Can Obama Help?
Experts Say Economy is Hitting Women the Hardest
 photo by Steed Media Service
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Not only do women make less money than men on average, now a panel of experts says that women are being hit hardest by the country’s economic disaster. According to a panel of women leaders, women are being disproportionately affected by the economic crisis. The panel is urging a strong woman-focused response from the government. They are hoping that the new Obama administration will answer the call.
Sara Mersha, executive director of Direct Action for Rights and Equality, has called the heart-wrenching stories from women that have arisen over the past year an “economic Katrina.” Mersha spoke along with other women’s rights advocates at a teleconference sponsored by the Ms. Foundation for Women called “Lifted Up or Left Out? Economic Stimulus Policy that Benefits Low-Income Women.” According to OneWorld US, the experts discussed the challenges facing women in the United States today and policies that could make a difference.
One of the key issues that panel addressed was the lack of laws in the domestic work sector concerning severance pay or notice. According to executives who were on the panel, there is no safety net for these workers, which directly affects women trying to feed and support their families. Nancy Duff Campbell, co-president of the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, D.C., said the creation of a safety net begins with an economic stimulus package.
The panel said that if even half the money devoted to the $700 billion government bailout for banks could have a huge impact on housing, jobs, health care, education and other social programs that would benefit women and communities.
The government should focus on increased investment in programs that “prevent folks from being in a situation where they have nowhere else to turn,” said Mersha. “We need a fundamental shift in our priorities.”-j.h.
