Equal Rights Advocates, which fights for gender justice in workplaces and schools across the country, is available to discuss the would-be 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade on Jan.22, implications since the Dobbs decision, and how to push for progress amid political backlashes.
Jan. 22, 2023, would have marked the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. With the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning the federal right to an abortion last year, the health and lives of millions of Americans have been put at risk, decades of gender justice progress have been halted, and social inequalities have been worsened, especially for women of color. Noreen Farrell, gender justice expert, civil rights attorney, and executive director of Equal Rights Advocates (ERA), is available to discuss implications and economic ramifications since the overturning of Roe v. Wade and how to ensure that access to reproductive healthcare remains a reality for all.
Studies show there is a direct causal relationship between the right to an abortion and women’s future economic and social participation. Women’s labor force participation increased from 40% before Roe v. Wade in 1973 to 60% in 2020. Since 2022, labor participation rates for women in states banning abortion have decreased to 56%. Following the Dobbs decision, pre-existing inequalities have only been exacerbated as most abortions are banned in at least 13 states. New research has proven a correlation between abortion restrictions and increased suicide risk among women ages 20 to 34, increased challenges for more than 5 million Latinas to access abortions, and increased maternal and infant death rates in states with abortion restrictions.
However, the continuous fight for reproductive justice is unwavering. Female founders are increasing investment in women’s healthcare, President Biden issued an executive order aimed at ensuring access to reproductive healthcare, and in the first post-Roe election five states granted protections for abortion rights.
Noreen Farrell is a nationally-recognized civil rights attorney and leader on gender justice. Noreen has represented thousands of students and workers in sex discrimination cases (all the way to the Supreme Court). She is also the architect of several high-impact women’s economic policy reform campaigns improving the lives of millions of women and families. Noreen founded and chairs the Stronger California Advocate’s Network advancing workplace justice and anti-harassment reforms, expanding access to affordable childcare, and helping families build assets and wealth. She also founded and chairs the Equal Pay Today! Campaign, closing the gender and race pay gap with partners in states across the country. Noreen’s thought leadership and commentary are regularly featured in national media and are presented widely. Among many other awards, Noreen has been named a Top Legal Innovator in Law and one of the Top Women Lawyers in California.
Equal Rights Advocates fights for gender justice in workplaces and schools across the country. Since 1974, they have been fighting on the front lines of social justice to protect and advance rights and opportunities for women, girls, and people of all gender identities through groundbreaking legal cases and bold legislation that sets the stage for the rest of the nation.
