History Of Business and Professional Women/USA
The Foundation of a Legacy
While mobilizing for World War I, the U.S. Government recognized the need for a cohesive group to coordinate identification of women's available skills and experience. A Women's War Council, financed through a federal grant, was established by the War Department to organize the resources of professional women. The National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs was founded on July 15, 1919.
Throughout the years, three major issues shaped BPW's legislative agenda: elimination of sex discrimination in employment, the principle of equal pay, and the need for a comprehensive equal rights amendment.
1920s
"BPW Goodwill Tour" of Europe initiated the founding of the International BPW Federation. With the theme, "Better Business Women for a Better Business World," National Business Women's Week was established to celebrate and dramatize the contribution of women to the country.
1930s
BPW worked to prohibit legislation or directives denying jobs to married women. BPW lobbied successfully to legislatively end the legal practice of workplace preference for unmarried persons and, in the case of married persons, preference for males.
1940s
At the advent of World War II, BPW developed a classification system for women with specialized skills critical to the effort and supported the formation of women's branches of the Armed Forces. While wage discrimination has existed in the U.S. since women and minorities first entered the paid workforce, its prevalence was not felt until the massive influx of women sought work during World War II. Immediately following the war, the Women's Pay Act of 1945 - the first ever legislation to require equal pay - was introduced in the U.S. Congress. It would take another 18 years before an equal pay bill would make it to the President's desk to be signed into law.
1950s
The national executive office relocated from New York to Washington, as BPW became more active in legislative issues.
The BPW Foundation was incorporated in 1956, creating a branch to provide research information, career development programs, and scholarships to disadvantaged women, workshops and other training opportunities.
The Marguerite Rawalt Resource Center opened, becoming a major resource on the history of women and women in the workplace.
1960s
The establishment of "Status of Women" commissions in the U.S. in 1963 was due largely to BPW efforts. President Kennedy recognized BPW's leading role in securing passage of the Equal Pay Act by giving BPW's National President the first pen he used when signing the Act into law.
Virginia Allan Young initiated the "Young Careerist" Program to develop the business and presentation skills of young women between 25-35 years of age.
The first National Legislative Conference, held in 1963 in D.C., later developed into BPW's current Policy & Action Conference, where members lobby Congress and the Administration on BPW's legislative issues.
1970s
BPW intensified efforts to eliminate discrimination based on sex and marital status in credit, capital, and insurance practices. A legislative strategy was developed to achieve the Congressional votes needed and the BPW Political Action Committee (BPW/PAC) was formed in 1979 to endorse federal candidates.
1980s
BPW tackled "comparable worth" by calling for newspapers to stop the occupational segregation in classified ads (clustering of women in a few restricted occupations of low-paying, dead-end jobs). Numerous state and municipal governments revamped their pay scales, recognizing dissimilar jobs may not be identical, but may be comprised of tasks, educational requirements, experience and other characteristics that are equivalent or comparable. In 1986, San Francisco became the first in the nation to approve a pay equity referendum, implementing $34 million in increases for employees in female and minority-dominated jobs.
The "Red Purse Campaign" of 1988 drew national attention to wage disparity. Using the "BPW" letters to represent Better Pay for Women, BPW capitalized on the national media attention focused on the red purse.
Continuing with BPW's focus on workplace issues, BPW lobbied Congress for passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act. After nearly a decade, the FMLA passes in 1993.
At the Hartford, Connecticut Convention in 1985, BPW's Legislative Platform expanded to include the Equal Rights Amendment Preamble. Also at this Convention, BPW initiated the $2.65 million campaign to renovate the national headquarters at 2012 Massachusetts Avenue ("Project 2012").
1990s
Discussions on "comparable worth" are expanded to include enforcement and strengthening of existing Equal Pay legislation. The Pay Equity Employment Act of 1994, followed by the Equal Pay Act (introduced in 1994) and the Paycheck Fairness Act (introduced in 1997) became BPW's focus legislation through the '90s.
Workplace equity issues including sexual harassment, the glass ceiling, health care reform, dependent care, tort reform, increasing the minimum wage, lifetime economic security and pay equity continued to be BPW's targeted issues. Then-Secretary of Labor, Elizabeth Dole, and First Lady Barbara Bush addressed BPW's members at the White House Briefing during the 1990 "Lobby Day" event.
