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
Investing in Economic Opportunity for Women in North Carolina
This report was commissioned by the North Carolina Council for Women and Youth Involvement (CFWYI), an advocacy division housed in the North Carolina Department of Administration, and the North Carolina Council for Women (the Council), a group of 20 gubernatorial appointees who advise the [...]
Numbers Matter: Women Working in Construction
In 2024, the number of women working in construction trades was the highest ever, with 366,360 working in construction and extraction occupations. Since 2015, the number of tradeswomen has increased by almost 160,000, or 77.3 percent. Construction careers, including apprenticeships, are attracting an increasing [...]
Black Women Need Better Access to Leadership Positions—and Equal Pay When They Get There
Attaining postsecondary education offers economic mobility for Black women; however, it is not enough to eliminate the disparities they experience in advancing to leadership roles. Black women in the United States continue to experience a steady increase in successfully earning college degrees but are [...]
When Care Fails, Generations Suffer: The Ripple Effect of the Black Maternal Health Crisis
The ongoing crisis of Black maternal mortality is not only a personal tragedy but also a preventable loss with profound, lasting effects on children, families, and entire communities. This brief builds on others in this series by shedding light on the broad and long-term [...]
Higher Risks, Lower Rewards – The Hidden Toll on Black Women Working in Health Care
Across the economy, Black women are disproportionately channeled into jobs with low wages and high levels of stress, uncertainty, and physical risk. Today, more than 1 in 5 Black women in the labor market works in the health sector, and while there are pathways to [...]
Working in Harm’s Way – How Occupational Segregation Impacts Black Maternal Health
Many conversations about Black maternal health—and about Black women’s health overall—focus on their role as patients within a health system that has historically harmed them and continues to do so today. However, the role of Black women who work within the health system is [...]
