This week, which includes the final days of March and the first days of April, marks both the last week of Women"s History Month and the start of

. In recognition of these intersecting moments, Generation Progress is taking the time to reflect on the disproportionate impact of collateral consequences of our justice and legal system on the lives of young women. Since the 1980s, there"s been a

To dig deeper on what is  happening to justice-involved young women, we are highlighting 4 key facts about women in the U.S. criminal legal justice system.

1.  There are 1.2 million women under the supervision of the criminal justice system.

As of 2019, 1.2. million women were under supervision of the criminal justice system–either in jail or prison or on probation or parole. BIPOC women are overrepresented in the justice system: Black women are 1.7 times more likely to be imprisoned than white women and Hispanic women are imprisoned at 1.3 times the rate of white women. There is a lack of significant data on the incarceration rate of Indigenous women, but, overall, the local jail incarceration rate of Indigenous Americans is nearly double that of white people.  Although in recent years, we have begun to see a decrease in imprisonment across the country, this decrease has mainly impacted men. 

2.  Women in the justice system are impacted by multiple histories of abuse.

The criminal legal system disproportionately impacts women who have already been impacted by  societal issues such as mental health challenges, poverty, and abuse. According to the ACLU, nearly 60 percent of people in women state prisons across the country, and as many as 94 percent of some women"s prison populations, have a history of physical or sexual abuse before being incarcerated. In addition, women are more likely to enter the jail and prison system with a drug dependency or history of abusing drugs than men. Incarcerated women are also more likely than incarcerated men to have experienced serious psychological distress or mental health issues. When it comes to poverty, the Prison Policy initiative found that, prior to their incarceration, incarcerated women had a median income of $13,890 in 2014. This was 42 percent less than non-incarcerated women between the ages of 27 to 42, and 66 percent less than non-incarcerated men. Taking the gender wage gap, racial wage gaps, and LGBTQ+ wage gaps into account,it is not surprising that more than 60% of women are held in jail because they cannot afford bail. The path to and through the legal system for many women is complicated by a multitude societal issues, which  the criminal legal system is not fit to address–ultimately leading to even deeper problems for these individuals and communities. 

3. The criminal justice system is a HUGE barrier to reproductive justice. 

There are a multitude of ways that the criminal legal system prevents the achievement of reproductive justice, which can be defined as every person"s right to have a child, not have a child, and if you choose to have a child, raise that child in a safe and healthy environment

Although incarcerated people are entitled to health care, including reproductive health services such as contraception, abortion and pre-natal care, the prison system presents nuanced barriers both for those seeking to end a pregnancy or to carry a wanted pregnancy to term. Incarcerated women struggle to access reproductive healthcare because of problematic policies and requirements dictated by the prison system that exacerbate existing barriers. For example, access to abortion services varies from state to state due to hundreds of restrictive state laws such as medically unnecessary waiting periods, two trip requirements, bans that prohibit abortions as early as 13 weeks in pregnancy, and targeted regulation of abortion providers that can shutdown or limit the frequency of services. These barriers are magnified by arrest and incarceration, because people can no longer independently decide what is best for their family planning needs. 

Those who wish to proceed with their pregnancies face other problems within the prison system. Pregnant women who are incarcerated are still often shackled during labor and other health care visits, creating health risks for both parent and child and depriving pregnant people of their dignity. In a survey of perinatal nurses who have provided care for incarcerated pregnant people, over 80 percent reported that patients were shackled either sometimes or all the time. 

Beyond pregnancy, women who have children continue to struggle disproportionately within the criminal legal system as parents. In federal prisons, about 48 percent of women under the age of 24 are mothers, and 55 percent of women under the age of 24 in state prisons are mothers. The children of incarcerated mothers tend to experience more instability and disruption than those of incarcerated fathers because women are more likely to be primary caregivers in their families.

Regardless of whether people carry to term, end their pregnancy, or experience a miscarriage, too many justice-involved women are denied essential reproductive healthcare, compromising their self determination and reproductive autonomy.

4. A criminal history impacts women"s economic security and stability.

A criminal history can deny justice-impacted women access to housing, education, employment and more. Most women enter the system already experiencing multiple challenges that become further complicated by collateral consequences. While "reentry," the process of returning to communities from incarceration, has become a priority among many policymakers and community-based organizations, most reentry resources available do not address the unique challenges that women face. For instance, while all justice-invovled people have to navigate discrimination from employers who are unwilling to hire people with records, women have the added burden of facing significant employment and occupational licensing restrictions in many of the industries that are concentrated with women and women of color like childcare, nursing, and home health care. In addition, some  justice involved women, the majority of whom are parents or primary caretakers of families, can be denied access to public services and benefits. These collateral consequences make women, especially BIPOC women, even more vulnerable and limit their success. 

