The OC Board of Supervisors has approved the creation of an Orange County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls in efforts to promote gender equity and highlight critical issues affecting females in the community.
The commission will be tasked with conducting research on the experiences of women and girls throughout the county and creating an annual report to be presented to the board and public. Information gathered will then be used to lay out the commission’s priorities and initiatives for the upcoming year, officials said.
The ultimate goal of the group will be to improve gender inequities in health, employment and representation.
The county previously had such a commission from 1975 to 1991, but it was dissolved due to lack of funding. Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee lobbied his fellow supervisors for its return and allocated $100,000 from his district discretionary funds to get the commission up and running.
“I brought forth this item as we celebrate Women’s History Month. It’s a way for the County of Orange to take more action protecting advancing women’s rights,” Chaffee said. “This month is not just a celebration of the remarkable achievements and contributions of women throughout history, but a reminder of the ongoing journey toward gender equity.
“We have some old issues that are still there and some new ones. As we reestablish and create a new commission,” he said, “we need to recognize how the landscape has changed since that early commission.”
The commission will be made up of seven members, five of whom will be nominated each by a supervisors and the remaining two will be approved at-large by the board. Chaffee said he recommends that when the commission is fully established, the group should create a mission statement that will act as its guide moving forward.
“We need to recognize the abilities of everyone to make our county go and be its very best,” Chaffee said. “I see this new commission providing a platform for evidence-based advocacy, research and policy development rooted in data-driven analysis and empirical research. That’s how it needs to move forward to promote equity for all.”
Cal State Fullerton President Sylvia Alva addressed the supervisors, sharing her appreciation for the county dedicating efforts toward the experiences of women and girls in Orange County.
“Adding this commission to the vast portfolio of county services signals to the residents of Orange County that you understand and prioritize the unique needs of women and girls,” Alva said. “By establishing this commission, you can institute policy initiatives based on research to achieve gender equity here in Orange County.”
OC Human Relations Commissioner Jo-Anne Matsuba said the commission could “provide insights and recommendations to dismantle” barriers to equity faced by women and girls, such as the wage gap and being under-represented in leadership roles.
“It will be a vehicle to highlight the achievements and contributions of women and girls in our community, helping to inspire future generations to reach their full potential,” she said. “The commission will serve as a platform to advocate for equal equity and celebrate diversity, recognizing that the experiences of women and girls are not monolithic, but are shaped by race, ethnicity, age, abilities, socioeconomic status and more.”
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