In a letter to President Obama, feminist groups across the country have asked the incoming Administration to create a new Cabinet-level Office of Women’s Affairs.
“…we urge you to create a Cabinet-level Office on Women that will deal… with the status of women [and] …the many inequities women face in our society… [and] because of the increased disparities and backward movement of the past eight years.”
According to the letter, the new Office of Women should be directed to enhance the lives of women “through policies, inter-agency coordination, budgeting and initiatives.”
The proposed new federal Agency would be tasked to “evaluate federal programs, initiatives and policies” for potential “opportunities and inequities” that may effect women.
The Office would have leadership of the reconstituted White House Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach as well as the restored Interagency Council on Women. It would also be charged with preparing a coordinated budget for all efforts aimed at achieving the equality of women.
The letter also called for the Office of Women to “interrelate” with government-sponsored Women’s Affairs agencies from any domestic or international jurisdiction, including US states and counties, government agencies from foreign countries, as well as the United Nations.
The letter is dated December 16, 2008, and is signed by the officers of almost 50 women’s groups. Signatories include Kim Gandy (NOW) Eleanor Smeal (Feminist Majority), Martha Burke (Center for Advancement of Public Policy), and Jodie Evans (CODEPINK).
While President Obama’s agenda does include substantial attention to women’s issues — eg., health care and reproductive choice — so far the new Whitehouse has made no comment on whether the proposed new Agency will be created.
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