Despite the significant gains women have made over the past century, gender inequality persists throughout society. From the pay gap, to family leave, to domestic violence, to STEM education, women's issues remain neglected, even as women surpass men in college graduation and voting rates.
Local government, and mayors in particular, have tremendous impact on the success and safety of women and girls in their cities. For example, cities can train police officers on effectively responding to domestic violence; they can address workplace inclusivity and equal pay; and they can prioritize diversity in hiring policies and political appointments. Attention to gender equality by local government can ensure women and girls are fairly treated and represented.
Today, May 17th, It's Time Network has released the first-of-its-kind "how to" guide for mayors and will launch its first Network City in San Francisco - the first in a national network of cities across the country. Together, the guide and the Network City Program will provide the structure necessary to support gender equality and the advancement of women and girls in the U.S. and beyond.
It's Time Network seeks to fuel innovation and drive equality forward at the local level, where it matters most to women's lives. The Mayors Guide: Accelerating Gender Equality offers specific recommendations for mayors to elevate the status of women and girls at the local level, leading to more prosperous communities for all. You can visit our website to download the guide, or review the 11 key areas in which cities can become better communities for women and girls. The toolkit provides common sense solutions, and helps mayors by identifying models, resources and programs already in existence, which they can adopt locally to promote the success of women and girls.
When mayors prioritize women and girls, the outcomes are clear:
Strong women = strong families = strong communities
Rather than forcing women to choose between their families and their careers, mayors can create family-friendly policies that help women lead productive, balanced, and happy lives. From paid family leave to universal pre-K, there are many initiatives and policies that mayors can support that help women increase their earning potential while also strengthening their families through access to better social services.
Economic inequality
Right now the gender pay gap extends across professions. From construction workers to doctors, women make only 78% of what their male counterparts earn. This inequality hurts our entire economy - it's estimated that closing the gender pay gap will add $12 trillion to the global economy. Policies that foster or guarantee equal pay for women will boost local economies across the country, and ensure that hardworking women receive the pay they deserve.
Betting on the future
The technology industry is a huge job producer - especially here in the Bay Area - yet girls pursue careers in science, math, and technology at much lower rates than boys. In order to change this, mayors can develop policies that encourage girls to get into coding, inventing, and experimenting, in order to ensure that we prepare all girls to succeed in a 21st century economy.
When mayors invest in women and girls, this strengthens the infrastructure of our cities. Policies and programs that support investing in women and girls strengthens our economy, drives innovation and progress, builds resilient families, and ensures a better future for communities across the country.