The Status of Women in the States project ranks and grades Maine across several areas of women’s lives. While Maine performs better in some areas, no matter the rank, there are still barriers and inequities that prevent women from succeeding and thriving. Across all indices, Maine ranks toward the top of states in the country. Maines’s performance is the strongest on the Political Participation and Reproductive Rights indices. Maines’s performance is weakest on the Employment and Earnings and the Health and Well-Being indices.
Explore the Data
As state policies and programs have changed over the years, so has the status of women in Maine. Since 1996, Maine has made progress in some areas, while lagging in others.
Articles and Publications
Abortion Bans Are Driving Away Young and Educated Workers
Abortion restrictions are not just limiting reproductive health care access—they are driving people away from states with abortion bans or severe restrictions. Recent IWPR research based on a survey of 10,000 adults found that 1 in 10—and 1 in 5 planning to have children [...]
DC Paid Family Leave: Access and Impact on Workers
This report summarizes findings from 12 interviews with beneficiaries of DC Paid Family Leave. These conversations provided insights into how having access to paid leave benefits impacted participants’ financial, mental, and physical well-being, as well as their ability to perform their caregiving responsibilities and [...]
Women Earn Less than Men Whether They Work in the Same or Different Occupations
Women’s median earnings for a week of full-time work are lower than men’s in nearly all occupations, irrespective of whether these occupations are mainly held by women, mainly held by men, or whether the gender division is more equal. Read the latest findings from [...]
