The work of the AAUW California State Public Policy Committee is guided by our Mission Statement and by the three pillars of our Public Policy Priorities.
Economic Security for All Women
| WHAT AAUW ADVOCATES | WHAT AAUW DOES |
|---|---|
| Equity in the workplace | Advocates for legislative changes |
| Enforcement of anti-discrimination statutes | Supports gender discrimination lawsuits through the Legal Advocacy Fund |
| Security in retirement | Conducts and disseminates research to educate stakeholders and the public |
| Access to job training for career development | Offers Start Smart and Work Smart workshops for salary negotiation; funds fellowships and grants for advanced studies |
| Work-life balance, including access to quality affordable childcare and paid sick and care-giving leave | Advocates for legislative changes |
To support a strong system of high quality public education, AAUW California advocates:
| What AAUW Advocates | What AAUW Does |
|---|---|
| Vigorous enforcement of federal Title IX (Education Amendments of 1972) and all other federal and California civil rights laws pertaining to education. | Title IX Tool Kit, monitoring |
| Adequate and equitable funding for high quality public education for all students, including preschoolers. | Advocacy with Legislators |
| Increased support for programs that break through barriers for women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. | Tech Trek |
| Protection of programs that meet the needs of girls and women in all levels of education and fields of study, including sexual health education and athletics. | Advocacy |
| Opposition to the use of public funds for nonpublic elementary and secondary education, and for charter schools that do not adhere to the same civil rights and accountability standards as required of other public schools. | Advocacy |
| Support for adequate funding that gives women and other disadvantaged populations access to higher education, including two-year degree programs and vocational training. | Student Debt Research & Education |
| Vigorous enforcement of Title IX | Supports federal legislation strengthening Title IX; opposes laws weakening it; provides Title IX toolkit; conducts institutional monitoring |
| Adequate and equitable funding at all educational levels, including pre-school and post-secondary | Advocates for legislative changes |
| Instruction in STEM fields | Advocates for legislative changes |
| Opposition to the use of public funds for schools that do not meet public school civil rights and accountability standards | Advocates for legislative changes |
To guarantee equality, individual rights and social justice for a diverse and inclusive society, AAUW California advocates:
| What AAUW Advocate | What AAUW Does |
|---|---|
| Self-determination in reproductive health | Advocates for legislative changes; conducts public education |
| Equal access to quality affordable health care, housing and a healthy environment | Advocates for legislative changes, conducts public education |
| Freedom from violence in all its forms and wherever it occurs, including racially-motivated violence | Advocates for legislative changes; conducts public education; Supports/collaborates with other community agencies that do social justice work |
| Guarantee of civil and constitutional rights for all, including all forms of identity and expression, and all family structures | Advocates for legislative changes; conducts public education; Support/collaborate with other community agencies that do social justice work |
| Protection and expansion of voting rights | Advocates for legislative changes; conducts public education |
| Support for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which address human rights and women’s and girls’ concerns. | Advocates for legislative changes; conducts public education; Support/collaborate with other community agencies that do social justice work |