A Discussion on Backlash and Progress for Women’s Rights in the United States

On September 18, the Institute of Global Politics (IGP) Women’s Initiative convened a roundtable discussion titled “Women’s Rights in the United States: Backlash and Progress,” featuring Judy Lichtman, an attorney and former leader of the National Partnership for Women & Families for more than 50 years. The event was cosponsored by the Human Rights, Gender, and Equity concentration and the Urban Social Policy concentration at Columbia SIPA.

Lichtman, once described by former President Bill Clinton as a “national treasure,” has spent decades advocating for women’s rights and social justice issues through roles at the Department of Health, the US Commission on Civil Rights, and as legal advisor to Puerto Rico. Lichtman discussed the importance of promoting community in public service, strategies for coalition-building, and recommendations for forging a sustainable path to women’s equality. The event was moderated by the IGP Women’s Initiative directors, Rachel Vogelstein, associate professor of professional practice and co-director of SIPA’s Human Rights, Gender, and Equity concentration, and Jennifer Klein, professor of professional practice. 

Drawing from decades of legislative victories, Lichtman offered a blueprint for navigating today’s challenges. Credited for playing a crucial role in passing the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), a landmark law that guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid leave for qualified medical or family reasons, Lichtman recounted her hard-fought campaign and the strategic decisions that made passage possible. 

Although the FMLA was initially designed to protect against pregnancy discrimination, Lichtman framed the law as family-oriented rather than solely a women’s issue to avoid fracturing the bill’s coalition. By presenting the issue as a gender-neutral priority for each constituency, the coalition garnered widespread support, spanning the disability community, union workers, and religious groups. This strategic framing proved successful and resulted in a policy that redefined workplace rights for both women and men. The FMLA became the first bill President Clinton signed into law and, according to National Partnership estimates, has since been used more than 500 million times — a milestone achievement in U.S. labor and family policy.

Despite current setbacks facing women’s rights, Lichtman expressed cautious optimism about the future. “These times call for a degree of optimism and patience,” she noted, urging attendees to pursue incremental state-level victories and expand coalitions beyond obvious allies. She suggested that current challenges to women’s rights might paradoxically strengthen the movement in the long run, serving as a unifying force. 

As the roundtable concluded, Lichtman returned to a defining theme of her career: the power of collective action. “Acting in community, feeling part of a community, [and] feeling joint advocacy in a social justice context is serious,” she said. Her message was clear: while the current moment presents unprecedented challenges to women’s rights, history shows that sustained advocacy and inclusive coalitions can drive lasting change.