Conclusion

Young people are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system and women are uniquely harmed.  We must work to end mass criminalization and mass incarceration, but, in the meantime, there are ways we can mitigate the harms of this system to ensure that women are not uniquely vulnerable to collateral consequences. 

To take action and demand support for policies that will benefit women and all justice-involved people, use this tool to email your legislators today. 

The post Four Key Facts About Women in the Criminal Legal System appeared first on Generation Progress.

When Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg–or as she was known fondly to many young people, the Notorious RBG–passed away in September, a vacancy opened up on our country"s highest court. A feminist icon and trailblazer for equality, Justice Ginsburg worked throughout her career to  ensure fairness and equity under the law. Given that Supreme Court nominees are appointed for life, the person chosen to fill Justice Ginsburg"s seat will have an outsized impact on young Americans, who will live with the consequences of the new Justice"s decisions for decades. 

Senate Republicans refused to give President Obama"s last Supreme Court nominee a vote for most of a year under the pretense that it was too close to an election. But the same Republicans are now rushing to confirm Donald Trump"s nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, who has voiced firm opposition to the Affordable Care Act, abortion rights, and contraceptive access, in less than a month. Just yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance her nomination–and on Monday, the full Senate will have the chance to vote for or against her confirmation. With so much at stake and the presidential election already underway, it is critical that the American people get the opportunity to make their voices heard and have their votes respected before the Senate votes on a nominee.

The Supreme Court decides cases on many different topics that are relevant to young Americans–from immigration to environmental protection to gun violence–however, there is  perhaps no more urgent issue at stake than health care. Exactly one week after the election, the Court will take up President Trump"s lawsuit to end the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which Trump is determined to do in order to lower taxes for his wealthiest donors. If the Senate allows another Trump-appointed Justice to join the Court, more than 20 million Americans could lose their health coverage in the middle of a pandemic that has killed 200,000 Americans, infected over 7 million, and caused over 30 million to seek unemployment assistance.

Put simply: the loss of the ACA would be an abject disaster for young people. Before the groundbreaking legislation was passed, young people had the highest uninsured rate of any other age group, with young people of color disproportionately likely to be uninsured. Insurance plans–especially student health plans–could decide not to cover people with pre-existing conditions or make the cost so prohibitive for those with pre-existing conditions that young people would not be able to afford care. Women could be charged more for the same coverage as men. Young people–including me–were often kicked off their parents plans while still in college or working early career jobs that didn"t offer health benefits. 

After the passage of the ACA, the uninsured rate for young people was cut in half. Insurance companies could no longer discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions, including those who require mental health care, which young people disproportionately rely on. Young people can stay on their parents" plans until they are 26 years old, when many have finished school and are trying to begin their careers. The ACA also guarantees access to no-cost birth control for most people, making it easier and more affordable for young people to make decisions about their health, their bodies, and their futures. If this protection was repealed in the middle of a pandemic and economic crisis, it would be a catastrophe.

Even aside from the threats to the ACA, future decisions made by the Supreme Court will affect young people"s access to health care for years to come. Reproductive health care–access to abortion care, birth control, and maternity care–are all essential elements of health care for young people. But the reproductive rights of young people are in grave danger if Trump is able to install another justice on the Supreme Court. Although the promise of Roe v. Wade has yet to be fully realized in this country–particularly for low-income people, people living in rural areas, and people of color–losing the precedent it sets or allowing abortion rights to continue to be eroded would put countless lives and livelihoods at risk. Barrett has actively called for just that.

To protect our futures, our health, and our families, it is imperative that Justice Ginsburg"s seat remain open until after the inauguration of the next president. Before she died, Justice Ginsburg dictated a final statement to her granddaughter, Clara Spera: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed." Young Americans, who have long been inspired by Justice Ginsburg"s courageous spirit of dissent, will fight to make her final wish come true–and in so doing, protect her legacy and our own futures.

The post Our Health Is on the Line–Young People and the Supreme Court Vacancy appeared first on Generation Progress.

The voices of young advocates working in the immigrants" rights movement inspire us and demonstrate the diversity of ways in which young people are leading it.

Check out our ongoing Immigration Activist Profile Series as we highlight these young advocates, their unique stories supporting immigrant communities, and their thoughts on how we can all get involved and show solidarity.

Give each a read and be sure to share!

Sandra Avalos

Born in Michoacán, Mexico, Sandra Esther Avalos Ortega came to the U.S. in 1996 at a young age. Even before she received protections through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Sandra dedicated herself to empowering disadvantaged youth in her home city of Dallas, Texas.

Read more of her Q&A here!

Fernanda Herrera

Meet Fernanda–an Alabama native, activist, DACA recipient, and Loyola University of Chicago law student–who has been a source of inspiration for many young immigrants. She is taking command of her own destiny: helping her family and community ensure the protection of their rights and safety.

Read more of her Q&A here!

