On Women's Equality Day, a reminder that the fight for full equality continues

State Rep. Winnie Brinks represents Michigan's 76th House District in Grand Rapids.

By Rep. Winnie Brinks

Today marks Women's Equality Day - the 95th anniversary of the day women in the United States earned the right to vote. Today, American women realize opportunities and rights that our mothers and grandmothers could only dream of. A century ago, women's suffrage was still a hope; today, two women are running for president. Across the country, women now work as doctors, engineers and other professionals, and my three daughters are growing up with the knowledge that every career is open to them.

Women have indeed made great strides toward the goal of full equality. Still, as we commemorate the anniversary of our right to vote, we must recognize that the equality we, our mothers and grandmothers fought for has not yet been fully realized.

How can we imagine women have achieved equality when they still earn less than their male counterparts? In Michigan, women earn 75 cents to the dollar earned by men - which is worse than the national figure of 78 cents on the dollar. Those who don't want to see women paid their worth often claim these figures are false, even though they are routinely confirmed by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Michigan Progressive Women's Legislative Caucus has introduced bills to bring pay equity to our state, but legislative leaders have refused to allow them to come up for a vote.

Are women equal when they still suffer negative consequences for bearing and caring for children? Women are still the primary caretakers in many families, so when employers refuse to offer earned, paid sick leave, it's women whose careers are more often interrupted to care for a sick parent or child. As a result, women are forced to forego income and career opportunities, creating a lasting negative impact on their financial stability for the rest of their lives. I have joined a number of my House colleagues in introducing a proposal that would allow Michigan workers, both full- and part-time, to earn a reasonable amount of paid sick leave in proportion to hours worked. Once again, the current leaders in the Legislature refuse to bring the proposal to a vote.

Can we truly call women equal when women's health is treated as a political game rather than a real necessity? A recent study shows that 99 percent of all women use birth control at some point in their lives. Clearly, families of every income bracket, race and political party rely on contraception to improve their quality of life. However, some elected officials seeking to score easy political points with special interest groups throw roadblocks in front of families who seek to determine the size of their family and timing of having children. In doing so, they make it harder for women to plan for their future, provide for their families and achieve their goals in life. For other women, contraception is needed to control serious medical conditions, such as polyps and endometriosis. When a woman can't get the medical care she needs, her health is at risk, and she is likely to miss time at work or school.

I'm grateful for the work of the generations before me, but it's clear that there is still important work to be done in order for my daughters to enjoy the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities as men. We can't truly celebrate women's equality until all women have the same opportunities to reach the same goals in life as their fathers, husbands, brothers and sons. We must keep fighting for a world where women have true equality.

Brinks can be reached by phone at (517) 373-0822, by email at winniebrinks@house.mi.gov, or you may visit her website, RepBrinks.com.

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