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
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 [...]
Care Work After COVID-19: Men Help More, but Women Still Carry the Load
Women are significantly more likely than men to spend at least 30 minutes a day providing unpaid care for children or older adults, but the gender gap has decreased since the pandemic. In this Quick Figure, explore the unequal distribution of family care work [...]
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 [...]