Dr. Johana Oviedo

Through her work as an OB-GYN, Johana fights for basic rights and freedoms such as access to health care, the ability to parent with dignity, and the right to be safe and free. She ensures immigrant patients are properly accommodated when they come to her office so they don"t experience the same economic and social barriers to accessing health services that she saw growing up.

Read more of her Q&A here!

Lauryn Faungen

Lauryn Fanguen was born in Fez, Morocco to parents of Moroccan and Cameroonian ancestry. She and her family came to the Washington D.C. area when she was only three years old. Now a grown woman and immigrant "Dreamer"* who has lived around the nation"s capitol nearly her entire life, Lauryn"s experiences have informed her advocacy around the issues affecting the diverse American immigrant community.

Read more of her Q&A here!

Sarah Souza

Sarah and her family came to the U.S. from Brazil when she was a teenager, and she spent the remainder of her childhood undocumented in California. Now a Dreamer, Sarah has become a fierce leader at the forefront of social justice issues both at the local level in San Francisco and at the state level, where she fights for systemic changes on issues including housing, immigration, economic justice, and public education.

Read more of her Q&A here!

The post Immigration Activist Profile Series appeared first on Generation Progress.

(Use this link to read other profile’s like Johana’s)

Dr. Johana Oviedo

Johana Oviedo emigrated from Colombia to the U.S at a young age and grew up in a predominantly immigrant community in Miami, FL. She was undocumented for some time after she arrived, but, in time, was able to obtain citizenship. As she grew up, she recognized that her community lacked sufficient medical care and faced difficulty accessing medical resources due to low incomes, lack of insurance coverage, citizenship status, and language barriers. When Johana decided to pursue a career in medicine, she was motivated by her strong desire to help improve conditions for immigrant communities like the one she grew up in.

Reproductive Justice is a framework for discussion and advocacy that centers the right to have children, not have children, and/or parent the children we have in safe and healthy environments. Reproductive Justice is not limited to abortion–it extends past that to the right to self-determination more broadly.

Johana is now an Obstetrician-Gynecologist with a specialty in Family Planning. Through her work Johana fights for basic rights and freedoms, such as access to health care, the ability to parent with dignity, and the right to be safe and free–all of which are essential tenets of both immigration justice and reproductive justice. Johanna ensures immigrant patients are properly accommodated when they come to her office so they don"t experience the same economic and social barriers to accessing health services that she saw growing up. Johana is working to ensure everyone can access the care they need to lead healthy and prosperous lives.

We talked with Johana to learn more about why she is in the fight and what YOU can do to be a part of it. Check out her Q&A below:

When did you get involved in the immigrants’ rights movement, and why did you decide to go into the kind of work you are doing now?

I am an immigrant who feels incredibly grateful for the sacrifices my mother made for me and for the support I received growing up in America. I was born in Colombia, and my mom brought me to the United States when I was nine years old. She wanted me to have the opportunities she never had growing up poor in Colombia. She didn"t graduate high school. She wanted my life to be different. I know that we were undocumented for some time, but thankfully our status changed. Because of this, I was able to receive financial aid, graduate college, and become a doctor.

I always wanted to provide care to communities that resembled the one that I grew up in, and this continues to be a driving force in what I do. Medical encounters can be scary, but it is rewarding to speak to patients in their native language and to be able to empathize with their struggles.

I remember going with my grandmother to the doctor as a kid and being the interpreter during those encounters. I know that was not ok. When I have patients that speak other languages aside from English or Spanish, I make sure to wait for a phone interpreter no matter how long it takes. I refuse to use their partners, friends, or family members as interpreters. My patients should be able to have all their questions answered accurately. They deserve information.

What is particularly unique about the work you"re doing at your organization, and how does it reflect your values as a young person trying to affect change in immigration policy? What are you working on right now that the media is–or should be–paying attention to?

I am an Obstetrician-Gynecologist currently specializing in Family Planning, which includes a focus on contraception and abortion. I am also a fellow at Physicians for Reproductive Health, an organization of physicians who are advocating to improve access to comprehensive reproductive health care.

The majority of my patients are Latinx/Hispanic immigrants, underinsured/uninsured, and low income. I see firsthand the hoops they have to jump through to get the medical care they need. Undocumented immigrants often defer care because they fear jeopardizing their own and their family"s futures in this country. No one should forgo seeing a doctor because they are afraid. I wish all my patients had equal access to quality medical care regardless of their race, income, immigration status, but unfortunately that"s not always the case.

I also often see patients from countries in Latin America, where abortion is illegal. I am privileged to be able to provide my patients with abortion care. My patients know what is best for their lives and their families, and fortunately I can provide the care they deserve.

