Governor Dean on Women's Issues

“I want jobs again, which means you need a president who manages the economy. I want to get the universal health insurance into America that other industrialized countries have. But mostly I want a restoration of our sense of community that we’re all in this together.”

One of my goals as President will be to restore a sense of community to our nation that has been eroded by the Bush administration’s policies of division. The fact is, women are equal in ability to their male counterparts, and they share similar goals, hopes and concerns. Unfortunately, it is also a fact that there remain significant challenges for women in achieving true equality in our society. As President, a cornerstone principle for me and my administration will be ensuring equal rights for all Americans — regardless of race, gender, income, sexual orientation or any other categorization that can be used to divide us. Healing the divides in our society will not be simply a matter of national dialogue — although that is an important element of leadership. What is required is a commitment to policies that will make equality achievable in practice, not just in theory.

We all share the basic goals of economic opportunity, access to health care, personal security, and quality education for ourselves and our children. Women participate in today’s workforce in record numbers, and many extend their workday as primary caregivers of their young children or elderly parents. Yet despite the valuable contribution women make to the workforce and economy, women continue to earn less than their male counterparts for equal work, and are disproportionately affected by the unmet need for a livable wage. The current bleak economy has had a particularly disastrous impact on women of color and female heads of household. The Bush tax cuts and economic policies did nothing to help low wage earners, many of whom are women. Instead, households across the country are facing rising local taxes and decreasing services. If we continue our current course, it is highly unlikely that our nation will be able to provide sufficient resources to working women — such as adequate family leave benefits or child care — and women will be forced to neglect either their work or their families. I will deliver on my promise of bringing back a strong economy, which in turn will empower women to create better lives for themselves and their families. But a strong economy alone is not enough. So just as I did as Governor, I will continue to support equal pay protection measures, fight for occupational equality, and appoint women as leaders in my administration.

As a physician, I know that quality health care translates into a fuller and more productive life. However, current conditions threaten rather than nurture the health of women and girls by obstructing access to scientific-based medical information and insurance to cover prescription drugs and medical care. Quality health care includes allowing a woman to make personal medical decisions, including when and if she will become a mother; receiving medically accurate information on reproductive issues; and having access to medical services and prescription drugs. I am a strong advocate for comprehensive sex education for adolescents. In addition, as part of my health care plan, contraceptives must be covered in the same way as other prescription drugs. I will also support closing the gap in women’s health research.

As Governor, I took action to reduce domestic violence by addressing the issue on both an individual and community level. Acts of violence — including stalking and harassment of women — have a far reaching impact on the well-being of a woman, her family, her work, and her community. Through changing community norms, adequately funding programs for victims, and supporting anti-violence legislation, I will continue to work toward making this country a safe and healthy place for women.

Women have concerns about education, not only for their children, but also for themselves. With tax cuts starving school budgets — from preschool through college — women are more concerned than ever about access, affordability, flexibility, and quality of education. Programs that ensure equal access to education must not be whittled away. Title IX is about much more than women’s athletics; it remains key to women’s successful graduation from high school and entrance into higher education. Such programs must be preserved because they are intimately tied to economic empowerment. Furthermore, loan-bearing graduates must be able to choose careers based on their interests, not based on their student loan debt. I will address issues from early childhood through post-secondary in my comprehensive education plan.

American women care about the well-being of women and girls around the world. Tragically, President Bush has shown a disregard for basic human rights related to women around the world that belies his “compassionate” rhetoric. Unlike him, my administration will promote ratification of the international Convention to End All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). We will take measures to address problems ranging from the safety of women and girls to effective HIV/AIDS programs to vigorous enforcement of laws prohibiting forced child marriage. I intend to reclaim our nation’s role as a moral force in the world. A major part of that will be a foreign policy that addresses the acute needs of women in all nations.

The Bush administration’s policies have been devastating for women. On his first day as President, he reinstated the Global Gag Rule and closed the White House Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach. In the years since, this Administration has systematically attacked women’s reproductive health care services, opposed condom distribution to fight HIV/AIDS, restricted teens’ access to information about sexuality and contraceptives, and worked to dismantle Roe v. Wade and end a woman’s right to choose. In all of these actions, President Bush has shown a stunning lack of compassion and understanding for the plight of women and girls around the world.

As President, I will take us in a new direction. The principle of equality will guide all of my policies, bringing us closer to the day when the gender divide is no longer a reality. Our goal will be a nation and a world where women and men will have equal access to economic opportunity, education, safety and security, and health care. Working toward that goal will unite us as a national and global community.