Kamala Harris: What She’s Said About Women’s Issues

Vice President Kamala Harris is looking like the presumptive Democratic nominee for president after a surge of donations and endorsements in the wake of President Joe Biden‘s announcement that he wont seek reelection.

Harris will now see her policy positions come under intense scrutiny, particularly her views on women’s issues, according to experts.

Iwan Morgan, Emeritus Professor of United States History at University College London’s Institute of the Americas, told Newsweek that, if nominated, Harris “will show more concern for women’s issues than any major party presidential candidate in history – greater even that Hillary Clinton because these issues are now under far more sustained attack than in 2016.”

Newsweek has laid out where Harris stands on some of the key issues facing women, verses Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump.

Reproductive Rights

Harris has consistently supported abortion rights and has spoken out against the numerous state-level abortion bans implemented in recent years. In an interview with MSNBC‘s Morning Joe, Harris called these bans “a health care crisis.” She emphasized that these restrictive laws cut women off from essential reproductive care, including services like Pap smears, breast cancer screenings, and HIV screenings. “In states where they have passed these Trump abortion bans, these clinics are closing, which means that there is a reduction of very essential health care across the board for a lot of people,” Harris said​​.

The vice president previously said the Biden administration “will do everything within our power” to allow women to continue accessing abortions after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Recently, in a post on X, Harris wrote: “Let’s be clear: Donald Trump would sign a national abortion ban and restrict access to contraception if given the chance. That is what’s at stake in November. We will stop him.”

Morgan said, “Harris, if nominated, will very likely make abortion rights a key part of her campaign and be the most vocal advocate of the issue of any major party candidate in history.”

Amy Tatum, a lecturer in Communications and Media at Bournemouth University, told Newsweek that, “Harris has traditionally been more in support of abortion access than Biden, and ran on a tougher 2019 [platform] that would limit states powers to decide on this issue for themselves.”

Harris’ stance on abortion puts her “in direct opposition to Trump and his running mate,” Tatum added.

In a video posted on Truth Social in April, Trump called himself “proudly the person responsible” for ending Roe. Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices who were in the majority that voted to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that guaranteed abortion rights across the country.

The Trump administration also implemented policies like the “gag rule,” which barred healthcare providers that offer abortion services or referrals from receiving federal funds​​.

Trump has stated that abortion policies should be determined by individual states rather than by federal mandate. His running mate, JD Vance, has historically been staunchly anti-abortion.

Healthcare and Maternal Mortality

Harris has made maternal health a central focus of her efforts. On the first-ever White House Maternal Health Day of Action, Harris highlighted the alarming maternal mortality rates in the U.S., especially among Black and Native American women.

In a statement shared on The White House website, Harris stated “Our nation has one of the highest maternal mortality rates of any wealthy country in the world.” She continued that, “This maternal health crisis is particularly devastating for Black women, Native women, and women in rural communities who all experience maternal mortality and morbidity at significantly higher rates than their white and urban counterparts.”

In comparison, Trump’s healthcare policies often faced criticism for potentially reducing healthcare coverage for millions of Americans. The Trump administration repeatedly tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Trump has vowed to replace the ACA with “something better,” but has not detailed an alternative. The White House has emphasized that repealing the ACA would lead to significant cuts in Medicaid, threatening health care for millions of seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals.

Tatum said that this issue is one which “Harris has taken the lead [on] whilst in office and will be a strong issue for her to take into a general election.” Tatum also said that, “It demonstrates her intersectional approach to issues, exploring the disproportionate treatment of Black and Native American women. This could also be a very good issue for her to run on as it is one that is often not spoken about by candidates and so provide a unique example of her experience in Executive Office.”

Sexual Violence and Domestic Violence

Throughout her career, Harris has been an advocate for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. As per a press release from the White House, the Biden-Harris administration stated that they “forcefully condemn sexual violence without equivocation and without exception.”

In her remarks on protecting reproductive rights, Harris discussed her experience prosecuting cases of violence against women and children. She stressed the immorality of laws that strip survivors of autonomy over their bodies, particularly in cases involving family members or significant threats to personal safety​​.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said of Harris in her endorsement of her for president that, “As a former prosecutor, Vice President Harris has a lot of experience holding convicted felons accountable.” Warren added that Harris, fought “on behalf of abused women,” as per CNN.

Trump’s administration faced backlash over its handling of sexual violence issues. During his presidency, the Department of Education under Betsy DeVos rolled back Obama-era guidelines on how colleges should handle sexual assault allegations, which critics argued reduced protections for survivors​​, according to Time.

Tatum said that, “Harris has a strong reputation from her time as a prosecutor of being tough of perpetrators of domestic violence and sexual violence.” She added that, “Her strong stance on protecting women and children will be a strong campaign strategy against Trump who has a history of sexual misconduct, by highlighting this on the campaign Harris can demonstrate strength and authority.”

Trump was found liable in 2023 for sexually assaulting E. Jean Carroll in a Manhattan store dressing room in the 1990s. During the 2016 campaign, a tape from 2005 was released in which he bragged about kissing women and grabbing their genitals without their consent.

Workplace Equality and Gender Pay Gap

Harris has been a staunch supporter of workplace equality and efforts to close the gender pay gap. She has advocated for policies that promote equal pay for equal work and has supported legislation aimed at ensuring women receive fair compensation. The Biden-Harris administration sought to “improve women’s wages and help close gender and racial pay gaps,” according to a White House statement.

Tatum stated that, “Harris explores the issue through an intersectional lens, acknowledging the difference in experience for women of color.” She added that, “In terms of new initiatives, Harris ran for the nomination in 2019 with a comprehensive plan to tackle the pay inequality and as recently as January of this year she called for greater protection from wage disparities, it may be that we see more of this in the coming months.”

Trump’s track record on gender pay issues is mixed. The then-president signed an executive order aimed at promoting economic empowerment for women, but also revoked the 2014 Fair Pay and Safe Work Places Act, which was intended to improve labor standards and working conditions for employees of federal contractors, promoting accountability and transparency.

What’s Next

Harris has continually advocated for women’s rights across various issues whereas the Trump administration often faced criticism for undermining women’s health and rights.

Morgan, the UCL professors, said, “Economy-related issues and immigration remain key issues above abortion rights.”

“She will come under strong attack from Trump on immigration as that was one of her policy domains as VP,” he continued. “But there are other issues where she can play up the record of the Biden administration to good effect provided she finds a better voice as a national campaigner than in her 2020 nomination bid.”

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