Women’s Issues

On August 26, 1970, millions of women joined a nationwide Women’s Strike for Equality to demand social, economic and political equality. Shortly thereafter, Congressional hearings began on the Equal Rights Amendment.

The Women’s City Club has a historic commitment to advancing the roles and status of women and girls in New York City. Indeed, we were founded nearly a century ago to make women’s voices heard and heeded on pressing public policy issues.

As women’s roles and issues have evolved over the years, WCC has kept pace. We strongly advocate for gender equity and work/family balance policies and practices at the city, state and federal levels, and we are quick responders on emerging issues.

Go to our Women’s Issues Committee page to learn more about our recent actions and accomplishments.

Recent Women’s Issues News:

(if no items are displayed below, please click the refresh button)

  • Veterans Day: Honor Military Women by Signing Petition and Reading One Woman’s Story November 11, 2011
    This Veterans Day, join us in honoring our female service members, both past and present, by signing our petition in support of the Military Access to Reproductive Care and Health Act (MARCH Act) and reading the story of one woman who was raped twice while in the military. Published online in Ms. Magazine, this article [...]
  • WCC Testifies in Support of a NYC Young Women’s Initiative November 9, 2011
    As part of the WCC’s efforts to ensure equality and opportunities for women, Marge Ives, Chair of the WCC’s Women’s Issues Committee, testified before City Council in support of a NYC Young Women’s Initiative. While the WCC applauds the recently announced Young Men’s Initiative that will implement criminal justice reforms as well as provide education, [...]
  • December 9 – How We Can Curb Sex Trafficking in NYC October 31, 2011
    Each year, thousands of women and girls are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation. In NYC, women of all ages are forced to work for brothels, strip clubs, massage parlors, bars, escort services, and as street prostitutes. Many of NYC’s involuntary sex workers are children; the Department of Justice estimates that the most frequent age of [...]
  • Add your voice to support the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act October 31, 2011
    ACT NOW and support critical legislation for survivors of domestic violence and all community members in your district and across the state. Earlier this year, the WCC submitted a letter in support of the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (A.7874/S.5436).  If enacted, this bill would begin to address years of injustice faced by survivors caught [...]
  • Help Protect Military Women’s Reproductive Health October 26, 2011
    Women who are brutally raped in the U.S. military should not have to pay for their own abortions, but they do. Under current federal statute, the Department of Defense (DoD) permits coverage for abortion care to instances when the pregnant woman’s life is in danger. Abortion is not covered in cases of rape and incest. [...]