Login
The United State of Women Summit kicked off today in Washington, D.C. at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Vice President Joe Biden began by delivering a powerful address on violence against women to the 5,000 leaders in attendance.
“Just as I talked about how victims’ voices have to be heard, those of us who find this action reprehensible, the talk reprehensible, you have to be heard. You are the ones that are going to impact on changing the culture,” Biden said. “As Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us, the actions of bad people are not our only problem, we also answer to the appalling silence and indifference of the good people. Folks, when we change the social norm, through changes in the law, changes in attitude, changes in social expectations, we empower men and women to take actions they might not have taken otherwise. We transform bystanders into advocates. That’s what I mean by changing the culture.”
A multitude of expert speakers followed Biden in detailing women’s struggles and the work that is being done to eliminate these barriers.
“As the President knows, and as we all know, when women succeed America succeeds,” stated Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, in her address. She detailed the effects of President Obama’s dedication to creating family-friendly policies throughout the country, from an elevated minimum wage to paid maternity and sick leave, and its benefit to working women.
“Finally, we’re proud to announce today that 28 companies and counting, from Johnson and Johnson to the Gap, to Salesforce, to PwC, have all signed the new White House Equal Pay Pledge,” concluded Jarrett. “Why do they sign it? Because no woman should make any less than any man for doing the same job.”
From the professional sector to the personal arena, the fight for equal pay and the importance of increasing and maintaining access to healthcare for all women, the United State of Women Summit is increasing the conversation on crucial points for women. The Summit is affording women a stage the size of which has never been seen in the women’s movement before, and which is necessary to raise and maintain awareness.
Don’t miss your chance to learn about and participate in the women’s movement! Watch live now, http://www.theunitedstateofwomen.org/livestream/.