From a landmark abortion access court case to the Trump administration’s week-one efforts to erode critical rights and protections, this week marks multiple anniversaries related to women’s health and economic well-being. These dates provide a crucial reminder of what’s at stake and why it is imperative to protect against attacks on reproductive freedom and threats that undermine better workplaces—not just to hold firm to progress from the past but also pursue policy solutions that advance gender justice in the future.

On January 22, 1973, the US Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion access nationwide, only to be overturned nearly 50 years later in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in 2022. Attacks on reproductive rights didn’t end there: Since the first week of President Trump’s second term a year ago, this administration has further eroded access to abortion and other reproductive health care.

There is overwhelming evidence that abortion restrictions reduce women’s participation in the workforce, lower their earnings, decrease their educational attainment, and limit their career trajectories. Further research shows that restrictions disproportionately impact low-income people, people of color, and those living in rural communities, and worsen maternal health outcomes overall. The impacts extend beyond the individual harms to the nation’s economic well-being: IWPR research found that the 16 states with the most restrictive abortion policies cost the US economy more than $64 billion annually.

Access to abortion and other reproductive health care is a human right. And when this care is safe and accessible, individuals are better able to maintain their physical and mental well-being, pursue education and career goals, and fully participate in the economy.

Fifty-three years after Roe, as restrictions on abortion access in the states persist, it is crucial that policymakers promote policies that support reproductive freedom. Particularly as the Republican majority in Congress pushes for expanded abortion bans and fails to address increasing health care costs and access needs, champions should rally behind policy solutions, such as protecting access to medication abortion and seeking ways to expand access to a full spectrum of reproductive health care and services, including for immigrants.

This week also marks one year since President Trump rolled out a series of anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders (EOs), setting the stage for the erosion of critical workforce protections. Since taking office, the Trump administration has systematically sought to dismantle initiatives designed to ensure the workforce reflects the diversity and lives of the American people. Following the directives and underlying intent of the EOs, the administration has taken steps to overturn critical federal workforce protections and extend this agenda’s reach into the broader workforce.

DEI and workplace protection policies seek to remedy past discrimination and eliminate such exclusionary practices. They play a critical role in promoting equitable and safe workplaces, leveling the playing field for all workers, and helping address occupational segregation—where many occupations remain highly dominated by men or women. The overrepresentation of women in low-paying jobs is a key driver of the gender wage gap.

To continue to dismantle discrimination, including against women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals, it is imperative for policymakers to strongly oppose the Trump administration’s actions to prohibit workplace DEI initiatives and undermine the agencies charged with protecting workers’ rights. Further, policymakers must invest in the fight against workplace discrimination by resourcing the entities responsible for preventing and responding to it, while exploring new ways to enhance workplace protections.

Additional IWPR Research and Resources:

Visit IWPR’s Federal Policy Solutions to Advance Gender Equity to learn more. For state-level data indicators on women, legislative developments, and policy recommendations, visit IWPR’s State Policy Action Lab (State PAL).