Kalisha Dessources Figures and Catherine E. Lhamon

“ In addition to approaching policy with both racial and gender equity in mind, considering other factors that create barriers for safety and well-being is important, too. While Black girls are suspended from school at higher rates than girls of any other race or ethnicity, LGBTQ+ students, especially those who are transgender or who have disabilities, are also more likely than their non-LGBTQ+ peers to receive detention, suspensions, and expulsions from school, often as a result of discrimination and harassment. ”

“ The President’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan will not only be instrumental to vaccinating America, safely reopening our schools, and delivering economic relief checks into the pockets of 85 percent of the American people—it is also projected to dramatically reduce poverty and racial and gender wealth gaps. It contains the largest investment in child care since World War II, which will especially benefit the women of color disproportionately employed in our caregiving workforce. ”

“ Together, the White House Gender Policy Council and the Domestic Policy Council work every day to implement the comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all that President Biden and Vice President Harris have prioritized since day one. From health, to economic security, to education and safety—equity is essential to building a stronger country for us all. ”

“ Native American women are subjected to sexual violence and domestic violence at rates higher than any other population in the United States, and the vast majority report being victimized by a non-native individual. Equity also requires supporting the work of culturally specific community-based organizations to ensure different pathways to safety and more holistic approaches to prevention and healing for survivors from historically marginalized communities. ”

“ Equity is essential to economic security for women and families. We know, for example, that reliable access to child care is critical to helping parents secure and maintain good jobs and build economic stability. ”

“ Part of the reason for this is that our nation has failed to adequately invest in and value our care infrastructure—the under-compensated caregivers and early childhood educators who bring greater security and peace of mind to so many families—who themselves are disproportionately Latina women and other women of color. Latina women on average earn 55 cents for every dollar that non-Hispanic white men earn. ”

“ In addition to these early and transformative actions, our teams have set up the infrastructure to ensure that whole-of-government approaches to equity are deeply integrated throughout the federal government—keeping in mind the specific barriers that Black, Indigenous, and other women and girls of color face every step of the way. ”

“ It provides crucial support to small businesses in industries that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19, many of which are concentrated among entrepreneurs of color. Its creation of a new public health job corps will mobilize 100,000 community health workers to provide culturally competent care, maximizing better health outcomes across America, and specifically benefitting communities of color and women and girls. ”