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
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 [...]
