Women

California is the proud home of pioneering women who have blazed new trails in business, entrepreneurship, culture and politics.  Democrats respect women as full partners in family and society. We proudly and vigorously support a woman's right to choose how to use her mind, her body and her time. 

As part of our commitment to empowering California women, Democrats will:

• Promote equal access to training, jobs, promotion, capital, equity and contracts; 
• Support affirmative action, Equal Pay for Equal Work, Title IX, the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and ratification of the ERA;
• Preserve confidential, unrestricted access to affordable, quality and culturally appropriate health and reproductive services, including contraception and emergency contraception, without requiring guardian, judicial, parental or spousal consent or notification;
• Support the many lifesaving programs of the Violence against Women Act (VAWA), including the educational and preventative programs, especially for those who are at higher risk for sexual and domestic violence;
• Increase early breast cancer detection, treatment and supportive services;
• Enhance education and support services to women with dependent children in order to increase parenting and job skills; and
• Expand workplace rights associated with pregnancy and emergency family leave.