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
The Black Maternal Health Crisis: Federal and State Policy Solutions
Black maternal health is in a state of emergency in the United States. The US has the highest rate of maternal mortality of wealthy nations, and although rates have skyrocketed over the last two decades for all women, Black women are around three times [...]
Paid Sick Leave Access Increased during the Last Decade, but Inequities Remain
This fact sheet examines changes in access to paid sick leave between 2012 and 2022. Utilizing data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the fact sheet updates an earlier IWPR analysis that utilized data from the same survey released in 2012. The [...]
All Americans Deserve Paid Leave Benefits: Policy Options for Congress
Better paid leave policies benefit all workers but are particularly important for women. IWPR’s research has consistently shown the economic benefits of investments in paid leave. Read more on IWPR's policy recommendations. Read More
