"...many feminist groups seem reluctant to acknowledge the great gains women have made and have turned their backs on their own one-time goal: equality under the law. Many feminist groups are instead asking the government once again to treat women as second-class citizens—this time, by adopting myriad regulations and social programs that allegedly protect women"
Carrie Lukas, Director of policy, Independent Women's Forum

The Independent Women's Forum (IWF) released a report today detailing how women are routinely mischaracterized to justify the expansion of government. (download full report)

"The feminist agenda is inconsistent with independence for women," says Carrie Lukas, Director of Policy at the Independent Women's Forum. "In short, it is an agenda that replaces dependence on men with dependence on government."

The report, entitled "Dependency Divas," examines how liberal politicians and so-called

 feminist organizations use the assertion that women are uniquely vulnerable to advance a big government agenda to derail tax cuts, block Social Security reform, bolster support for government-controlled healthcare, implement intrusive workplace regulations, and promote countless spending initiatives.

"Dependency Divas" includes an overview of the often insulting arguments used to justify big government policies and regulations. It then examines the likely consequences of such policies. And, it challenges the notion that women are less capable than men of prospering without government help.

"Women deserve better than the 'Dependency Divas,'" says Lukas. "They deserve a voice that recognizes that women don't need big government to take care of them. Women need a limited government that trusts women to control their own lives."

The Independent Women's Forum is committed to the equal treatment of women under the law. IWF believes that women, like men, are best served by a government that is limited to protecting the inalienable rights of all Americans.

"Dependency Divas" is the first in a series of papers that will seek to expose how women are used as political pawns by the advocates of big government. This series will monitor the positions taken by candidates and policymakers to assess whether they promote women's independence or women's dependence. The IWF will rank policymakers and candidates on a Women's Independence Index, the results of which will be published before the 2004 election.