I recently had a patient seeking a medication abortion who came to our clinic with her adolescent daughter. My patient"s daughter kept asking me if this was legal, and if her mother would get in trouble. They had emigrated from a country where abortion is illegal without exceptions. I was able to explain to her that her mother had every right to have an abortion and that she could have a medication abortion. My patient and her daughter were relieved. A huge weight had been lifted off their shoulders.

What kind of future for immigrant communities are you working towards? How do you think the movement will help create a better future for immigrant communities? 

My hope is for a future in which all people, including immigrants, feel safe and empowered to live their healthiest lives. All people should be offered the full spectrum of health care choices, and being able to make decisions about whether or when to have children is a huge part of that. When people are denied health care, including reproductive health care, they suffer–and so do their families.

 Why should young adults, especially those who aren"t directly impacted by current immigration policies, get involved in the kind of work you are doing? 

When barriers stand in the way of comprehensive reproductive health care, individuals have greater difficulty in accomplishing their life and economic goals. This affects their communities at large. Young people should understand that barriers to reproductive health care affect all people, but people of color and poor people suffer most. It is the responsibility of all of us to stand up for what is right.

If you are an immigrant, how do you hope to see allies demonstrate support? If you are not an immigrant yourself, how do you demonstrate your solidarity with immigrants at this time in our country? 

As an immigrant, I feel that the most important thing allies can do is to speak openly and supportively of the immigrants who are important in their lives. Sharing stories about real people making strides for a better future– the families, the children, the ones working harder than you could ever imagine–can change minds. More Americans need to understand the concrete impact that immigration policy has on so many people in this country.

The post Immigration Profile Series: Dr. Johana Oviedo appeared first on Generation Progress.

Unlike many of my peers, I knew before I even arrived on campus that I wanted to be a political science major. I had been interested in politics from a very young age, but it was my passion for reproductive rights that made me want to study politics more deeply. That passion stemmed from my first internship on Capitol Hill during the summer prior to my senior year of high school.

As I sat in the Hart Senate Office building one memorable day that summer, hoping for something to spice up an otherwise mundane day, my internship coordinator informed us that the Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt decision was being announced in the Supreme Court⁠–and we could wait on the steps outside and watch it all unfold. I will always remember waiting in the sticky July heat, joy washing over me, as "We Are the Champions" rang out over the cheering crowd when the Court ruled 5-3 in a significant victory for the pro-choice movement. As Beyonce"s "Run the World (Girls)" faded into the background behind me, I left the rally resolved to become involved in the fight to protect reproductive rights.

Yet when I got to college in the fall of 2017, I"m embarrassed to say I didn"t keep the promise I made to my seventeen-year-old self. Sure, I joined the campus"s Planned Parenthood email list, but I never attended a meeting. I gradually stopped listening to NPR every morning, which I"d started doing when I inherited my mom"s 2004 car and was too lazy to change the presets. Instead, I focused on politics solely through the lens of my major. I traded in my passion for advocacy, for a focus on my social and academic life. And then, just as my sophomore year was wrapping up, one news cycle in particular jolted me out of my complacency.

State after state passed laws attempting to circumvent Roe v. Wade. When I read the law passed in Alabama, which was a total ban on abortion, I broke down crying. It had been a lot easier to become complacent when I didn"t sense this type of urgent threat to my rights, but now that I saw what was possible, I knew I needed to pay closer attention. What I found is that privilege⁠–I was raised in a liberal state, attend a progressive college, and don"t worry about my own access to reproductive care⁠–had prevented me from seeing all that is, and has always been, at stake for many people in this country. Access to abortion and comprehensive, quality reproductive health care has never been a reality for many people, especially women of color and low income women. 

Feeling like I needed to get back in the fight, I started reading⁠–and quickly realized the problems extended far beyond "heartbeat bills" and even abortion. I learned more about the Hyde Amendment, which blocks low-income people from receiving abortion services through Medicaid, and about Title X, which was enacted in 1970 under Republican President Richard Nixon, and states that all people must be granted access to affordable family planning and reproductive services, regardless of where they live, how much money they have, or who their insurance provider is. Four million people currently depend on Title X for services including wellness exams, cervical and breast cancer screenings, birth control, contraception education, and testing and treatment for STDs⁠–including HIV⁠–which can be life-saving. 

Troublingly, however, our current administration has threatened the financial security of many Title X clinics, enacting a gag rule that states that clinics cannot refer patients to abortion providers and removes a requirement for non-directive and comprehensive counseling on options, including abortion. It also requires physical and financial separation between the parts of an organization providing Title X services and the part providing abortions, which is impossible for many organizations to comply with.

The result of gag rules like this one is that patients, particularly low income people and people of color, as well as critical funding are driven towards religious anti-abortion groups that promote solutions like abstinence and the calendar method above other evidence-backed methods, like IUDs, condoms, or contraception pills. 