At the Minneapolis, Minnesota 1992 Convention, BPW/PAC announced the first-ever endorsement of a presidential ticket by endorsing Clinton-Gore. BPW's grassroots membership worked as never before in GOTV (Get Out The Vote!) campaigns. From voter education forums, working in candidate campaigns, fundraising for candidates and registering women to vote, 1992 proved to be the "Year of the Woman," electing a record 4 women to the U.S. Senate and an unprecedented 24 women to the House. This political activism continued to the 1996 elections where BPW joined other women's groups endorsing the Women's Vote Project.
BPW celebrated its 75th anniversary at the 1994 St. Louis, Missouri Convention with Gloria Steinem as the keynote speaker. Also in October 1994, the syndicated cartoon, "Cathy," celebrated National Business Women's Week, one of BPW's Signature Events.
BPW battles attacks on affirmation action throughout the nation: 1996 in California, 1998 in Washington, and 1999 in Florida.
Social Security Reform became a front-burner issue for BPW in 1999 and continues to be an issue BPW follows closely. The wage gap contributes to a $200,000 loss in social security benefits to the average woman.
2000s
BPW expanded its '90s "Making Workplaces Work" initiative to the "Working Family Values" Program, and more recently, the theme of "Workplace Equity & Work-life Balance," with education and awareness, focusing on pay equity, dependent care, workplace flexibility, and social security reform. BPW initiated "The Women & Social Security Summit" in February 2001 and coalesced with the National Council of Women's Organizations, OWL, National Council of Negro Women and American Association of University Women, to focus on one specific issue during our annual "Lobby Day"-keeping social security a guaranteed part of retirement.
2002
BPW continues to be branded as the premiere grassroots organization addressing the wage gap, with most of our Local Organizations participating in events to focus on Equal Pay Day, usually the 2nd Tuesday of April. In 2002, the "Take the Pay Equity Pledge" Campaign asked candidates for Congress to sign a pledge to support the Paycheck Fairness Act. As pledge cards came in, BPW's Local Organizations held press conferences and distributed press releases on those candidates friendly to BPW's focus issue-Pay Equity.
2003
The 75th Anniversary of National Business Women’s
Week® (NBWW) was recognized in 2003. To celebrate of the vital role
of women in business, leaders of Business and Professional Women/USA
(BPW/USA®) and BPW Foundation rang the closing bell at the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Tuesday, October 21, 2003.
The ringing of the bell at the NYSE launched a six month focus on
women’s issues that saluted the 75th Anniversary of National
Business Women’s Week® and acknowledged the accomplishments of
workingwomen and their important role in the business community.
BPW/USA received a special welcome to the NYSE by Catherine R.
Kinney, President, Co-Chief Operating officer and Executive Vice
Chairman. The celebration included a six month national discussion
with workingwomen and business leaders on “WOMENomics: The Economics
of Work-life Balance” and the distribution of a nationwide survey on
workplace equity and work- life effectiveness issues.
2005
BPW/USA successfully urged the Bureau of Labor
Statistics to continue collecting data on women workers in the CES
(Current Employment Statistics Survey) after they announced they
would cease collecting it after July 2005.
VAWA (Violence Against Women Act)
was set to expire in September 2005 and BPW/USA made the VAWA
reauthorization a top legislative priority. VAWA 2005 focused on
expanding several of the key provisions contained within the
previous VAWA authorizations.
In October 2005, BPW/USA launched Women Joining Forces:Closing
Ranks, Opening Doors (WJF) , a program to support women veterans as
they transition from military to civilian life. This commitment made
BPW/USA the first and only non-governmental agency to offer
programming that supports women veterans.
Because BPW/USA has a national network that can offer leadership
training, professional skill development and mentoring, it is
uniquely positioned to support and assist women veterans. Take time
to thank a veteran for their service and visit
http://www.womenjoiningforces.org today.
2006
BPW Foundation celebrated its 50th Anniversary
throughout the year with Lighting the Way: Exploring Our Past,
Discovering Our Future. February 27th was declared BPW Foundation
Day by Washington, DC Mayor Anthony Williams.
Through its strong grassroots efforts, 2006 BPW/USA members were
instrumental in getting
Johanna’s Law signed into law. This
law authorizes a national gynecologic cancer early detection and
awareness campaign targeted for women and their healthcare
providers.
BPW/USA Career Center launched as the only online job service
created specifically for women and veterans. It is customized to
allow employers to showcase their women- and veteran-friendly
programs and policies.
