Independent Women's Forum

The Independent Women’s Forum (IWF), originally an ad hoc organization called Women for Clarence Thomas, was founded in 1991. Barbara Ledeen, wife of Michael Ledeen, was its first executive director. The IWF is the neoconservative counterweight to the progressive National Organization for Women (NOW). IWF is fighting the culture war against the inroads of the women’s liberation movement by challenging efforts to establish women’s equity in sports and by opposing the Violence Against Women Act and the Women’s Educational Equity Act. Its mission statement states that the IWF “is dedicated to advancing the spirit of enterprise and self-reliance among women, and supporting the principles of political freedom, economic liberty, and personal responsibility.” (1) (2)

The IWF is well connected to the Bush administration through various public figures, such as Elaine Chao, labor secretary, former Heritage Foundation fellow, and wife of Christian right leader Rep. Mitch O’Connell (R-KY). Lynne Cheney, who was until recently an IWF board member, is wife of Bush’s vice president; Paula Dobriansky was a board member before joining the administration as undersecretary of state for global affairs; and IWF member Lynne Munson is deputy chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The International Women’s Forum is using its high-powered media staff and publications connections to ensure that the issue of boys’ rights and the perceived repression of boys by the women’s movement become the leading civil rights issues of this decade. Internationally, the Independent Women’s Forum, along with religious right and right-wing social conservative organizations such as Concerned Women for America, Family Research Council, International Right to Life Federation, and American Life League, have either been granted or are seeking NGO consultative status with the United Nations with the encouragement of the Bush administration. (2)

Among the many other administration connections include Gayle Wilson, wife of Defense Policy Board member Pete Wilson; Wade Horn, an IWF adviser who directs the National Fatherhood Initiative joined the administration in the Department of Health and Human Services; Barbara Olson, a founding member, is the wife of Solicitor General Theodore Olson; and Michael Ledeen, husband of Barbara Ledeen, is a close adviser to Karl Rove among others in the administration. (2)

The IWF opposes affirmative action and Title IX programs (designed to prevent sexual discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal dollars), and believes that the over emphasis on women’s rights has resulted in fraudulent and exaggerated charges of rape, wage discrimination, gender bias, and domestic violence. The George W. Bush administration appointed the IWF’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Mitchell Pfotenhauer, to the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women. Pfotenhauer opposed the Violence Against Women Act along with IWF’s Margot Hill, who was also appointed to the committee. Pfotenhauer was also appointed delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, commissioner of the Secretary of Energy’s Advisory Board, and Secretary of Labor’s Committee on Workplace Issues. (3)

According to Media Transparency, the only valid part of IWF’s name is that it has women members. Its claim of independence, according to Media Transparency, is a dubious one considering that it receives most of its funding from conservative foundations. Neither can it claim to be a “forum” given that it voices only represents right-wing viewpoints concerning the status of women. (4)

Funding

Since 1994, the IWF has received over $3 million dollars from the following foundations: Sarah Scaife Foundation, Castle Rock Foundation, Earhart Foundation, John M. Olin Foundation, JM Foundation Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation, The Lynde And Harry Bradley Foundation, Inc., Scaife Family Foundation, and The Carthage Foundation. (5)

Contact Information

Independent Women's Forum
1726 M Street, NW
Suite 1001
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 419-1820
info@iwf.org

(2) Richard Morin and Claudia Deane, “Women’s Forum Challenges Feminists, Gains Influence,” Washington Post, May 1, 2001.
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25123-2001Apr30.html

(3) Bill Berkowitz, “TeamBush to abused women: Fuhgedaboutit! Right-wing appointees spread their wings across the Beltway,” Working for Change, October 25, 2002.
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=13980

(4) Media Transparency: Independent Women’s Forum
http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipients/iwf.htm

(5) Media Transparency: Independent Women’s Forum Funding
http://www.mediatransparency.org/search_results/info_on_any_recipient.php?163

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