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 under represented 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.