BPW/USA and American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women partner
to create a nationwide, grassroots initiative to teach and encourage
working women to advocate for a healthy heart through their
personal, professional and political actions.
BW Magazine publishes When Women Go To War, a timeline of women
soldiers’ milestones in Iraq and Afghanistan.
2007
U.S. House of Representatives and Senate held
hearings on Equal Pay, where BPW/USA and BPW Foundation submitted
joint testimony highlighting the economic impact of the wage gap on
women and families. The hearings discussed how and why legislation
such as the Paycheck Fairness Act is needed to address remaining
systemic barriers to women being paid fairly.
BPW Foundation published ground-breaking research providing a
unique snap shot of women veterans as they return to the civilian
workplace. Women Veterans in Transition provides recommendations for
employers, social organizations and policy makers to assist this
talented group of working women transition successfully into their
lives.
2008
BPW/USA attends Equal Pay Day press conference,
also attended by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Tom Harkin
(D-IA) and Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and George Miller
(D-CA). BPW/USA expressed its disappointment that the Senate was
unable to bring the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (HR 2831) to a
vote.
BPW Foundation released Successful Workplaces Digest, an
innovative how-to guide for employers to improve workplaces through
policies and programs that support employees. The Digest features
best practices from companies such as The New York Times Co. and
Deloitte. Request your copy of a blueprint for an innovative
workplace.
A BPW/USA poll released at its National Conference, provides
insight to presidential campaigns gauging women’s voting preference
and patterns. With 2,000 BPW/USA member respondents, the poll found
that 47 percent planned to vote for Sen. Obama for President of the
United States. Thirty-three percent for Sen. McCain, 15 percent
remained undecided, and 2 percent were not voting this election
cycle. The poll results were later published on Barack Obama’s web
site.
On November 14, BPW/USA and BPW Foundation co-sponsored a
congressional briefing about the challenges facing women veterans
transitioning from active military to the civilian workforce.
Subjects discussed included BPW/USA’s historical interest in
supporting women veterans and the groundbreaking research conducted
by BPW Foundation.
BPW/USA and BPW Foundation launch the
Young Women Misbehavin’ blog to
share and discuss current events, opinions and information for, by
and about working women, families and successful workplaces. This
launch is part of BPW’s use of social media and BPW Foundation’s
Young Careerist research project.
2009
Business and Professional Women/USA (BPW/USA)
merged with Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Foundation
effective July 1, 2009. BPW/USA members approved a friendly merger
with its sister organization, BPW Foundation, ensuring that their
advocacy and support for working women and families would continue.
This merged organization represents over 143 years of combined
experience and will offer membership opportunities.
BPW Foundation is dedicated to promoting and advocating for
successful workplaces for women, families and their employers. BPW
Foundation defines successful workplaces as work environments that
embrace and practice diversity, equity and work life balance. BPW
Foundation will continue to focus on public policy and on grassroots
activism to ensure that key issues impacting women and families are
addressed at all levels.
On January 29, 2009 BPW/USA joined women’s, civil rights and
human rights organizations at the White House to witness the
historic signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. BPW/USA was
present at that historic 1963 White House signing as well.
This year, a BPW/USA Member was nominated as Secretary of Labor.
Representative Hilda Solis, (D-CA), was confirmed to be Secretary of
Labor on February 24. During her first week on the job, Secretary of
Labor Solis was thinking of working women. She asked, “what about
green jobs for women—how can we be sure women can get these jobs?”
This demonstrates how important it is to use green jobs as a way to
reinforce gender equity – especially in sectors with past historical
bias. This is good news for working women and a new area of focus
for BPW Foundation.
On March 11, President Obama signed an executive order creating a
White House Council on Women and Girls. The Council’s day-to-day
operations will be run by Christina (Tina) Tchen, who is currently
director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. Tina Tchen was
a featured speaker at BPW Policy and Action Day 2009 held on March
31. BPW/USA also attended the unveiling of the new Small Business
Initiative by President Obama in March.
BPW/USA celebrated Equal Pay Day in April by co-sponsoring a
Congressional Briefing on the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182). BPW
Foundation data was used in support of the Paycheck Fairness Act by
U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD) who quoted BPW Foundation in
his press release in support of the Paycheck Fairness Act.
June 11, 2009 BPW Foundation testified before the House Workforce
Protections Subcommittee on two work-life bills – the FIRST Act and
the Healthy Families.
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History
