John Kerry'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.

John Kerry:

Description of the candidate's position: John Kerry believes equal work deserves equal pay. Women make about 77 cents in comparison to the dollar the men will make, according to the Kerry website. Kerry wants to close the pay gap between women and men. Also Kerry wants to make the weak Title IX stronger, so more women have the opportunities for an education, so women can obtain the jobs and careers they deserve. Kerry wants to raise the federal minimum wage to $6.65 an hour, which would also benefit women in the workplace.

Direct Quotation: "As I've traveled the country, I've listened to women from all walks of life and heard their stories of struggle and triumph, an American stronger at home means respecting and honoring the many roles that women play in our country and as President, I will do just that."

Assessment of the Proposal:

Positives: Not only is Kerry looking to close the pay gap for women, he is also looking at other women's issues like equality of healthcare, re-enforcing Title IX, giving more women the chance to pursue a college education. Kerry has the support of many women in America. Some endorsements include Senator Hilary Rodham-Clinton, Madeline Albright, and Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun. Also Kerry has the support of businesswomen, many of who have broken through the glass ceiling and are CEOs and presidents of companies and corporations. The Business and Professional Women and USA Today are to very large supports of Kerry and his campaign.

Negatives: George Bush also has endorsements of women in power just like Kerry. Also Kerry does not go into detail as how he plans on narrowing the pay gap for women or how barriers can be broken in the workplace.

Comparison: George Bush has designed and organizes the W Stands for Women campaign to help gain support for women voters and identify his views on issues effecting women.

He looks at homeland security to make families safer and more secure, improving the country's economy, healthcare and education for women.

Link to Bush'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.johnkerry.com/communities/women/womensreport.html

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/women.html