Around Des Moines

Women in Denim, labeled as a conference for women in agriculture, is an example of how government discriminates against women while pretending to support equality. A recent rule from the Small Business Administration, currently in a public comment phase, is another example. It is important for women to understand how business programs marketed to them differ from events that are not defined as gender-specific but are attended mostly by men.

Women in Denim will be held in Storm Lake January 18-19, 2008. According to information on a web site for the conference, Women in Denim is dedicated to giving women opportunities to learn about agricultural opportunities and financial management, as well as for networking and for fun and enthusiasm Session 3 workshop options are typical of the agenda. Participants can choose from getting to know their digital camera, marketing where the grass is always greener, jam and jelly making, goal setting for women (emphasis mine), and coping with grief. Last summer there was a meeting held by one of the non-gender-based business organizations in Des Moines to talk about agricultural marketing opportunities related to the bilateral trade agreement between South Korea and the United States that was signed in June 2007. That is not a topic at Women in Denim. The new Farm Bill won’t be discussed either, nor will topics such as choosing between a small seasonal business or a multi-level, year-round, employee-based production. Decorating with accessories and losing weight without dieting are on the agenda, though.

The workshop on goal setting at the conference implies that women will have different goals than men. Over the past year I have written about the different way women and men are promoted in business in Iowa. Women are praised for having $20,000-a-year businesses that will take them off the welfare rolls or help boost the family’s total income. In contrast, the types of jobs and companies that benefit from laws requiring above average or median pay tend to benefit men. (The median Iowa pay for full-time work in 2006 was $39,753 for men and $29,824 for women.)

The Los Angeles Times ran a story on January 3rd about rules for awarding women-owned business a whopping 5% of federal contracts. According to the article this rule comes from a 1994 law followed by a 2000 law ordering the SBA to implement the Congressional directive. The proposals would limit contracts to four areas and to businesses owned by economically-disadvantaged women. In addition, contracts would be limited to $3 million or to $5 million for manufacturing contracts. Another requirement is that each agency would need to analyze its procurement history to determine if there had been discrimination. The SBA cited Supreme Court decisions and an increase in the dollar value of contracts awarded to women-owned businesses as validation for its rule. Women objected to the use of dollars instead of number of businesses and to the limitation of four categories. Comments are due February 25, 2008.

M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa, a news publication for women, politics, and change.