The War on Women

Women in the United States continue to be severely disadvantaged. The disadvantages extend from overpriced consumer goods made specifically for women to restrictive guidelines on abortion. When it comes to protecting women, America stumbles along far behind Germany.

America has serious problems in the area of policy toward women that need some examination. In the election campaign, Democrats accuse Republicans of waging a “war on women.” To escalate issues that affect women to the level of a “war” is, of course, the result of shrill political campaigning. It is, however, true that equality of the sexes in the United States has yet to be satisfactorily realized.

The disadvantages start with money. The pay gap between men and women is well documented and widely recognized. Investigations repeatedly show that consumer products for women are more expensive than comparable products for men. In California, it was found that women pay an average of $1,351 more per year for their products than do men. As a consequence of that finding, California passed legislation in 1996 outlawing so-called “gendered pricing.”

A 2010 Consumer Reports investigation shows that little has changed despite the law. Regardless of whether it’s deodorant, shaving cream or other personal hygiene items, products specific to women were more expensive. But it’s not only the industry that profits from this inequality. No, the state also gets its cut as well. Example: The import levy on athletic shoes for women (10 percent) is higher than it is for men (8.5 percent). The same pattern can be shown for numerous other products. The “woman’s tax” is applied especially on those items that rank as the most imported.

Currently, the fight over a woman’s right to control her own body is again raging in the United States. Several states with Republican-controlled governments, such as South Carolina and Arizona, have made access to abortion more difficult by permitting it only during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

After 20 weeks, a “late-term” abortion is only permissible if the life of the mother is in danger. In addition to that, politicians in these states have exempted abortion from public health insurance coverage. Organizations like Planned Parenthood that support women in making such difficult decisions are also in danger of losing support from the state government.

Another issue is a woman’s physical integrity. The Violence Against Women Act passed in 1994 provided better protections for women who were victims of domestic violence and made it easier to prosecute the perpetrators. The law is scheduled for amendment this year, but Republicans are currently trying to weaken it to the extent that many women — for example, those women whose residence rights are dependent on the husband — wouldn’t be protected by it.

They are even attempting to block improvement of protections for Native American women who live on reservations. Here is where governmental intervention is really necessary. Conditions for Native American women are horrifying. A Justice Department investigation has determined that one-third of all Native American women have been raped at least once. That’s an incredible number! It comes as no surprise that only a few of those cases have ever even made it to court. Here in Germany, we love to point to the many values we share with America. But we have little in common with the United States when it comes to the status of women in our society. Lobbies for women, especially immigrant women, are essentially too weak to have much influence in the American political process. Political opinion isn’t exactly on their side. It’s sad but true, and the situation there is getting worse instead of better.