Can All Women Have It All? A Call for Structural Change

“There’s no question that it takes a village not just to raise a child, but to keep women like me in the arena. Behind every successful woman is an invisible support system of people who help her juggle the demands of work and family. But it shouldn’t have to be that way—we need policies that support every woman in finding that balance.”

-Vice President and Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris

When we ask if women can have it all, the question often implies something deeper: Can women do it all? The answer to the latter is a resounding yes. Women have repeatedly proven our capability, strength, and intelligence in accomplishing whatever we set our minds to. But the former—Can all women have it all?—reveals a different challenge. It requires more than just individual effort; it demands real, systemic change.

To make "having it all" universally accessible to women, we must address the structural barriers that prevent too many, particularly women from marginalized communities, from realizing their full potential. This change doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it requires bold, equitable policies that ensure every woman has the support she needs to thrive.

The Policies That Can Make a Difference

To ensure that all women can access economic opportunity and balance career growth with family life, let's explore key policy solutions currently being legislated, or that have been proposed in the past. These solutions hold the potential to create a more equitable society where women can thrive.

1. Expanded Child Tax Credits

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) was expanded under the American Rescue Plan in 2021, temporarily increasing the credit and making it fully refundable, which allowed millions of families to receive monthly payments. Studies showed that this expansion lifted nearly 3.7 million children out of poverty, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities . However, the expiration of the expanded credit in December 2021 resulted in millions of families losing crucial financial support.

• Impact on Economic Opportunity: Restoring and expanding the Child Tax Credit would directly boost the financial stability of working mothers, allowing them to make choices that prioritize both career and family.
• Impact on Family Care: Financial relief provided by the CTC enables mothers to balance work and family life without the crushing burden of financial stress. By making this expansion permanent, we could provide ongoing support for families across the country.

2. Affordable Child Care

The Child Care for Working Families Act was reintroduced by Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Bobby Scott in 2021, aiming to ensure that no family earning below 150% of their state’s median income would spend more than 7% of their income on child care. The bill seeks to address the child care affordability crisis, which disproportionately impacts working women, particularly those from low-income households.

• Impact on Economic Opportunity: Affordable childcare enables women to remain in the workforce, pursue career growth, and increase their earning potential without the constant worry of exorbitant childcare costs.
• Impact on Family Care: With affordable childcare, women can ensure their children are in safe, enriching environments while they work, leading to better outcomes for both mothers and children.

3. Paid Parental Leave

The FAMILY Act, reintroduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, would provide workers with up to 12 weeks of partial income when they need time off to care for a new child, a seriously ill family member, or their own serious health condition. Paid parental leave has been shown to significantly improve health outcomes for both mothers and children while supporting women’s long-term workforce participation.

• Impact on Economic Opportunity: Paid parental leave allows women to maintain their careers while taking the time they need to care for their newborns. This also supports long-term career retention, preventing the common drop-off in women’s workforce participation after childbirth.
• Impact on Family Care: Paid leave ensures that mothers can focus on their families during the crucial early months of a child’s life without the stress of financial hardship.

4. Affordable Housing

The Housing Is Infrastructure Act of 2021, introduced by Rep. Maxine Waters, sought to invest in affordable housing as part of the broader infrastructure package. Although the bill did not pass, its proposals to expand access to affordable housing are crucial for economic stability, especially for women who are often the primary caregivers in their households.

• Impact on Economic Opportunity: Affordable housing reduces the financial burden of rent or mortgage payments, allowing women to invest more in their careers, education, and long-term goals.
• Impact on Family Care: Stable housing provides a secure environment for raising children, giving families the stability needed to thrive both economically and emotionally.

5. Free Community College

President Biden’s proposal to offer two years of free community college was included in the Build Back Better plan but ultimately removed during negotiations. Despite this setback, free community college remains a critical policy for expanding access to education and economic mobility for women.

• Impact on Economic Opportunity: Free community college creates pathways to higher-paying careers, equipping women with the knowledge and skills to advance economically. This opens doors for career growth that might otherwise be out of reach due to financial constraints.
• Impact on Family Care: Education allows women to achieve financial stability, which in turn benefits their families by creating more opportunities for their children and future generations.

6. Raising the Minimum Wage

The Raise the Wage Act of 2021, reintroduced by Rep. Bobby Scott and Sen. Bernie Sanders, aimed to gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. Although the measure did not pass, raising the minimum wage remains crucial for lifting millions of workers—many of whom are women—out of poverty.

• Impact on Economic Opportunity: Raising the minimum wage would directly impact millions of working women, particularly those in low-wage jobs, by providing a livable income. It would help reduce the wage gap and provide economic security for women supporting their families.
• Impact on Family Care: With higher wages, women would have the financial resources to better support their children’s needs, from education to healthcare, and reduce the stress of living paycheck to paycheck.

The Real Question: Can All Women Have It All?

Asking whether women can have it all must go beyond individual capability—it’s about creating a world where all women have the opportunity to thrive. That requires structural change. Without policies that address the realities of working women’s lives, “having it all” remains a privilege reserved for a few, rather than a possibility for all.

So, can all women have it all? The answer depends on our collective commitment to dismantling barriers and building systems that support women at every stage of their lives. Expanded child tax credits, affordable childcare, paid parental leave, affordable housing, free community college, and raising the minimum wage are just the beginning. These are the foundations that will empower women to define and pursue “having it all” in ways that work for them and their families.

Let’s shift the conversation from whether women can have it all to how we can create a world where all women can access the opportunities they deserve. Because true equity doesn’t come from asking women to do it all—it comes from giving all women the support they need to succeed.

This article is part of my ongoing “Why Women” series, where I explore the intersection of policy, pop culture, and patriarchy impacting women in business. Join the conversation.