YWCA Utah Releases The Well-Being of Women in Utah

Salt Lake City – Today, the YWCA Utah released

The Well-Being of Women in Utah: An Overview.

This

briefing paper

, produced in partnership with the

Institute for Women’s Policy Research

in Washington, D.C., highlights Utah women and their status in five key areas: earnings, education, and economic security; physical and emotional health and safety; and political leadership and participation.

“Women in Utah strengthen the state’s economy and local communities in many ways,” said

Cynthia Hess, Ph.D., IWPR Study Director

and author of the report. “They are active in the workforce, make a difference at the polls, and are more likely to have a college degree than two decades ago. However, women in Utah face a range of under-recognized challenges that need to be addressed through improved policies and programs.”

While Utah women have made progress toward pay equity they still experience a wage gap. Women in Utah who work full-time and year-round earn 69.0 cents on the dollar compared with men, well below the national average of 78.6 percent.

A release event for the briefing paper introduced an initiative to strengthen the YWCA’s mission-based work on behalf of Utah women, their families, and their communities. “The

YWCA Utah

began the nonpartisan Utah Women’s Well-Being Initiative in May 2013 to respond more effectively and more collaboratively to persistent challenges Utah women face,” said

Anne Burkholder, YWCA Utah CEO

.  “The purpose is to strengthen the well-being of Utah women across important dimensions of their lives through research, education, collaboration, and public policy – so that women flourish, their families and communities thrive, and Utah prospers.”

The full briefing is available at



www.ywca.com



and



www.iwpr.org



.

About the YWCA Utah

The

YWCA Utah

is nonprofit women’s membership organization dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Since 1906 the YWCA has reached out to Utah women with friendship, life-changing programs, and opportunities to learn, lead, and influence the world around them.  For more information visit

www.ywca.com

About the Institute for Women’s Policy Research

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research

is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women and their families, promote public dialogue, and strengthen communities and societies.