RISE Women's Leadership Conference
The biennial RISE Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC) brings together **women and girls for a day focused on cultivating under-represented leaders in San Mateo County and beyond. Located at the epicenter of progress and innovation, our conference aims to promote inclusive leadership and community building by supporting current and future female changemakers. Each biennial event focuses on a theme that addresses areas of success or need for women and girls and engages participants to be part of gender equity for women in San Mateo County.
Representation
At present, women make up more than half the US population and account for 47% of the U.S. labor force and 52.5% of the college-educated workforce. Yet they lag substantially behind in leadership positions.
Even with significant gains in 2018 politics, women only represent 24% of members in Congress, 28% of seats in state legislatures, only 18% of governors and women of color represent less than 9% of members of Congress. Overall, there is a gap between the small numbers of women at the top and the vast majority of women nationwide.*
*The Women’s Leadership gap, Judith Warner, Nora Ellman, Diana Doesch, 2018
Economic Impact
Women have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the County of San Mateo has done much in the way of recovery funds to help. However, women went into the pandemic worse off due to existing systemic inequities in the workforce, such as a persistent pay gap and occupational segregation. When the pandemic hit, frontline and service sectors, what we called “essential workers,” were the most impacted. In many of these sectors women are occupationally segregated, making up in some cases more than 70% of a particular industry’s workforce such as child-care. It is critical to understand that when women lose jobs, lose child-care, and spend their savings to survive, it creates instability in our economy. When women are economically secure, they invest in their families, spurring economic growth and creating a more stable community for everyone.*
*California Commission on the Status of Women & Girls; US Dept of State, 2022
*The Women’s Leadership gap, Judith Warner, Nora Ellman, Diana Doesch, 2018
Present
2018
Commission on the Status of Women
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors, seeks to improve the quality of life for women of all ages in San Mateo County. Through strategic partnerships and collaboration, the commission identifies women’s needs, advises the board of supervisors, and educates the community on matters concerning women. Learn more on the San Mateo County CSW website.
If you would like to participate on a committee or apply to serve as a commissioner, please feel free to contact us by telephone at 650-363-4467 or Tanya Beat at tbeat@smcgov.org.
** “Women / Girls” refers to gender expansive adults & youth (cis, trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and gender queer).