From Fall 2019 until the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled in-person events in Spring 2020, the Michigan Women’s Commission and Governor Whitmer held conversations with women around the state to hear what they believe are the most pressing issues they face. The women overwhelmingly cited economic security issues as their top concerns. Pay equity, affordable and accessible child care, and a pathway to higher paying jobs were consistently prioritized—and this was before the pandemic put a glaring spotlight on these issues. The Commission used these Gender Equity Conversations to craft our current initiatives. View the summaries from our Community Conversations.

Women in Michigan have made considerable advances in economic status in recent years, but still face inequities that often prevent them from reaching their full potential. Persistent earnings inequality for working women translates into lower pay, less family income, and more children and families in poverty. The Financial Freedom Committee is focusing on actions to close gaps and increase access to income. Examples include pay equity, salary transparency, access to education/training for higher-paying jobs, micro-loans/business incentives for women-owned businesses, and a living wage.

The number of women serving in leadership positions in Michigan at all levels in business, non-profits and elected ranks are sorely lacking. The Visible Authentic Leadership Committee is exploring policies that will increase the number of women serving in publicly visible leadership roles across sectors. Examples include incentives for promoting more women into corporate executive leadership, increasing the number of women serving on corporate, foundation and nonprofit boards, and encouraging more women to run for elected office at all levels of government.

The Committee on Implicit Bias is an internal oversight committee to provide ongoing learning opportunities for Commissioners to identify, acknowledge and minimize implicit bias in themselves and within the Michigan Women’s Commission, and to develop a common language and lens to guide the Commission’s work and policy recommendations. When appropriate, these learning opportunities will be shared with policymakers and the public. 

Michigan women face several barriers that often prevent full and continuous participation in the workforce. Most of these barriers come from the costs – in time, dollars and energy – of caregiving for others. The Unlocking Opportunities Committee is pursuing initiatives to eliminate these barriers to work choice. Examples include increasing the availability of and access to affordable child care, expanding paid parental leave across employment sectors and status, and introducing additional caregiver paid leave options.