During the twentieth century, women made
significant economic, political, and social
advances, but they are far from enjoying
gender equality. Throughout the United States,
women earn less than men, are seriously underrepresented
in political office, and make up a disproportionate
share of people in poverty. Even in areas
where there have been significant advances in
women’s status, rates of progress are slow. For
example, at the rate of progress achieved over the
past ten years, women will not achieve wage parity
for more than 60 years. If women’s representation in
Congress changes at the rate it did during the 1990s,
it will take more than a century to achieve equality
in political representation.