As of August 19, 2019, Planned Parenthood, which serves 41 percent of people who rely on Title X, announced that it was withdrawing from Title X, choosing to turn down funds rather than comply with the gag rule, which the organization says would prevent their doctors from providing comprehensive and accurate medical information, deny options to patients, and cause deterioration of the patient-provider relationship. 

In sharp contrast to the staggering rollbacks on reproductive rights on the national stage, my college"s Planned Parenthood group felt like a beacon of hope. Through a Planned Parenthood South Atlantic Grant, Davidson"s Planned Parenthood group was able to install a vending machine that offers Plan B Emergency Contraceptive for $18, a huge improvement over the $50 price tag at the local CVS. The vending machine had the added bonus of removing the university health center from the equation, which in addition to charging a slightly higher $25 for Plan B, is also closed during peak hours when the medication is needed, only administers to cisgendered students, and requires an awkward questionnaire following the purchase. The vending machine also provides other benefits for students" reproductive health, offering various menstrual products, free condoms, free dental dams, and free lubrication.

This vending machine is just a small example of the incredible work that Planned Parenthood and many other Title X-funded clinics do at a much larger scale. The Atlantic has written that the biggest consequence of the Trump administration"s gag rule isn"t even abortion-related⁠–it"s that low-income people won"t be able to access basic reproductive health care. I feel lucky to be a part of a college that takes the initiative on affordable family planning, but am aware that many people are not as fortunate as I am.

This summer, while working at Generation Progress, I realized that the reproductive landscape I am used to is not the norm. As Grace Colley, the lead of the Planned Parenthood vending machine project at Davidson points out, 90 percent of Davidson College students are very economically privileged⁠–as a result, we do not have the constant worry about reproductive health care access that the 4 million people who rely on Title X clinics face every day. While this vending machine might not be directly affected if Title X were to be defunded, there are many people across America who depend on services from Title X clinics that do not have the luxury not to worry. In today"s climate especially, it is important to acknowledge our privilege, and understand how we can use our privilege to protect access to reproductive care for all. I hope that colleges like mine will continue to make strides on providing accessible reproductive care⁠–not just for ourselves, but for everyone.

It’s easy to forget to look beyond our own bubbles, whether that"s our college, our workplace, or our region. While it took me some time to get involved in this fight again, I"m lucky that many people on my college campus never stopped fighting. For others who want to become involved, Grace Colley points out one of the best things we can do is to educate ourselves and become a resource to others. She also suggests that we support clinics who provide necessary Title X services by clinic-defending or being a legal server. Even posting on social media can help spread awareness and important information. The bottom line is that if you are passionate about something⁠–don"t let yourself become complacent. Especially if your privilege is what"s keeping you from doing more.

The post My College Has Access to Reproductive Care–But We’re Lucky appeared first on Generation Progress.

1. PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE

Click to view PDF.

Ensure fair access to the democratic process through Automatic Voter Registration (AVR), pre-registration, and Election Day registration.

2. IMPLEMENT COMMON-SENSE GUN LAWS

Address the U.S. gun violence epidemic by investing in research and passing legislation that enforces universal background checks, increases funding for nationwide gun violence prevention and intervention programs, bans assault weapons and high capacity magazines, enables the Centers for Disease Control to research gun violence as a public health issue, disarms all domestic abusers, and makes ERPOs available in every state.

3. ENACT BOLD CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS TO CURB MASS INCARCERATION

Rethink national policies that exacerbate the mass incarceration problem in the U.S. by making sure marijuana legislation includes strong provisions that clear marijuana criminal records and ensure meaningful reinvestment in communities of color, reforming the pretrial system including the removal of barriers to bail payments, improving the timeliness and quality of national data collection, and passing legislation to automatically expunge certain federal offenses from criminal records.

4. PROTECT DACA RECIPIENTS AND TPS HOLDERS

Provide permanent protections to young immigrants by passing legislation that puts Dreamers and TPS holders on a pathway to citizenship.

5. TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH CLEAN ENERGY PROPOSALS AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

Heed the warnings from climate scientists on the dangers of inaction on climate by passing bold legislation that takes on carbon emissions and invests in clean energy and infrastructure.

6. SHORE UP PROTECTIONS AND ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES

Center the needs of young people and their reproductive health by protecting and expanding the ACA and Medicaid, investing in pregnancy prevention programs, and stopping the Trump administration"s proposed domestic gag rule.

7. ADDRESS THE STUDENT DEBT CRISIS

To curb the mounting student debt crisis, Congress must pass legislation that ensures young people have access to free or debt-free college, implement solutions to help borrowers, tackle bad actors profiting off of borrowers, and hold for-profit colleges accountable for cheating student borrowers.

8. PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL PROTECTIONS FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY

Congress should fight anti-LGBTQ bullying, discrimination, and mistreatment, by passing explicit protections to end discrimination in all areas of life, increase and improve assistance for runaway and homeless youth and survivors of violence, and end conversion therapy.

