Honoring Women’s Progress & Addressing Gaps in Healthcare, Leadership, and Finance
Dear VS Community,
In honor of this International Women’s Day tomorrow, March 8, we celebrate the progress women have made towards equality in the past half century, while recognizing the systemic obstacles that persist in every aspect of life— from leadership and healthcare to financial security and personal freedoms. True equality remains out of reach for many, and addressing these challenges requires not just awareness, but action.
The Gender Gap in Healthcare
Women’s health has historically been overlooked in medical research, leading to gaps in knowledge and care. In fact, it wasn’t until 1993 that the U.S. mandated women’s inclusion in clinical trials. Today, diseases that disproportionately affect women—such as autoimmune disorders, osteoporosis, and endometriosis—remain underfunded. A study found that only 12% of federal healthcare research funding goes toward conditions that primarily impact women. Additionally, women are more likely than men to experience delayed diagnoses and inadequate pain management in emergency settings. And to make matters worse, online resources like WebMD have not caught up with women’s health research and the internet primarily provides diagnostic information that only applies to men. Finally, women on average live longer than men and need to save for end of life costs. Addressing these disparities is essential for a healthier, more equitable future.
Women in Leadership & Finance
Women now hold a record-breaking 10.6% of CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies as of 2023—a significant increase from just 0.4% in 2000. However, they still represent a fraction of executive leadership across industries. Women also continue to face barriers in venture capital funding, receiving just 2% of total VC investment in 2022, despite leading businesses that statistically generate higher revenue per dollar invested. Closing these gaps requires systemic changes in workplace policies, investment opportunities, and leadership pipelines.
Women in Government
It takes women in leadership to ensure women’s rights are protected and equality advanced. Since the passage of CEDAW, known as the international human rights bill for women, in 1979, all new Constitutions stipulate for legislative bodies to be at least 33% women. In the U.S. there has never been a female president, just one female vice president, currently 6 presidential appointees, 27.9 percent of Congressional representatives, an increase from six percent of members in 1991, but still not the bare minimum required by modern international law. We are making slow progress, but are not up to the international standard, and should ratify CEDAW to guarantee women’s basic human rights, including representation in government.
Reproductive Care and Benefits
The U.S. remains one of the only developed nations without federally mandated paid maternity leave—forcing many new mothers to return to work far sooner than is medically or emotionally ideal. In fact:
Nearly 1 in 4 American women return to work just two weeks after giving birth.
More than 30% return within four weeks.
By six weeks, over half of working mothers are back on the job.
In contrast, most other developed economies provide months or even years of paid leave as a standard benefit, recognizing that reproductive care is essential to both family stability and workforce retention.
A recent Rhia Ventures report underscores the economic and social benefits of guaranteeing comprehensive reproductive healthcare—including paid leave, IVF access, and abortion services. With 64% of Americans supporting abortion rights, it’s clear that reproductive care is not just a healthcare issue, but a fundamental factor in women’s equality, economic security, and professional advancement.
Investing in these benefits isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a business imperative for a more equitable and sustainable workforce.
At Variant Strategies, Our Commitment is Clear
We believe in amplifying women’s voices, advocating for gender equity in healthcare, finance, and leadership, and creating opportunities for women to thrive. We will share more on these efforts in the weeks to come.
How You Can Take Action Today:
Support women-led businesses and initiatives—Every dollar spent is a vote for progress.
Educate yourself on gender disparities—Knowledge empowers action.
Advocate for policies that promote equity—Your voice matters.
Support our work to educate the masses about how to promote equality - contact me.
Together, we can drive meaningful change. Today, let’s celebrate the achievements of women worldwide while continuing the fight for a more inclusive and equitable future.
Best,
Abby Goldberg
CEO of Variant Strategies