Political Participation
Shaping their own future
When women participate in the political process, they shape policies in ways that reflect their interests and needs. The Status of Women in the States’ Political Participation Index looks at women as voters, grassroots activists and campaign fundraisers, and officeholders and examines the uneven progress they have made.
Articles and Publications
The Economic Impacts of Reproductive Restrictions in Florida
Restrictions on reproductive health, like the gestational abortion ban implemented in Florida, have devastating and far-reaching impacts on the health and well-being of women. Furthermore, reproductive restrictions create barriers to women’s pursuit of education and their participation in the labor force, therefore inflicting adverse [...]
Black Women Won’t Reach Pay Equity Until 2227
This fact sheet shows that Black women face a substantial gap in earnings compared to White men in each state. Progress has slowed markedly during the last 20 years compared to a longer time horizon. Based on trends during the last two decades, it [...]
New IWPR Analysis Shows State Abortion Bans Cost the US Economy $68 Billion Annually
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2024 Contact: William Lutz 202-785-5100 Ahead of the Second Anniversary of the Overturn of Roe v. Wade, New IWPR Analysis Shows State Abortion Bans Cost the US Economy $68 Billion Annually Washington, DC — The Institute for Women's Policy [...]
The Retirement Income Gap Leaves Women Aged 65+ at Higher Risk of Poverty than Men
At 32.6 percent, the gender gap in retirement income—the sum of pension and Social Security income—was 4.0 percent larger than the 28.0 percent gender gap in median earnings in 2021. Women’s account balances are the main driver of this gap. Read more on this [...]
Advancing Equity in Attainment for Black Single Mothers in College: Understanding Their Needs and Supporting Their Success
As part of its broader Student Parent Success Initiative, IWPR conducted original research focusing specifically on Black single mother students. This report summarizes findings from 25 interviews IWPR conducted with Black single mother community college students, consisting of both students who were enrolled at [...]
The Black Maternal Health Crisis: Federal and State Policy Solutions
Black maternal health is in a state of emergency in the United States. The US has the highest rate of maternal mortality of wealthy nations, and although rates have skyrocketed over the last two decades for all women, Black women are around three times [...]