Legislative Priorities | YWCA Spokane

Bis Gerechtigkeit herrscht

We call on local, state, and national legislators and people in positions of power to act on the following priorities: Racial and Social Justice, Economic Security and healthcare, Safety from Gender Based Violence, and Voting Rights and Access.

Racial & Social Justice

Racism is a public health crisis, and we support policies and practices that eliminate racial disparities in the criminal justice, environmental, healthcare, child welfare, and education systems.

Equal Opportunity & Protection

YWCA Spokane is committed to ensuring that everyone is afforded equal opportunity and equal protection under the law. We do this in alignment with YWCA USA's national policy agenda. Racial disproportionality in our child welfare and justice systems highlights the need for state and local changes.

YWCA USA Agenda

What the Numbers tell Us

A higher proportion of YWCA Spokane clients are nonwhite compared to the county population,
which suggests that Spokane follows the national trend of Women of Color experiencing higher
rates of domestic violence (Office for Victims of Crime, 2018).

All children & families deserve to feel safe & supported.

People of color are more likely to be stopped by law enforcement and booked into jail.

People of color have borne a disproportionate burden of COVID-19.

Since the pandemic hit the U.S. in early 2020, a growing body of research has consistently shown that people of color have borne a disproportionate burden of COVID-19, including being at increased risk for exposure and experiencing higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and death. Data also show that people of color are taking a harder hit financially from the economic downturn associated with the pandemic, experiencing higher rates of increases in unemployment and difficulty paying for basic needs. (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2020)

Environmental Justice is racial and social justice.

Economic Security & Healthcare

We support policies and practices that remove barriers to workplace participation, increase financial stability, and expand access to all types of medical care.

Gender Pay Gap

Equal pay, workplace fairness and access to high-skill,
high-wage jobs are essential for economic advancement for everyone, especially for women and marginalized genders.

A 2022 report on the gender pay gap includes the impact of the pandemic and discusses the ‘controlled gender pay gap.’

Gender Pay Gap

Compounded Barriers

For many people, getting the medical care and insurance coverage they need is a struggle. When you add trauma from domestic violence, difficulty with language access, and other potential barriers such as being undocumented, accessing services or making progress with financial goals can be incredibly arduous or nearly impossible.

These issues impact their economic security and ability to thrive in our community.

Low-income mothers are less likely to receive adequate prenatal care.

Women of color experience poverty differently because they face the intersectionality of both racism and economic injustice.

Unconscious bias informs what types of careers are “suitable” for women versus men.

What is the controlled gender pay gap: The controlled gender pay gap measures “equal pay for equal work”. Both the uncontrolled gender pay gap and the controlled gender pay gap are important for understanding how society values women. The uncontrolled gender pay gap is an indication of what types of jobs — and the associated earnings — are occupied by women overall versus men overall. This in turn is an indicator of how wealth and power is gendered and the value that women have compared to men within our society.

Occupational segregation based on gender norms is one large driver of the overall pay differences between men and women. Unconscious bias informs what types of careers are “suitable” for women versus men, which are indoctrinated at a young age. For example, women are more likely to be in positions of service, education, healthcare support and other fields associated with “nurturing”, while men are more likely to be in positions of problem solving and wealth management. Women face wider pay gaps in male-dominated occupations and industries. In addition, when women enter occupational fields traditionally dominated by men, the pay for positions in those fields drops.

Gender Pay Gap Report 2022

Safety from Gender Based Violence

As Spokane County’s largest state recognized service provider for victims and survivors of intimate partner domestic violence, YWCA Spokane is interested in advancing legislation that supports survivors and prevents gender based violence.

The Reality Across our Nation

Women, girls, trans and nonbinary individuals of all
ages, income levels, racial and ethnic communities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and religious affiliations continue to experience violence in the form of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and trafficking.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

The Reality in Spokane, WA

Spokane County DV rates are nearly twice that of Washington State (15.6 per 1,000 vs 8.4 per 1,000) and have remained higher than the state average.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of domestic and family violence have gone up, as has the urgent need to provide support and services for families experiencing domestic violence in their homes. In 2020, our agency saw a 40% increase in calls to our 24-hour helpline.

Rates of domestic violence among BIPOC populations are higher than those among white populations.

Gender-based violence can even happen in the workplace.

Recent legal proceedings in Eastern Washington illustrate the need for intervention. Women working on a berry farm were sexually harassed, assaulted, and in once case, raped by a manager who had the power to retaliate against the female workers who reported him (Spokesman Review, 2021).

Gender-based violence can even happen in the workplace, which inhibits an individual’s ability to remain in the workforce and follow their career goals.

Voting Rights and Access

YWCA Spokane’s mission to eliminate racism and empower
women demands that we advocate against voter suppression and barriers to voting access.

Trends in Voting Laws

We are against policies and practices that make it more difficult for U.S. citizens to exercise their basic democratic right to vote. Recent trends in voting laws indicate this is a relevant advocacy issue.

Voting ID laws and proposed redistricting maps disproportionately affect people of color, such as in recent cases in Texas, Louisiana, Und North Dakota.

Domestic Violence & Voting

We know that survivors of Intimate Partner Domestic Violence may experience barriers to voting due to safety and confidentiality concerns.

Registering to vote, among other things, makes one’s address public record. For those who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking and live with genuine concerns for safety, this fact can be absolutely terrifying.

Voting & Survivor Privacy

Laws are changing that help to address racially discriminatory election practices.

