Tour participants identified the need to enforce the 1963 Equal Pay Act, which requires women and men to be paid equal wages for equal or comparable work. Enforcement of this Act is one step towards ensuring economic equity. Also stressed was the need for girls to be encouraged to take science and math classes and pursue career tracks that will set them on the road to higher-paying jobs. Young women also need access to the higher education and specialized training that can help women achieve economic equity and security. Currently, a woman with a bachelor’s degree earns 75 percent more than one with only a high school education.
4. Improving Access to Safe, Affordable Housing
The high cost of living in California is reflected in the difficulties families face in trying to buy a home. Throughout the state, housing costs have skyrocketed. In Los Angeles, housing prices are so high that more than 80 percent of families are unable to buy a median-priced home. While middle-class families struggle to buy homes, low-income families struggle to find any safe, affordable housing. Many participants noted that the only areas where low- or no-income women can afford to live have poor schools, high crime rates, no neighborhood grocery stores that stock fresh fruits and vegetables and few job opportunities. Additionally, low-income housing is often located near polluting facilities or in areas that are mixed zones, allowing industrial businesses to operate in the same area as residential housing.
5. Nurturing the Personal Development of Young Women and Girls
Repeatedly, conversations returned to the societal pressures on young women and girls, particularly from an increasingly highly sexualized culture. In every Tour city, we heard stories of how gender stereotypes, especially in the media, affect young women’s self esteem, body image and personal development. In the face of these societal pressures, Tour participants believe that it was more necessary than ever to increase opportunities for young women to develop leadership skills and the capacity for critical thinking. Participants also cited the need for new forums for educating girls on a range of issues from sexual health to financial literacy and leadership development.
