SWS – Reproductive RightsAdministrator2021-09-17T16:12:21-05:00

Reproductive Rights

The equal participation of women in politics and government is integral to building strong communities and a vibrant democracy in which women and men can thrive. By voting, running for office, and engaging in civil society as leaders and activists, women shape laws, policies, and decision-making in ways that reflect their interests and needs, as well as those of their families and communities.

Today, women constitute a powerful force in the electorate and inform policymaking at all levels of government. Yet, women continue to be underrepresented in governments across the nation and face barriers that often make it difficult for them to exercise political power and assume leadership positions in the public sphere. This chapter presents data on several aspects of women’s involvement in the political process in the United States: voter registration and turnout, female state and federal elected and appointed representation, and state-based institutional resources for women. It examines how women fare on these indicators of women’s status, the progress women have made and where it has stalled, and how racial and ethnic disparities compound gender disparities in specific forms of political participation.

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Political Participation Rank and Score by State

Women at Work Five Years Since the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Any Progress?

On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a national emergency in response to the COVID-19 virus and, subsequently, 42 states and territories issued mandatory stay-at-home orders. By April 2020, the overall rate of unemployment had spiked to 14.7 percent, up from 4.4 percent a [...]

The Intersection of Workplace Flexibility and Exercise by Gender, Race, and Ethnicity

IWPR analyzed the American Time Use Survey Leave Module 2017–2018 to assess the relationship between workplace flexibility and workers’ likelihood of exercising. The analysis examines exercise rates when employees have greater control over when and where they work and compares those rates to workplaces [...]

Post-Roe, Employees Want—and Expect—Businesses to Help with Reproductive Health Access

A new IWPR survey of 10,000 adults, conducted with Morning Consult and the Center for Reproductive Rights, shows that abortion bans are deeply unpopular, particularly among younger individuals and those planning to have children soon, who prefer to work in areas where reproductive rights [...]

Contraceptive Challenges Facing Community College Students

Community college students need access to comprehensive reproductive health care to support them in achieving both their educational and reproductive goals. This brief highlights barriers to contraceptive access among young people attending community college and outlines policies and programs that can support access. Drawing [...]