George Bush's stance on the Glass Ceiling

Glass Ceiling/Women in the Workplace: In 1984 the term glass ceiling was first referenced in Working Women. The term refers to women who cannot move beyond middle management in the work class. The problem became well known and by 1991, the Glass Ceiling Act was enacted. It was part of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which amended the same act of 1964. The Glass Ceiling Act under Title II, recognized that there were few women or minorities in higher positions of business, there were barriers placed on them, and when women and minorities held a higher-level position, generally they were not as well compensated as white men were in the same job position. The act create a Glass Ceiling Committee is composed of 21 members with the Chairperson being the Secretary of Labor, who are to review the barriers that exist in the workplace on women and minorities and how they can overcome the barriers.

George W. Bush

Description of the candidate's position: More mothers are joining the workforce and providing for their families, therefore Bush is looking not only at the economy and narrowing of the pay gap for women, but other issues that effect women. He is moving to restore the economy, make healthcare more affordable, set higher educational standards, and a safer and secure homeland. Women play a large role in the future of America.

Direct Quotation: "The country and my administration have benefited from strong women who have serve as senior members of my White House team. I know my life is enriched by remarkable, American women-starting with my wife Laura, my daughters, and my mother-who are making a difference, bringing dignity, compassion and integrity to our communities and our country."

Assessment of the Proposal:

Positive: Bush is looking to narrow the gap for women and trying to restore the economy. He is not only looking to economic factors that effect women, but also other issues that effect women in our country. He has a long list of endorsements ranging from working mothers from different states, to Senators and the former Miss America.

Negatives: Bush has no real stand on how to change the pay gap; also most of his tax cuts effect small businesses, which women own nearly half. Unemployment rates are higher for women and women in minority groups since Bush took office. Also Bush closed the White House office on women's issues, the office was claimed to have expired when the term of Clinton ended.

Comparison: Kerry is more focused on closing the pay gap between men, women, and minorities in the workplace than his opponent. He is also fighting for other issues that effect women like Bush is. Kerry's website however goes in more detail and attacks Bush on his job of closing the pay gap and the place of women in the workplace. The website provides great detail as to what Bush has or has not done to break the barriers of women and minority groups in the workplace.

Link to Kerry's brief on Glass Ceiling

Sources:

http://www.aflcio.org/issuespolitical/women/equalpay.html

http://annebergpublicpolicycenter.org/04_info_society/women_leadership/2003_04_the-glass-ceiling-persists.html.

http://www.georgewbush.com/women/html.