Jump to your issues:

Defining “Woman”

Creating Economic Opportunity

Unleashing Childcare Options

What is a “Woman”

Download Stand with Women Models

The Stand with Women Legislative Options were developed by Independent Women to preserve the legal existence of women, as distinct from men. 

The legislative package includes:

• Definitions of sex-based words like “woman,” “man,” “male,” “female,” and “sex;”
• Legal protection to defend women’s single-sex spaces and opportunities (sports, prisons, locker rooms, women’s domestic violence shelters, etc.);
• Protection of female sports;
• Protecting the integrity of government-collected vital data statistics.

Our Stand with Women Act combines each of these model legislative options into a comprehensive package that not only defines ‘male’ and ‘female’ terms, but also protects female spaces and opportunities.

Does your state Stand with Women? 

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Resources:

• Cruel and Unusual Punishment Report
• Legal Policy Focus: Sex is Better Than Gender
• 60 Seconds Brief: Women’s Bill of Rights

Creating Economic Opportunity

To promote economic opportunity, policies should support workplace flexibility and reject policies that force workers into rigid 9-to-5 work relationships. This includes removing unfair and unnecessary barriers to work by enhancing occupational licensing portability across state lines.  Furthermore, independent workers seeking benefits shouldn’t have to give up their independent status. Portable benefits, such as health care and retirement, offer a way for workers to carry benefits wherever they go. 

Legislation

Restrictive definitions of independent contracting, such as the ABC test used in California’s AB5 which effectively reclassifies many freelancers, self-employed professionals, and gig workers, destroy flexibility and opportunity. Instead, states should adopt universal license recognition, as West Virginia has done, to protect these opportunities and mobility. 

In 2023 the first-ever state portable benefits legislation became law in Utah. Tennessee recently followed suit, passing portable benefits legislation that supports flexible work for over 1.5 million independent workers. Independent Women was proud to support Tennessee in this landmark achievement. Other states should follow suit and provide this important support for independent workers. 

Resources

• 60 Seconds Brief: Occupational Licensing
• 60 Seconds Brief: AB5
• How To Talk About Protecting Worker Flexibility and Freedom
• Policy Focus: Solutions to Occupational Licensing Challenges
• 60 Seconds Brief: Portable Benefits
• Policy Focus: Portable Benefits

Unleashing Childcare Options

Families should have the freedom to choose the childcare arrangement that best suits their needs. To help make this a reality, policies should focus on reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens and supporting a strong, flexible childcare market. While state regulations are often put in place in the name of protecting children, too many rules create unreasonable requirements that do not improve the quality of care, but simply increase costs for providers and families and keep potential providers out of the market. 

Legislation

Tennessee is a leading model of this approach, having recently passed legislation aimed at streamlining licensing regulations for childcare providers. Independent Women was part of the effort to help advance this important reform.

This won’t solve every childcare challenge, but it is a meaningful step toward expanding access, supporting providers, and giving families more options. We hope other states follow Tennessee’s lead and take action to improve childcare affordability and choice in their own communities.

Resources

• Policy Focus: Parents—Not Government—Should Control Child Care
• 60 Seconds Brief: Child Care
• How to Talk About Child Care