Conclusions

At the end of the Decade for the Advancement of Women, and on the eve of a new decade's efforts, feminists can take pride in the progress of women's movements, a process in which the Foundation has played a facilitating role. In little more than a decade, the Foundation has become a leading private funder in matters of women's rights and opportunities, both in the United States and abroad. The women's program clearly expresses the Foundation's historic commitment to the values of freedom, equality, pluralism, and choice in society, and it supports and encourages attention to basic human rights that are recognized by an increasing number of nations. Moreover, the program responds to specific local concerns and to the need for worldwide communication on feminist issues. Thus, during a remarkable decade in which women's concerns and women's voices have emerged around the world, the Foundation has helped ensure that new viewpoints are heard and translated into action.

It is crucial that the Foundation continue to play a supportive role in this compelling, diversified movement for a humane and just social order. Although much positive change has occurred over the past decade, much remains to be done. Fiscal austerity, worsening income distribution, imbalances between population and natural resources, and other concerns distract attention from women's circumstances. When, for example, nations are unable to feed their own people, it is easy to brush aside women's call for dignity and equality. We too easily forget not only that women are frequently the principal providers of food, but also that their perceptions of their own opportunities influence their ideas about such matters as family size and resource management. Women's programs, women leaders, and feminist ideas can help all people develop new insights that should be incorporated into public policy. Such insights make the world a fairer place and open up options for both men and women. Encouraging the next generation of feminist leaders, stabilizing the organizations and networks that serve women, and maintaining a clear focus on poor women's situation will be essential in meeting the challenges of the decades to come.