Last night I had the privilege of speaking at the Sewell-Belmont celebration of the 86th anniversary of women’s right to vote in the U.S. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteed that right in 1920, thanks in no small measure to suffragists like Susan B. Anthony, a founder of the National Women’s Suffrage Association, and Alice Paul, a founder of the National Women’s Party. NWSA’s legacy lives on in the League of Women Voters, and NWP’s work for women’s equality continues at Sewall-Belmont, which was once NWP headquarters and sits just one block from the nation’s capital.
The rights to participate in political processes, fought for so valiantly by Alice Paul and others celebrated at last night’s event, must not be selective – nor should access to economic participation, as this is also linked to political participation in crucial ways beyond the vote. These days, business communities globally are witnessing increasing involvement by women, and national economies around the world are bolstered by revenues from women-owned businesses. Many nations, however, still fail to recognize the political importance and the economic power of women. Beyond the vote, women must also have a voice in decision-making on economic policies, enjoy the full range of choices in business life, and have equal access to the services necessary to start, fund, and maintain a business.
Women in the U.S. gained the right to vote the year my father-in-law was born, and yet to a woman of my age it’s almost inconceivable to not have that right. Contrast the situation of American women in 1920 with data that shows that by 2010, women in the United States are expected to control over $1 trillion, or 60% of the country’s wealth. Women-owned businesses are opening at twice the rate of male-owned businesses and employ more than 9 million workers. And women purchase or influence the purchase of 80% of all consumer goods, including economic bellwethers like stocks, computers, and automobiles. Business leaders and elected officials alike ignore these statistics at their peril. This has been increasingly recognized here in the U.S., but remains a struggle in many countries.
For example, as the U.S. looks to expand trade with Africa, African women are well poised to spur exports: women produce 70% of Africa’s apparel, the agricultural sector employs about 80% of Africa’s female workforce, and women occupy 90% of Africa’s food processing sector. Yet African women often face discriminatory policies, lack equal access to credit, receive less education, and have fewer rights to property than their husbands. Worldwide, women represent nearly half the population, of course, and they are a small but increasing part of the formal workforce. Unfortunately, they comprise a large share of the informal or grey economy and can be disproportionately affected by economic downturns – on top of already facing lower pay and more difficult access to resources – be it credit, travel, information, or perhaps their own household budgets.
Even as we celebrate the leadership and groundbreaking run for office of women like Rola Dashti in Kuwait, who seeks to become her country’s Jeannette Rankin, much more is needed to achieve equality. At the Center for International Private Enterprise, we work to enhance the participation of women in economic and political roles, recognizing that they are emerging leaders who should be prepared for greater participation and strength as a constituency. CIPE’s approach is to provide disenfranchised groups with tools to become effective leaders, to organize themselves, and to begin representing their own interests.
Business associations are one extremely useful tool that can advance the role of women in societies. They allow women to come together and voice their opinions, work toward a common goal, and combine resources and knowledge. Through business associations, women can become an important pillar in the business arena and a driving force for positive change. As they gain recognition as an emerging economic force and move into policy-making roles, they strengthen democracies with broadened participation and expanded economic opportunity.
It can require years of effort, though. Empowering women economically requires
• Equality under law as enforced, not merely as written
• Recognition of women’s influence in the consumer market
• Targeting skills to match private sector needs and training women in those areas, not simply “traditional women’s work”
• Improving basic skills in IT, negotiation, communications, and planning that are essential to success in many arenas
• Access to information – whether it be overcoming high illiteracy rates or challenging social norms that exclude women from the rooms where deals are made
• Recognizing women as valuable source of creative human capital in a country’s growth
• Strengthening their participation in policy-making and providing forums that amplify their voices
These factors can be addressed in part by women’s business associations and similar civic organizations (of university women, etc.). They are well placed to provide research that documents the impact of economic policy decisions on women in business/labor force, to demonstrate the need for institutions that are fair and equitable, to highlight successful role models, and to show the positive place of women in economy.
(Example: car salesmen in U.S. used to talk exclusively to the man when couples shopped for cars, until research demonstrated the influence of women in this significant purchase; similar experience in shaping new markets, such as rise of SUVs, which were originally ‘trucks for guys’ until research showed women were the most likely market; now many of those SUV-driving women are known politically as “soccer moms” – a coveted voter demographic).
Research, however, is insufficient without dialogue and active advocacy for change. Alice Paul and Susan B. Anthony were not known for their research! Leading change requires focused communication, increasing visibility, and gaining credibility as a voice on policy matters. It requires a real commitment and, in many place, a willingness to be on the ‘front lines’ of risk. Coming together is crucial to build strength and influence.
Groups like CIPE are honored and pleased to offer support and tools, so that reform-minded groups fighting for women’s participation can take the initiative in their own hands and achieve meaningful results as constituents, voters, candidates, and decisionmaking powerhouses with real political and economic clout.
Published Date: August 25, 2006