Thanks to the state courts and legislature, as of May 1, abortion access in Florida is now more restricted than ever under the state’s near-total ban. The impact will resonate throughout the state, harming women and hurting the state economy.
Thanks to the state courts and legislature, as of May 1, abortion access in Florida is now more restricted than ever under the state’s near-total ban. The impact will resonate throughout the state, harming women and hurting the state economy.
Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is a symbolic commemoration of a stark reality: no matter which state they live in, whether they work part- or full-time, or part-year or year-round, Black women make substantially less than White men . This year, Black Women's Equal Pay Day falls on July 27th. While Equal Pay Days used to be described as the day when women “caught up” to men’s earnings from the previous year, IWPR senior researcher Ariane Hegewisch explains, "Equal [...]
This week, the FDA announced its approval for the first daily oral contraceptive in the U.S. without a prescription. After decades of scientific research on the safety, effectiveness, and overall benefits of the availability of over-the-counter contraceptives for people of all ages, the FDA’s decision means that Opill,, a progestin-only birth control pill produced by HRA Pharma, will soon be accessible over the counter. This is a significant milestone for reproductive healthcare in the U.S., and a critical step toward [...]
This week, Governor Janet Mills signed into law Maine’s latest budget, which invests $25 million in a state paid family and medical leave program. The passage of the budget represents a major victory for workers and advocates, who fought to establish critical protections for workers who must take time away from work due to caregiving obligations or health needs. With passage of this budget bill, Maine becomes the 14th state (including D.C.) to require mandatory paid leave for workers who [...]
A college degree can be a critical tool to economic stability, security, and advancement, yet structural and systemic issues create challenges for some students. Black single mothers pursuing higher education are disproportionately impacted by factors including lack of child care, educational affordability, and housing. Because of the compounding impact of intersecting forms of discrimination, policymakers must take an intersectional approach, targeting the structural disadvantages that affect Black women’s experiences within higher education. Due to a history of discrimination and educational [...]
Today, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Biden Administration’s student debt relief program is unlawful and beyond the scope of executive authority. The program would have eliminated up to $10,000 of student debt for borrowers earning up to $125,000 per year ($250,000 for married couples) and up to $20,000 of student debt for borrowers who participated in the Pell Grant program. The Court’s striking down of this program is a devastating blow to efforts to improve college accessibility and [...]
Women have long been at the forefront of the labor rights movements. Yet, in 2023, women still face high rates of gender-based violence in the workforce and are often last considered in labor protections. Due to global gender inequity, workplace gender-based violence is a global problem that is experienced in all fields of work. Despite growing attention and activism around gender-based violence in the workplace, gender discrimination remains a serious problem. President Biden came into office announcing his intention to [...]
