Womens Issues
Defending Women's Rights and Economic Equality
For too long, women's healthcare, bodily autonomy, and economic equality have been treated as political bargaining chips. John Paul's agenda means fiercely defending women's rights as both human rights and essential economic rights for the working class.
Reproductive Freedom is Non-Negotiable. The government has no right to dictate a woman's personal medical decisions. We must unequivocally codify reproductive freedom into federal law, fiercely protect access to contraception and IVF, and ensure that abortion care is safe, legal, and accessible for everyone.
Equal Pay for Equal Work: It is unacceptable that women (especially women of color) continue to make a fraction of what men make for the exact same work. When women are shortchanged, entire families and communities suffer. We need to work aggressively to close the wage gap, and raise the federal minimum wage, which disproportionately impacts working-class women.
Universal Childcare and Paid Family Leave: No mother (parent) should have to choose between a paycheck and caring for a newborn or a sick family member. The lack of paid leave and affordable childcare is quietly pushing millions of women out of the workforce. We must establish comprehensive, federally guaranteed paid family and medical leave, and invest heavily in universal childcare so working families can actually get ahead.
Tackling the Maternal Mortality Crisis: The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation in the world, with women of color facing terrifyingly disproportionate risks. This is a national disgrace. We must mandate maternal health coverage expansions, hold medical systems accountable, and properly fund community-based care and midwifery to ensure every mother has a safe pregnancy and delivery.
Combating Gender-Based Violence: Everyone deserves to be safe in their homes, in their workplaces, and on the streets. We must continuously strengthen and fully fund the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), close loopholes that allow domestic abusers to access firearms, and provide robust, federally funded support systems and housing protections for survivors of domestic violence and assault.
You cannot claim to fight for the working class without fighting for the women who hold up the American economy. We must push back against the relentless attacks on women's autonomy and build a system that guarantees true equality, safety, and opportunity for all.