9. REMOVE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS FACED BY YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

In order to remove barriers faced by disabled youth, Congress must provide access to comprehensive care that does not discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions and provides the right to access long-term supports and services, ends subminimum wage and segregated employment, and eradicate asset limits for people with disabilities.

10. DISMANTLE BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR AND YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS

The 116th Congress should invest in young people of color by creating racial and economic opportunities and providing civil rights protections. They should similarly invest in young people of faith with welcoming attitudes toward religious diversity and rejecting any attempts to restrict or manipulate constitutional protections of religious freedom.

The post FACT SHEET: Ten Ways the New Congress Can Act for Young People appeared first on Generation Progress.

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The narrative turned out to be false; during the 2018 cycle, young people campaigned around the issues they cared about and voted in historic numbers. In fact, 31 percent of young people turned out to vote, an increase of 10 points compared to the 2014 midterm elections. With Millennials projected to be the largest voting bloc by 2020, young people are poised to change the politics of their communities, and the nation.

By seizing their power, young people showed America that they have what it takes to tip the scales on many of today"s most critical issues, including democracy, gun violence prevention, criminal justice reform, immigration, climate change, women"s health, student debt, and diversity and inclusion.

Now is the time for accountability. As the 116th Congress works to frame their priorities for the next two years, members must center young people in their policy proposals and legislation. Generation Progress and the Center for American Progress have identified policy areas that are important to young people and can drive youth civic engagement and voter participation.

View our fact sheet which summarizes our findings in this report.

The post REPORT: Ten Ways the New Congress Can Act for Young People appeared first on Generation Progress.

As the largest and most diverse generation this country has ever seen, Millennials, and those who follow us, will be hit hardest by the removal of this Title X guidance. As a first-generation Ethiopian-American, I grew up hearing countless personal stories about gender inequality–about women being blocked from pursuing education or even being denied access to basic health care services. Many women, like my mother and aunt, were restricted from accessing these important systems and achieving mobility and empowerment because of unstable institutions and stifling bureaucracy. And when a woman"s ability to make decisions around her sexual and reproductive health is compromised by external ideological factors, her life choices are shifted outside of her control.

Due to my ethnic and national background, it was difficult to gain honest and complete information about reproductive health and rights when I was younger. While in college, I had no idea where I could go or who I could talk to about my reproductive health, and didn"t even have health insurance to assist me. Thankfully, one day a friend directed me to Planned Parenthood, a Title X healthcare provider, where I finally was able to have my needs met and questions answered, without fear and at little cost.

I was lucky. But who will speak out for the young women of my generation in the United States, who are being denied the same access to care and are facing relentless attacks to their reproductive rights and freedom?

One threat young women in the U.S. are facing is an attack on reliable and safe family planning methods through to the Trump-Pence administration"s domestic gag rule on Title X. Title X is the only federal program that provides family planning services–like birth control, breast cancer screenings, and STI testing–to low-income women. The program serves more than 4 million people per year, most of them low-income women, young women, and women of color.

This domestic gag rule would deny these women access to important family planning services and destroy the invaluable work Title X providers have done to improve women"s health. It would do this by prohibiting Title X providers from discussing abortion as an option for pregnant women or providing women with abortion referrals. It would also require a financial and physical separation of Title X programs and abortion services, placing a huge financial burden on Title X healthcare providers. The attack on Title X continues to be part of the Trump-Pence administration"s attempts to restrict and chip away at access to women"s healthcare.

I am only one story but there are so many more women who have benefitted from and need Title X services to live healthy lives. Their stories are what drive me in my role as an advocate for women"s health across the world and in the U.S. Now as a masters student studying International Development at George Washington University, I work to ensure young women across the world may grow up with access to basic education, economic opportunities and, vitally, healthcare.  

Join me in speaking out against this disastrous Title X domestic gag rule! Share your story through public comments here by Tuesday, July 31 and tell the administration what you really think about their gag rule. And make sure to check out this Title X toolkit for more facts about Title X, actions you can take, and ways to stay involved in the fight.

Now more than ever, we can’t–and we won’t–be deceived by the Trump-Pence administration’s attempts to take away our healthcare. It must be made clear that when women claim their reproductive freedoms and are given equal resources and support, everyone wins.

The post I Won’t Let the Trump-Pence Agenda Block My Access to Family Planning Options appeared first on Generation Progress.

The post Stop Trump’s Gag Rule appeared first on Generation Progress.

Fast Facts about Today"s Young People

Young people today are more diverse than ever.

