An Agenda for the Obama Administration on Gender Equality: Lessons from Abroad

Abstract

This article focuses on one question, how should President Obama and his new administration affect social justice for women? There are four main overlapping possibilities to tackle gender inequality problems. The first method is to ratify the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (“CEDAW”). The second approach, which is increasingly used in newly drafted or amended constitutions, embraces specific language regarding gender equality. The third method, followed in some constitutions, national legislation, or party rules, is the use of quotas reserving fixed numbers of seats for women in national or local legislatures. The final approach, followed by countries in the prior categories, is national legislation implementing gender equality in various spheres.

Adrien Wing and Samuel Nielson advocate that the Obama administration should emphasize national legislation, and should review international approaches in the debate. Subsequently, the administration should reinvigorate a discussion over passage of a gender equality amendment. Finally, the Obama administration should invite new discussion over CEDAW ratification.

Keywords: Women's Rights, Human Rights, Obama Administration, CEDAW, Gender Equality, Recommendations, Policy objectives, discrimination

JEL Classification: K10, K30, K39