Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Linda Tarr-Whelan, a senior distinguished fellow at the public policy organization Demos, and the chair of the Task Force on Young Women and the Economy, which has its first meeting this week. She lives in Burlington.
On April 30, 2013, at the Statehouse in Montpelier, I joined more than two dozen leaders — women and men from business, government and the community — to participate in the Vermont Works for Women press conference unveiling “Enough Said – Young Women Talk About School, Work and Becoming Adults: Why We Should Listen and What We Can Do.” The report not only delineated what has been a somewhat hidden problem, but clearly touched a nerve for all of us that action is needed. No matter how busy, whoever was invited to participate in the Task Force on Young Women and the Vermont Economy came on board.
Why did we react so strongly and give of our time to work together for action? This qualitative survey of and listening to young women and girls, ages 15 to 25, across the state showed that Vermont’s young women feel ill-equipped and underprepared for adulthood. While often at the top of the charts in school, their clear voices tell us about their real concerns. They lack practical skills related to personal finance and living independently, identify few personal allies or networks of support, and receive minimal exposure to a broad range of careers and role models. All of this results in severely limited expectations of meaningful work. Relational aggression among their peers isolates them further.
I have a 15-year-old granddaughter and was touched by the poignant voices of the young women in the study who are feeling lost. “How could I know if I want to be a mechanic when I’ve never even held a wrench?” “I don’t have a clue what kind of income I need monthly to have my own apartment, buy food and necessities.” “I didn’t go out of my way in high school to figure out what makes me tick. I never connected to much of anything.” Their lives are not on a trajectory leading to a satisfying career.
When you bring diverse leaders together to identify what they can do within their own networks and institutions, you catalyze action.
Vermont’s economic growth can only be robust if we can count on an educated and engaged workforce. Both young women and men – the consumers, executives, producers, employees, investors and entrepreneurs of the future – must be well-prepared to take their place. Right now the state’s women are twice as likely to live in poverty as men, and lag in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers and trades that lead to a strong financial base. Extensive national and international research data shows that economically empowering women spurs economic growth; failing to do so has societal costs. Bringing that research home and investing carefully can mean widespread gains in personal well-being and economic prosperity.
The task force is set to develop commitments, collaborations, partnerships and policy recommendations to publicly present to Gov. Shumlin in time for the next legislative session. Drawn from all parts of the state, we are perhaps “unlikely allies” to tackle this challenge. My experience is that this strategy works. When you bring diverse leaders together to identify what they can do within their own networks and institutions, you catalyze action.
As the CEO of a national progressive think tank, I led a similar national effort in 1997 to develop a Women’s Economic Agenda which was presented to President Clinton and Vice President Gore. Again, leaders came from all three sectors and all parts of the political spectrum. We dealt with the challenges women faced – generally not yet seen as priorities in discussions about a vibrant economy, but shown over and over to be essential for real opportunity for women. They included: removing obstacles to the expansion of women-owned business; modernizing the workplace with family and work policies; and making non-traditional careers more available.
Vermont can only gain by attention to young women and the economy. Women and families gain from economic independence and following their passion. Communities and companies gain from tapping all of the state’s talent. Our work is cut out for the task force. Stay tuned for the results.
