Statement by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on International Women’s Day 

Today, we take a moment to celebrate and honor the strong women around us who have been so instrumental in building our society – and Milwaukee County. As a husband and father to incredible strong, intelligent women, its important to me that they know their potential is limitless. 

We’re exited to honor the contributions of women leaders all month during Women’s History Month and celebrate the incredibly talented women helping make history on the road to racial equity and a future that is full of opportunities for the next generation.  

Today is also a moment for reflection. After a year of the global pandemic, we are all too familiar with the disproportionate number of women who’ve risked their health and worked on the frontlines to keep a roof over their heads. And, for those out of work over the last year, women made up a disproportionate number of pandemic-related job losses at 54 percent. 

Over the last year, women have continued to be expected to balance schooling duties, childcare, their own jobs, and more – yet they are grossly underrepresented in decision-making positions with the power to make choices that protect women both politically and economically. 

The pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities between women and men in almost all areas of life. Experts believe it could take years to overcome the setbacks caused by the pandemic, but to reduce the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 on women, we need to address the gender pay gap. This comes though investing in ensuring jobs offer fair pay, better working conditions, and the same opportunities for advancement as men. 

Gender inequality is not only wrong—in a crisis, it is dangerous. Making this nation more equal across the board will make us healthier, and lead to significant gains on the road to racial equity. Today, we recommit to rethinking and rebuilding our society to be safer and more prosperous than it was before.