EEOC Contributes to Historic National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality

WASHINGTON – The White House today released the first-ever U.S. Government National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality as part of an Executive Order issued March 8, 2021. The strategy outlines a roadmap to address longstanding gender discrimination and systemic barriers faced by women and girls and advance equal opportunity for all people. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was an important member of the White House Gender Policy Council that led the development of the national strategy on gender equity and equality.

“The COVID-19 pandemic’s disparate impact on women generally and women of color in particular makes it more urgent than ever to ensure that gender is not a barrier to economic security and opportunities in the workplace. This strategy’s goals to promote pay equity, eliminate harassment and other forms of employment discrimination, and support the nation’s caregivers are all important EEOC priorities,” said EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows. “The EEOC is pleased to help implement this much needed strategy to advance equal opportunity for all.”

“The scope and breadth of the national strategy on gender and gender equity is unprecedented. The integrated approach of tackling the issue of gender equity in both domestic and foreign affairs as well as recognizing intersectionality is a key component to this strategy’s success,” said EEOC Vice Chair Jocelyn Samuels. “As a Senior Designee to the White House Gender Policy Council, I was honored to be able to provide contributions to the national strategy on gender and gender equity on behalf of the EEOC.”

In a letter included in the strategy, the President and Vice President state, “Ensuring that all people have the opportunity to live up to their full potential, regardless of gender identity or other factors, is not only a moral imperative. It is a strategic imperative—a continuation of our national journey toward justice, opportunity, and equality set forth in our creation—that will advance prosperity, stability, and security at home and abroad in the years to come.”

The strategy has three main sections. Section One establishes the guiding principles that undergird the strategy to advance gender equity and equality. Section Two outlines ten strategic priorities, including a subsection “Address Persistent Gender Discrimination and Systemic Barriers to Full Workforce Participation” in the section “Improve Economic Security and Accelerate Economic Growth.” Section Three elaborates on the whole-of-government effort that is required for implementation, which will ensure that a focus on gender is mainstreamed across the work of the federal government.

The ten interconnected priorities to be tackled in concert are: 1) economic security; 2) gender-based violence; 3) health; 4) education; 5) justice and immigration; 6) human rights and equality under the law; 7) security and humanitarian relief; 8) climate change; 9) science and technology; and 10) democracy, participation, and leadership. The White House Fact Sheet on the national strategy can be found here.

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.