• Young people are now the largest age group in the U.S.: There are 83.1 million 18- to 35-year-olds, compared to 75.4 million baby boomers.  
• Young people are more diverse than any previous age group: 44.2% of young people are non-white, versus just 38.5% of 35- to 54-year-olds, and 25% of those 55 and older.
• Gender breakdown: According to the American Community Survey, there are 37,943,390 male 18- to 34-year-olds (50.9%), compared to 36,541,094 female 18- to 34-year-olds (49.1%).
• LGBTQ young people: 18- to 35-year-olds identify on the LGBT* spectrum at higher rates than any preceding age group. 8% of young people identify as LGBT, compared to just 5% of the American population overall.

Young People and Economic Stability

Employment

Because of the Great Recession and widening income inequality, young people (18-35) are struggling to enjoy the same level of economic stability their parents" generation enjoyed.

• Despite increasing levels of education and large gains in productivity, young people today earn just about the same or less than their parents did at the same age: accounting for inflation, the median 30-year-old makes $19.32 an hour today, compared to the median 30-year-old"s hourly wage of $20.63 in 2004 and $18.99 in 1984.
• Youth unemployment:
  • The 2017 unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds was 9.2%. In 2016, it was 10.4% and in 2015 it was 11.6%. (Author"s analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, seasonally adjusted)
  • For 25- to 34-year-olds, the unemployment rate was 4.6% in 2017. In 2016, it was 5.1% and in 2015 it was 5.5%. (Author"s analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, seasonally adjusted)
• Youth unemployment by race and ethnicity:
  • In 2017, the youth unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-old white youth was 8.1%, 14.6% for black youth, 9.5% for Latino youth, and 8.2% for Asian youth. (Author"s analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, seasonally unadjusted)
  • For 25- to 34-year-olds in 2017, the white unemployment rate was 3.9%, the black unemployment rate was 8.4%, the Latino unemployment rate was 5.1%, and the Asian unemployment rate was 3.1%. (Author"s analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, seasonally unadjusted)
• Labor force participation:
  • In 2017, the youth labor force participation rate (LFPR) for 16- to 24-year-olds was 55.5%. The closely mirrors the youth LFPR in 2015 and 2016 (55% and 55.2%, respectively), but falls short of pre-recession levels (60.8% in 2005, 60.6% in 2006, 59.4% in 2007). (Author"s analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, seasonally adjusted)
  • The LFPR for 25- to 34-year-olds in 2017 was 82.1%. In 2016 it was 81.6% and in 2015 it was 81%. Before the recession, levels hovered closer to 83%: in 2005, the LFPR for 25- to 34-year-olds was 82.8%, in 2006 it was 83%, and in 2007 it was 83.3%. (Author"s analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, seasonally adjusted)
• Labor force participation by race and ethnicity:
  • In 2017, the LFPR for 16- to 24-year-old white youth was 57.2%, 52.1% for black youth, 53.3% for Latino youth, and 41.7% for Asian youth. (Author"s analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, seasonally unadjusted)
  • For 25- to 34-year-olds in 2017, the white LFPR was 83%, the black rate was 80.1%, the Latino rate was 79.3%, and the Asian unemployment rate was 75.3%. (Author"s analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, seasonally unadjusted)
• More young people live in poverty than older generations did at the same age: 13.5 million Millennials (or 19.5% of all Millennials) fall below the poverty line.
• More young people work in retail than manufacturing: 21.5% of all 20- to 34-year-olds work in wholesale and retail trade jobs, versus just 6.7% in manufacturing jobs.
• Unions:
  • 5.9% of young people are covered by unions.
  • In 2017, 1 in 4 of the 858,000 net new jobs for workers under 35 was a union job.
  • 3 in 4 new union members in 2017 were under 35.
• Apprenticeships: While there are no generational breakdowns available, there are currently 505,000 apprentices of all ages nationwide.

Savings

Young people"s economic instability is evident based on their inability to save, and generational wealth is divided sharply by race.

• Savings: 67% of 18- to 24-year-olds have less than $1,000 in savings and of those, 46% have $0 in savings. For 25- to 34-year-olds, 61% have less than $1,000 in savings and 41% have no savings.
• Generational wealth: Regardless of age, white Americans are five times more likely than black Americans to receive an inheritance (36% to 7%), and when both receive an inheritance, white Americans" inheritances are about 10 times larger.

Homeownership

Largely stemming from the student debt crisis, home ownership has fallen sharply among young people compared to previous generations.

• Homeownership: for households headed by those aged 35 homeownership has dropped sharply, from 43.1% in 2004 to 35.2% today.

Education

While highly educated, young people face staggering amounts of student loan debt.

