounting for race and ethnicity, studies find that black women are paid 38% less and Latinas are paid 47% less than men.  Learn 4 steps that your company can take to close the gap and read ASBC’s Declaration on Equity in Business, which includes 8 public policies to support an inclusive economy.
  3. Share what you learn with NYSBC including any local networks/directories of women-owned businesses. Send us an email.  We can share and amplify your impact.
  4. Let us know how we can better support women-owned businesses in your community.