Yesterday we began Women’s History Month by making history: for the first time ever, two women sat behind the President during the State of the Union address. Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi are undeniable icons of the hard-fought progress we have made toward gender equity. History-making firsts that come in 2022 - the State of the Union, more women represented in the 117th Congress ever before, the first-ever nomination of a Black woman to the Supreme Court, and hopefully the election of the first Black woman as a Governor - remind us that the work is not yet done.

Today, women continue to face seen and unseen barriers. The pandemic has increased the burden placed on paid and unpaid caregivers, leading to a record number of women dropping out of the workforce. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization before the current Supreme Court threatens to undermine access to safe and abortion. Women overall earn 83 percent of what their white male counterparts earn but this drops to 64 percent for Black women and 57 percent for Hispanic/Latina women.

Throughout March, we invite everyone to always remember that the movement for women’s equality intersects with every area of politics, policy and life. True equality is intersectional, and we must raise up women of all backgrounds and identities to dismantle systemic barriers. We do this by listening to the women, and especially women of color, who are leading across climate and environmental justice, labor and economic justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, education, criminal justice, gun violence, and more.

This Women’s History Month, let us all celebrate the progress we have made, recognize the history being created in front of us, and continue to commit ourselves to building a more just and equitable future.

In solidarity,

YDA Women's Caucus

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