Representing Women and Girls in Marin County Since 1974
To empower and advocate for all women and girls in Marin County through collaboration, education and policy.
During his presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy pledged to examine the challenges facing women in the United States.
The National Commission on the Status of Women was established to investigate inequalities affecting women.
Eleanor Roosevelt was appointed as the Commission’s first chair, bringing national attention and credibility to the work.
“The fundamental purpose of feminism is that women should have equal opportunity and equal rights with every other citizen.”
The Commission uncovered widespread laws, regulations, and long-standing practices that discriminated against American women.
In response, many states—including California—created state commissions to address barriers to women’s full and equal participation.
Marin County emerged as a leader in gender equity by establishing the Marin County Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission was created by the Board of Supervisors through Ordinance #2078 in April 1974—one of the few local women’s commissions in the nation at the time.
The Commission’s founding reflects the same commitment that guides our work today:
Decades of advocacy advancing women’s rights and well-being in Marin County
Established in 1974, the Marin Women’s Commission was originally composed of eleven members—two women from each Marin County supervisor’s district and one at-large representative. From its inception, the Commission set a strong precedent for identifying and addressing systemic inequities affecting women. In 2024, the Commission’s structure was updated to twelve members, adding a second at-large representative to broaden community representation.
Early investigations revealed that some of the most significant barriers to equality existed within county government itself. In response, the Commission successfully advocated for affirmative action guidelines in county hiring and promotion practices. This work led to the creation of an Affirmative Action Advisory Committee within the County’s Personnel Commission and resulted in meaningful reforms, including the elimination of gender-segregated job postings and discriminatory hiring practices. Over time, these efforts reshaped how managerial career paths and salary structures were developed, advancing policies such as equal pay for equal work and comparable worth. The Commission’s engagement in this area continues today.
The Commission also turned its attention to inequities within the criminal justice system. Within a year of its investigation, Marin County established a women’s facility at the Honor Farm, bringing conditions and treatment for incarcerated women into parity with those of men.
Another long-standing focus has been the treatment of women as victims within the criminal justice system, particularly survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. In 1977, the Commission partnered with the Marin chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) to lay the groundwork for an abused women’s shelter. Within a year, Marin Abused Women’s Services (MAWS) was established, creating critical support for survivors in the community.
This commitment continues today. In 2022, the Marin Women’s Commission played a key role in advocating for the restoration of sexual assault forensic examinations in Marin County. Through its support of the SANE/SART (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner / Sexual Assault Response Team) program, the Commission helped ensure that survivors once again had access to timely, trauma-informed forensic care locally—an essential step toward healing and justice.
In 1982, Commission members decided to expand their information base on the needs of Marin women. Receiving a small grant from the San Francisco Foundation, they hired a consultant and began to review the areas where women’s needs were not addressed. Public hearings were conducted in each district and each agency in the county was queried about the level of service provided to females.
In 1994, in response to a growing workload, the Commission was expanded to seventeen members-to include three representatives from each supervisor’s district and two at-large members. The Commission was also renamed the “Marin Women’s Commission”
Recent efforts on behalf of Marin women have been in the area of economic parity. After an extended study, the 1996 Commission report “Where Do We Stand?” documented the continuing gap between men and women in regards to economic resources and access. In 1998, the Commission released a “Salary and Workforce Analysis” with results of a systematic survey of salaries and workforce practices at the county government. The recommendations included in this study are now a permanent part of the hiring and employment policy for county employees.
In 2001, the Commission focused on the high incidence of breast cancer in Marin County. In partnership with Marin General Hospital’s Breast Cancer Center, a translator training project was implemented to support non-English speaking women. The Commission also participated in “Beyond Breast Cancer Awareness”, in collaboration with the Breast Cancer Coordinating Council and the Board of Supervisors, to pay tribute to the dedicated organizations in Marin supporting women with breast cancer.
Today, the Marin Women’s Commission continues to promote equal opportunity, economic independence, and access to resources for Marin County women through advocacy, research and partnership with agencies that serve women.
Representing Women and Girls in Marin County Since 1974.
Copyright 2026 Marin Women's Commission, all rights reserved.
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Representing Women and Girls in Marin County Since 1974. Copyright 2026 Marin Women's Commission, all rights reserved.
Click here to view our Privacy Policy.
