Women

Despite incredible obstacles, African American women have been quietly changing history for hundreds of years. By simply refusing to get up, Rosa Parks helped launch the civil rights movement. Dr. Mae Jemison proved that with hard work you really can touch the stars. Women have been tearing down obstacles and paving the way for other women to realize their dreams since the beginning of time.

Yesterday, President Obama and the First Lady hosted a reception celebrating Women’s History Month at the White House. The event featured women such as fair-pay advocate Lilly Ledbetter, Baltimore Mayor and DNC Secretary Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, and activist Dolores Huerta. During his remarks, the President talked about the historic battles that women have fought in the last century—from getting the right to vote, to fighting against pay discrimination, to passing the Family and Medical Leave Act, and to reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.

When I became unexpectedly pregnant with my daughter Sinatra, I was uninsured; at the time pregnancy was a considered a “preexisting condition,” so I could not receive coverage. Fortunately, I had the financial resources to become a mother without insurance coverage. But I was shocked and humbled by the amount of women and families whom were uninsured in our country facing critical choices about their health—oftentimes choices between life and death for themselves or a loved one. Millions of women and families will no longer have to choose as they are secured stronger protections and more preventive services for women under the Affordable Care Act.

As we celebrate Women's History Month, it is important to highlight the strides our nation's Latina entrepreneurs have made in recent years. Latina-owned businesses are the fastest-growing segment among women-owned enterprises—starting companies at six times the national average. Their businesses alone contribute an average of $56 billion to America’s economy each year.