The Status of Women in Buncombe County, North Carolina

Women in Buncombe County, as in North Carolina as a whole, have made much progress during the last few decades, yet more remains to be done to elevate women’s status. The majority of women work— many in professional and managerial jobs—and women are a mainstay of the economic health of their communities. Yet, there are some ways in which women’s status still lags behind men’s, and not all women are prospering equally. This briefing paper provides basic information about the status of women in Buncombe County, focusing on women’s earnings and workforce participation, level of education,
poverty, access to child care, and health status. It also provides background demographic information about women in the county.