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The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is the groundbreaking civil rights law that ensures pregnant and postpartum workers have the right to reasonable workplace accommodations. Bipartisan, pro-family and boldly feminist, the PWFA is both a lesson in democracy and a battleground for its defense against antidemocratic attacks.

Today Ms. magazine launched its latest installment of Women & Democracy in partnership with the national nonprofit A Better Balance to explore the PWFA’s decade-long fight for passage, its impact, and the legal and organizing strategies shaping its future.

One thing is certain: efforts to enforce and advance vital reforms envisioned by the PWFA must be met with a vigorous defense to protect the law from antidemocratic attacks. Through a collection of essays and video and podcast content, Ms. highlights organizing strategies, especially in the South, that will guide the PWFA’s future, and spotlights an array of voices—from impacted workers, to litigators defending the PWFA—to illustrate the vast civic effort making the PWFA a reality for millions.

"Taking a few extra breaks at work, or having a stool to sit on or access to a water bottle, or avoiding heavy lifting barely costs an employer anything, but it can make a world of difference for a pregnant worker’s health and ability to keep earning money."
—Victoria Cornejo Barrera, community advocate for A Better Balance

"The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act represents a significant step toward addressing the systemic inequities that contribute to the nation’s maternal morbidity and mortality crisis.”
—Angela D. Aina, co-founding executive director Black Mamas Matter Alliance

Workers in need of information of their rights under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act can learn more from A Better Balance’s Know Your Rights guide or contact the organization’s free, confidential legal helpline.

Women & Democracy is Ms. magazine’s online forum that focuses on key issues impacting full and fair representation in our democracy. We team up with leading advocacy organizations to provide expert content and release a new installment each quarter; past partners have included the Brennan Center for Justice, Center for Reproductive Rights, International Women’s Media Foundation, Represent Women, and Supermajority, among others.

Questions or press queries about the project can be directed to Ms. magazine at
[email protected].

About Ms. magazine: Founded in 1972 and published by the Feminist Majority Foundation since 2001, Ms. has been a trusted, popular source for feminist news and information in print and online for over 50 years. Ms.’s time-honored traditions of an emphasis on in-depth investigative reporting and feminist political analysis have never been more relevant, bringing a new generation of writers and readers together to share news, analysis, research and strategies for fighting back and moving forward, for shaping the future.

About A Better Balance: Founded in 2005, A Better Balance is the leading national nonprofit legal advocacy organization dedicated to promoting justice in the workplace, especially for women, caregivers, and people with health needs of their own. ABB led the way to passage of the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act; and has passed pregnancy accommodations laws in 27 states, paid family and medical leave programs in 14 states, and paid sick time laws in 19 states and dozens of localities.