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

Apprenticeships Can Deliver High Earnings but Do So Less for Women than Men

Apprenticeships provide an earn-as-you-learn pathway free of college debt to industry-recognized qualifications in high-demand occupations. In FY 2023*, the median hourly wage for women who completed registered apprenticeships was $22.00 compared with $34.07 for men, a gender earnings ratio of just 64.6 percent. Black [...]

The Costs of Reproductive Health Restrictions: An Economic Case for Ending Harmful State Policies

Access to comprehensive reproductive health care is central to gender equity and women’s full participation in the workplace. For businesses, restrictions on access to reproductive health care are not only at odds with stated corporate values, such as equity and inclusion, they also affect [...]

By IWPR|November 9, 2023|Center for the Economics of Reproductive Health, Publications|

Reproductive Health Restrictions Cost the Florida Economy Billions of Dollars Each Year–IWPR State Policy at a Glance

Laws and policies that limit access to reproductive health care have devastating and wide-ranging effects on women’s lives, families, and entire communities. These include tangible economic impacts: restricting access to reproductive health care creates barriers to women’s pursuit of education and their participation in [...]