Good News About Women and the Stimulus Package

Posted by Jill Filipovic, Feministe at 4:26 PM on January 29, 2009.

We didn't win the birth control battle, but the stimulus package is still very good for women.

So, what's in the package for women? "Expanding health for them, child care, unemployment insurance, direct help in higher food stamps and energy assistance," said Joan Entmacher, vice president for family economic stability at the National Women's Law Center, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group that has worked closely with the Obama transition team and key members of Congress. "It also protects a lot of jobs for women in education, early education and social work services."

"You don't get everything you ask for," said Entmacher, "[But] we're pleased with the funding specifically targeted to child care and Head Start and other investment for children with disabilities."

Other feminist leaders are also guardedly positive about the stimulus.

"We're pretty happy with what we're seeing so far," said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women, "But we're waiting to see details."

Asked whether the Obama administration was more friendly to feminist advocacy groups than the last administration, Gandy laughed and replied, "Are you kidding? The difference is like night and day."

Jill Filipovic is a New York freelance writer and a law student at NYU. More of her writing is available at her blog, Feministe.