The Status of Women in the States project ranks and grades Maine across several areas of women’s lives. While Maine performs better in some areas, no matter the rank, there are still barriers and inequities that prevent women from succeeding and thriving. Across all indices, Maine ranks toward the top of states in the country. Maines’s performance is the strongest on the Political Participation and Reproductive Rights indices. Maines’s performance is weakest on the Employment and Earnings and the Health and Well-Being indices.
Explore the Data
As state policies and programs have changed over the years, so has the status of women in Maine. Since 1996, Maine has made progress in some areas, while lagging in others.
Articles and Publications
Breaking Barriers: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Women and the Fight for Equal Pay
In 2023, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) women earned 92.9 percent of what White men made in median annual earnings for full-time full-year work. However, when part-time and part-year workers are included, this figure drops to just 80.4 percent. While AANHPI [...]
Abortion Bans Are Driving Away Young and Educated Workers
Abortion restrictions are not just limiting reproductive health care access—they are driving people away from states with abortion bans or severe restrictions. Recent IWPR research based on a survey of 10,000 adults found that 1 in 10—and 1 in 5 planning to have children [...]
DC Paid Family Leave: Access and Impact on Workers
This report summarizes findings from 12 interviews with beneficiaries of DC Paid Family Leave. These conversations provided insights into how having access to paid leave benefits impacted participants’ financial, mental, and physical well-being, as well as their ability to perform their caregiving responsibilities and [...]