• Educational attainment: 64.4% of Americans 18 to 34 have graduated from high school, and 33.7% of 25- to 34-year-olds have earned a bachelor"s degree or higher.
• Student debt:

• Total: Overall, Americans now owe more than $1.4 trillion in student debt.
  • Defaults: 1 million student loan borrowers default on almost $20 billion worth of federal loans every year. Of these, 3 out of 10 defaults are African American and just under one-half of defaulters, regardless of race, never finish college.
• Debt size:
  • • Half of student loan borrowers graduate with $20,000 or more in debt, double the percentage a decade ago.
    • In 2015, the average debt for college students holding student loans and graduating with a bachelor"s degree $30,100.
• Trends: Student debt in America increased by 170% from 2006 to 2016.
• Student debt as a women"s issue: $800 billion of the $1.3 trillion of student debt analyzed by the American Association of University Women is held by women.

Young People and Civil Rights

Hate Crimes and Nondiscrimination Protections

Although hate crimes are on the rise, young people"s tolerance for them is on the decline, with strong support for non-discrimination protections across the board.

• Hate crimes: While generational information isn"t available, the vast majority of hate crimes in 2016 (58.9%) targeted victims because of their race, ethnicity, and/or ancestry. Another 21.1% were victimized because of their religion (including a large increase in the number of hate crimes against Muslims), 16.7% were targeted because of their perceived sexual orientation and 1.7% because of their perceived gender identity. As the most diverse generation, young people suffer when hate crimes increase.
• Non-discrimination protections: 90% of Americans 18 to 30 years old support non-discrimination protections for LGBT people in employment.
• Judicial system:
  • Nearly one in two 18- to 29-year-olds do not believe in the U.S. judicial system"s ability to fairly judge people without bias for race and ethnicity.
  • While generational breakdowns were not available, overall 61% of Americans believe Trump"s judicial nominees will favor the wealthy and powerful over everyday people. Additionally, 41% have confidence in Trump to nominated good federal judges and Supreme Court justices.
• Voting: In the 2016 presidential election, 1 in 4 young people had to fill out a provisional ballot because of questions of eligibility, compared to 6% of Baby Boomers and 2% of the Greatest Generation.

Gun Violence Prevention and Criminal Justice Reform

In general, young people (18-35) strongly support finding solutions to issues concerning our criminal justice system and high rates of gun violence–two epidemics that disproportionately affect younger Americans, and particularly young Americans of color.

• 71% of young voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who was committed to holding law enforcement officers accountable for their actions, increasing officer and leadership diversity, and eliminating racial profiling.
• 69% say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports laws that prohibit gun purchases by perpetrators of hate crimes, individuals with ties to terrorist organizations or individuals with a history of domestic violence.
• 62% of young voters say they"d be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports the goals of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Immigration

More so than previous generations, immigrants are helping define today’s 18- to 35-year-olds.

• DACA: There are nearly 800,000 young people who have DACA, who, by definition cannot be older than 36 years old as of June 15, 2017.
• Immigration:
  • 15% of those aged 20 to 34 were born in another country, one of the highest levels seen since our last immigration peak in 1910.
  • More immigrants coming to the United States are young people than any other agre group.

Young People and the Environment

Young (18-35) Americans are more concerned about the environment, and ready to take action, than older generations.

• 72% of young voters say they"d be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports investing in renewable energy to reduce our carbon footprint and create jobs.
• Young people are more concerned about climate change than older generations.
• As natural disasters become more and more frequent, low-income people bear the brunt of the costs, and young people are disproportionately affected.

Young People, Family, and Health

Parenthood

Though often overlooked, many of today"s young Americans are parents, with young people (18-35) making up the vast majority of new parents.

• Number of student parents: Just under 26% of all college students are student-parents. Women make up 71% of student-parents and black women make up 47% of all women student-parents.
• Number of young parents: young women accounted for 82% of all births in 2015. 1.3 million young women gave birth for the first time in 2018.
• Child care accessibility: More than half of all Americans live in child care deserts. 60% of Hispanic Americans live in child care deserts, and 75% of rural Alaska Native/American Indians do.
• 83% of young people say they would leave their job for one with more family-friendly policies.
• In 16 states and DC, it takes more than 50% of a young person"s income to pay for an infant to be in center-based child care. In only 7 states does it cost less than 30%.

Health Insurance

After the passage of the Affordable Care Act, young people"s health insurance coverage increased dramatically, though a significant percentage still lack health care.

• Uninsured rate: 16% of young people lacked health care in 2015.
• Insurance Coverage Increase: Young people experienced a 45% increase in health insurance coverage between 2010 and 2015, the largest of any age demographic.

Note: Definitions of the Millennial generation vary, and today"s 18- 19-year-olds are part of the next generation, Generation Z. When possible, we have attempted to provide the specific ages behind the data points listed to include as many 18- to 35-year-olds as possible, and to provide accuracy on the data itself.

*Generation Progress uses the abbreviation LGBTQ to refer to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. However, when studies refer to LGBTQ individuals using varying acronyms (a non-exhaustive list being LGBT, LGBTQIA, LGBTQ+) we use the term used in the study to represent the data as accurately as possible.

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