The Fight for Female Equality in 2020
Though women have made great legal strides, the fight for female equality pushes on. Here are the top 7 legal issues facing women in 2020.
Women continue to face legal issues in important areas like affordable child care, reproductive rights, equal access to education, economic justice, sexual harassment, employment discrimination, and high-quality healthcare.
1. Affordable Child Care
70% of women work, many of whom struggle to find time to raise their children and work full time. Mothers should not be forced to choose between caring for their child or providing for their family. Without accessible, high-quality child care, women often struggle to pursue their career goals. Affordable child care can help working mothers focus on building their careers during their child’s early years. Access to low-cost child care is one of the many legal issues facing women.
2. Reproductive Rights
Access to birth control, like abortion and contraceptives, is vital to female empowerment, freedom, and equality. Without guaranteed legal and financial access to such medical needs, women’s reproductive rights remain jeopardized. Unfortunately, some state politicians continue to restrict the federal precedent set by Roe v. Wade. Women’s liberty should not depend on where they live or how much they earn. Regardless of their location or income, birth control should be legally and financially available to women.
3. Equal Access to Education
Unfortunately, women often aren’t offered equal access to education. Too often, pregnant and parenting students are forced between raising their child or getting an education. While mothers are guaranteed equal access to education under Title IX, academic institutions must be held accountable for violations of federal law. Public and private schools should support pregnant and parenting students through their academic ambitions. Also, female students often face being pushed out of school by unfair and sexist policies that disregard their need for support from harassment, trauma, or other adversities. The legal stride to protect women’s equal access to education continues.
4. Economic Justice
The female battle for economic justice continues into 2020. Women continue to face economic injustices like inferior job quality and sex-based wage disparities in employment. Two-thirds of minimum wage jobs are occupied by women, who often struggle to make ends meet. Accessible education, ensured reproductive rights, equitable employment opportunities, and fierce legal representation are vital to ensuring economic justice for women.
5. Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment can range from inappropriate comments to intimidations of rape or sexual assault. Unfortunately, women continue to face sexual harassment in education and employment. However, women are protected from sexual harassment under federal law. To protect against dangerous acts of sexual harassment, federal law must be adhered to and female rights must be exercised. Her Lawyer proudly defends women experiencing sexual harassment at school or in the workplace.
6. Employment Discrimination
While employment discrimination is federally prohibited, nearly 42% of women have experienced employment discrimination. Women that have faced employment discrimination do have legal recourse: they can hold their employers accountable for their actions.
7. High-Quality Healthcare
Without high-quality healthcare (including access to birth control), women will continue to face economic, educational, and constitutional injustices. Pregnant or parenting students need affordable, high-quality healthcare to continue their educational pursuits. Women require public health care to ensure their physical, mental, financial, and legal prosperity.
We’re On Your Side
Her Lawyer was founded for one purpose: to serve women in need of legal help. We recognize the unique challenges women often face and are dedicated to helping the female community. If you need legal help, contact Her Lawyer. We’ll get you in touch with the most qualified attorney for your unique legal issue.