The White House Blog: Women

"We and the Entire Nation Are So Proud Of All Of You": Mother's Day with the First Lady and Dr. Biden

For a group of military spouses, this Mother's Day will be one they never forget. First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a special Mother's Day tea to show their appreciation and thanks.

Women + Manufacturing Jobs + Workplace Flexibility = Success

On Thursday, April 14, I traveled to Chicago to host the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau National Dialogue on Workplace Flexibility.  This was the 7^th Dialogue in a series of ten we’ve hosted around the country following the lead of the March 2010 White House Forum.  In Chicago, we brought together educators, workers, flexibility experts, women’s rights leaders, employers and union representatives to discuss the unique challenges and solutions for implementing flexible work arrangements in manufacturing jobs. 

Participants at the forum agreed that a one-size fits all approach to flexibility will not work in manufacturing.  At Sara Lee Corporation for example, panelist Kathy Bayert, Senior Manager of Organizational Effectiveness said the company’s current approach to hour/shift workers is focused on predictable work scheduling with schedules done in advance, not a few days at a time.  However, a possible solution for Sara Lee was to develop relief crews cross-trained with multiple skills to fill in as necessary to accommodate flexibility. 

Another innovative way to develop flexible policies is the role thatworkers can play in identifying new programs.  I met Ann Flener of the United Steel Workers Women of Steel who believes that local union committees can help create those flexible workplace programs. What a strong message to workers—helping them understand that there is a way to have a voice and to help make decisions.  I also met Margie Chambers of the United Auto Workers and also a long-time employee of General Motors.  She agreed that it was a strong labor management partnership at GM that was the catalyst for including flexibility in their contracts.

Society is making incredible strides when it comes to workplace flexibility, but there is still so much more that needs to be done.

With women accounting for nearly half of today’s labor force and comprising nearly 30 percent of persons working in the manufacturing industry, we need to develop appropriate and innovative ways to allow these workers the opportunities to effectively manage their work and family lives.  In 2010, manufacturing was the fifth largest employment industry in the U.S. with over 14 million workers – of which nearly 4 million were women.  Think of it this way:  More women work in the manufacturing industry across this country than the total population of 21 states.  Without formal workplace flexibility policies adapted to fit the various manufacturing work places, women and men alike, will continue to struggle with balancing work and family.

Research shows that when employers implement flexible work options and programs, ALL employees are better able to manage work and life responsibilities leading to higher morale and ultimately improvements in productivity and the bottom line. 

The Women’s Bureau is committed to help working families achieve a better balance between work and family responsibilities.  Workplace flexibility is not just a woman’s issue - it is a family issue and it is a national economic issue.

Sara Manzano-Diaz is Director of the U. S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau

Why Financial Literacy Matters for Women and Girls

President Obama believes that for America’s women, economic security is a key component of economic opportunity.  April is National Financial Literacy Month, and we’d like to take this opportunity to discuss the ways in which financial education can help women adapt to a changing world and workforce and improve the stability of American families and our economy.

The Women in America report, a collaboration between the White House Council on Women and Girls, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Department of Commerce, found that women are particularly vulnerable to financial insecurity.  Although working women account for a larger share of family earnings, pay disparities between men and women persist.  In fact, studies show that even after accounting for factors such as education or time spent away from the labor force, women still earn less than men. 

These disparities add up over time.  As a result, women often receive smaller social security payments decades later, and have less financial resources to build retirement savings in 401(k) or IRA accounts. At the same time, because women tend to live longer than men, they have to save more for retirement.  The average woman has less money, and therefore needs more savings than her male counterpart. Women also control the majority of household consumer spending.  This means that for today’s women and girls, financial literacy is essential.

In recent surveys, two out of every three women say that they feel they have little knowledge of financial products and services.  These women are less able to plan for retirement, less able to save for their children’s educations, and are more likely to fall victim to deceptive, abusive, or predatory financial practices. 

This is one of the many reasons President Obama fought for the passage of last year’s Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  The Act created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has made promoting financial literacy and accessibility one of its top priorities.  We’ve all had the experience of looking at a loan or credit card agreement and becoming overwhelmed by the amount of complex legal language.  The Bureau will work with financial services companies to make sure that in the future, these agreements are written simply enough that every consumer can understand them.  In addition, the Bureau as the Vice-Chair of the Financial Education and Literacy Commission will work closely with the Treasury Department, which chairs the Commission, to help coordinate and optimize the financial education efforts provided across the Federal government.

President Obama knows this is an effort that must go beyond the federal government, and requires partnerships with the private sector.  This is why on January 29, 2010 the President signed an Executive Order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability.  The Council is tasked with advising the President and the Treasury Secretary on methods to strengthen and enhance coordination between existing public and private-sector financial education programs and on methods to identify effective financial capability approaches.  He also believes that financial empowerment is one of the building blocks of a fair, transparent, and competitive marketplace.

The Obama Administration looks forward to increasing economic understanding, security, and opportunity for all.To find more resources designed to help you make more informed financial choices as a consumer, visit http://www.mymoney.gov/category/topic1/women.html.  For information specific to the activities of the Bureau and for links to advice for consumers on money matters, visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at www.consumerfinance.gov/blog.  Send thoughts or ideas to the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability at OFE@treasury.gov.

Valerie Jarrett is Senior Advisor to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls

Engaging Men to Stop Violence Against Women

Earlier this month, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan traveled to the University of New Hampshire to announce new guidance on Title IX to address sexual assault on college campuses.  While announcing this extraordinary step forward, the Vice President reiterated what he has said many times, that everyone – men, women, boys and girls – all must play a part to end violence against women.  Speaking directly to male students on campus, he said: “You guys have an absolute obligation as men to speak up…  If you see a man in any way threatening a woman on this campus, if a friend even hints at potential abuse, you have an obligation to speak up.  Peer to peer, friend to friend – we know what works best, and that's how real change happens.”

This week, I am pleased to report that the Department of Justice (DOJ) took an unprecedented step in encouraging men and boys to become partners in ending violence against women.  Through its Office on Violence Against Women, DOJ announced $6.9 million in awards to 23 projects aimed to empower men to speak out about violence against women.  The initiative, called the Engaging Men Grant Program, underscores the fact that most men are not violent or abusive towards the women in their lives and encourages these men to work as allies with women and girls to prevent violence.

With the goal of reaching men of various ages and backgrounds, the Engaging Men Grant Program will fund a wide range of organizations from non-profit service providers and coalitions, to a large university and tribal coalitions, ranging across states from Maine to Washington.  As Judge Susan Carbon, Director of the Office on Violence Against Women, has said “All men play a critical role in preventing crimes against women and are important partners in our effort to address the full spectrum of these crimes.  These grants and the work of the grantees will provide the framework for extending and developing these partnerships across the country.”

Just one more piece of the government-wide response to violence against women, these new grant programs will help make this “real change” a reality as they engage men and boys to stand up and stop the violence.

For more information, check out www.ovw.usdoj.gov.

Lynn Rosenthal is the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women