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Women and Women's Rights

Women Could Boost the Global Economy, But Outdated Laws Are Holding Them Back

<p>Employees assemble an engine at the production line of an automobile company in Anhui province, China. July 16, 2009.</p>
Employees assemble an engine at the production line of an automobile company in Anhui province, China. July 16, 2009. Jianan Yu/REUTERS

By experts and staff

Published

By

  • Jamille Bigio
    Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy
  • Rachel B. Vogelstein
    Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow and Director of the Women and Foreign Policy Program

In the midst of the longest U.S. government shutdown in history, members of Congress have found a rare area of bipartisan cooperation: women’s economic empowerment.

Last week, President Trump signed into law the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment (WEEE) Act, a law that strengthens U.S. efforts to promote opportunity for female entrepreneurs worldwide. At a time when bipartisanship is elusive, elected officials on both sides of the aisle agree on one thing: Women’s economic participation is a worthwhile investment.