Congress passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965 during the Civil Rights Movement, and subsequently renewed it in 1970, 1975, 1982, 1992, and 2006. Until 2013’s Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder, the Voting Rights Act helped to address racially discriminatory election practices.

Under Section 5 in the Voting Rights Act, policies such as those at issue here would need to be “precleared” by the U.S. Department of Justice or the D.C. federal district court. Section 5 applied to states with a history of discrimination. In 2013, the Supreme Court delivered its Shelby County decision, which invalidated the formula that determined which jurisdictions were subject to Section 5 preclearance requirements, effectively striking down the most effective tool against racially discriminatory election practices.

Restrictions on voter rights limit equitable participation.

Brnovich v. DNC, decided in 2021, further eroded voting rights 9. Two policies were at issue in Brnovich: The first was a ban on third-party ballot collection (referred to as “ballot harvesting” by its critics), which effectively prohibits third-party collection and delivery of voters’ absentee ballots with limited exceptions. Opponents of this law point to its especially detrimental effect on Native American voters, many of whom do not have access to reliable mail services in rural Arizona, where the case originated.

The second policy at issue invalidates ballots cast in the wrong precinct, even if those ballots include votes for statewide races in which voters choose among the same candidates regardless of precinct location. Challengers of this policy contend that, combined with Arizona’s tendency to frequently change precinct locations, it disproportionately impacts Latino and other minority voters in Arizona.

YWCA USA

Gender Equity & Racial Justice

Informed by our 165-year history and by the expertise of our nationwide network, YWCA USA is carrying on its long tradition of social action and advocacy to advance our mission.

In this moment of ongoing economic uncertainty and compounding social challenges facing our nation, YWCA is driving an inclusive agenda to address the underlying gender equity and racial justice tensions that are deeply embedded in our nation.

YWCA USA Advocacy Agenda

Become a YWCA Advocate

YWCA USA offered many ways you can move into action to create change.

Tell your story about your issues with child care or gender based violence
Urge members of congress to create equal pay for equal work
Support the Women's Health Protection act
Help address cuts to funding for survivor focused social services
Protect voting rights

Action Center

YWCA USA Federal Legislative Priorities Full Report

View YWCA USA's full report that calls on members of the 118th Congress to act on health, economic, safety, and racial justice priorities.

Full Report

Get Out & Vote

Learn more about what you can do on an individual level to participate and support voter engagement in Washington State.

Vote & Advocate

Der Blog

März 11, 2025 März 15 @ 7:38 pm

Meet Emily – Women’s History Month 2025

Emily Hutchens started with YWCA Spokane in March of 2006! Her current role is Shelter Services Specialist, where she provides crucial support to staff and clients at our Safe Shelter.

März 6, 2025 März 15 @ 7:38 pm

YWCA Staff Selected to Join UN’s Commission on the Status of Women

YWCA Spokane’s staff member has been selected to be a YWCA USA delegate at the 69th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

März 4, 2025 März 15 @ 7:38 pm

Supporting Youth Recap: Pathways Forward

On February 27, as part of our Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) campaign, we held another Pathways Forward discussion to educate our community on the impact of teen dating violence and the unique needs of youth survivors. This conversation was…

Veranstaltungen

März 12, 2025 Apr. 16 @ 1:15 pm - 2:45 pm

The Thread – A Writing Workshop Series

Women survivors of domestic violence are invited to attend a writing workshop series happening once a month on a Wednesday from April through October in the Women’s Opportunity Center.

Jan. 14, 2025 Apr. 17 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Equity For All 2025

Join YWCA Spokane’s annual Equity for All event on April 17, 2025, from 5pm – 7pm at Hamilton Studios for a courageous conversation about the impact of restorative practices in our community. Learn with community leaders and enjoy performances by local artists.

März 4, 2025 Mai 1 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Feiern Sie den Muttertag mit Hope Stones Schmuck

Each May, we hold a special Hope Stones Mother’s Day jewelry sale in the lobby of YWCA Spokane to benefit our safe shelter services for survivors of intimate partner violence. 100% of proceeds benefit survivors at our Safe Shelter.

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Gesetzgebungsprioritäten

Bis Gerechtigkeit herrscht

Racial & Social Justice

Equal Opportunity & Protection

What the Numbers tell Us

All children & families deserve to feel safe & supported.

People of color are more likely to be stopped by law enforcement and booked into jail.

People of color have borne a disproportionate burden of COVID-19.

Environmental Justice is racial and social justice.

Economic Security & Healthcare

Gender Pay Gap

Compounded Barriers

Low-income mothers are less likely to receive adequate prenatal care.

Women of color experience poverty differently because they face the intersectionality of both racism and economic injustice.

Unconscious bias informs what types of careers are “suitable” for women versus men.

Safety from Gender Based Violence

The Reality Across our Nation

The Reality in Spokane, WA

Rates of domestic violence among BIPOC populations are higher than those among white populations.

Gender-based violence can even happen in the workplace.

Voting Rights and Access

Trends in Voting Laws

Domestic Violence & Voting

Laws are changing that help to address racially discriminatory election practices.

Restrictions on voter rights limit equitable participation.

YWCA USA

Gender Equity & Racial Justice

Become a YWCA Advocate

YWCA USA Federal Legislative Priorities Full Report

Get Out & Vote

Der Blog

Meet Emily – Women’s History Month 2025

YWCA Staff Selected to Join UN’s Commission on the Status of Women

Supporting Youth Recap: Pathways Forward

Veranstaltungen

The Thread – A Writing Workshop Series

Equity For All 2025

Feiern Sie den Muttertag mit Hope Stones Schmuck

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