As a Democratic candidate for this upcoming election, Bernie Sanders has proved countless times to be an advocate for women's rights. Through his outspoken support for pay equity, women's right to choose and easier access to better healthcare, Sanders has demonstrated his unwavering support for women.
Pay Equity
It would make sense for someone to earn equal pay, for equal work, no matter their gender, wouldn't it? Even though this seems like common sense, to most people, women still make $0.82 to every $1 men make. Still seems like it's not that big of a deal? The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics published a document in 2013 stating that women, who worked full time, made a median of $706 a week, while men made $860; this means women made 82% of what men made, weekly. Sanders has already made strides in fixing this "American issue of basic fairness." The presidential candidate has already "co-sponsored a constitutional amendment that would guarantee fair treatment and employment of women," vocally supported the Paycheck Fairness Act, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The Paycheck Fairness Act proposes aid to help close the gap between men's and women's pay. It also includes the ability to engage in civil action suits against any employer who discriminates based on gender. Similarly, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 ensures that employees who experience unlawful pay discrimination are able to assert their rights under federal anti-discrimination laws.
Reproductive Health
Sanders is an open advocate for women's reproductive health and a loyal pro-choice supporter. In 1993, he even co-sponsored the Freedom Choice Act, which tried to restrain states from "restricting the right to terminate a pregnancy before fetal viability or at any time when a termination is necessary to protect the health of a woman." Although a pro-choice advocate, Sanders believes in lowering the number of abortions. Though this may seem contradictory to his beliefs, his reasoning behind it could not be more logical. Studies show that there is a direct correlation between poverty and teenage pregnancy, thus the likelihood of getting an abortion. Sanders has many proposals on how to resolve this ongoing, cyclical issue encompassing the issues with pay and education. First, he believes in a national healthcare system so that women do not have to worry about medical costs that are related to childbirth; studies have shown that many abortions are due to financial troubles.
Additionally, addressing the gender pay gap would allow women to feel more financially secure to raise a child. Young couples are graduating college with huge levels of student debt. In regards to education and abortion, Sanders believes in free public tuition for colleges, which will, in turn, allow students to leave with substantially less student debt. Less student debt will allow young couples to feel and be more financially secure. Bernie has accomplished much having to do with women's health rights, during his 16 years in the House of Representatives and 8 years in the Senate. He co-sponsored the 1993 Freedom of Choice Act and the Women's Health Protection Act of 2013. In addition to this, he voted many times on legislation that would make access to certain facilities easier. Sanders agrees with allowing women to "travel interstate for abortions", "permitting federal funding of organizations that conduct abortions" and increasing "access and funding for family planning for women." Aiming more towards teens, Bernie has been a strong vocal advocate for funding and better access to contraceptives, to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STD's.
In 2012 for the Huffington Post, Bernie writes, “We are not returning to the days of back-room abortions, when countless women died or were maimed. The decision about abortion must remain a decision for the woman, her family and physician to make, not the government.”
