Women's Rights
Women of all ages have the right to equal opportunity
Domestic violence has not left our state.
Some people believe domestic violence nearly has left our state. While that's a nice thought, too many women still suffer in fear while their partners inflict abuse. California must continue to fund domestic violence prevention services and rape crisis centers, especially to segments of our population that have not embraced responsible behavior. Further, we must continue to prosecute domestic violence offenses aggressively.
Women have a right to pay equity.
While the pay gap between women and men has narrowed over past decades, men still make at least 25% more than women for similar work. We must continue to advocate for pay based on skills, not on length of service. When women believe their careers may be damaged permanently because they invest time caring for their children, our society has much room to grow. I will advocate for women to have real choices as they decide whether to work at a "job" or to work by caring for their children.
Training and retraining are paths out of poverty.
I will prioritize welfare and job training for single moms, while also cracking down on welfare fraud. To protect women and children in need, we need to ensure that society trusts the system to be accountable. We need to protect accessible public education at all levels - including community colleges - because consistent, quality education gives women and children a path from poverty to self-sufficiency.