Gender Equality Study in the US...Colorado's #19!!!

For many advocates, representation in the nation’s highest office could lead to meaningful progress for women’s rights, potentially addressing some of the severe inequalities the nation has yet to overcome.

These issues include a gender pay gap, a lack of flexibility in the workplace during pregnancy and early motherhood, and, indeed, a lack of women holding positions of political influence. While no state has achieved gender pay equality, a number have made substantial progress in closing the earnings gap and in other areas, like electing women to office, funding pre-K programs, and passing laws that allow women to stay in the workforce when they have children, should they so choose.

On the other hand, a number of states remain extremely unfavorable to women in every major category. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed and ranked the 50 states based on their favorability to women. 

Ranking Gender Equality in all 50 States,  these are the top 5:

1. Rhode Island 
> Female earnings as pct. of male: 85.8% (5th highest)
> Pct. mgmt. jobs held by women: 43.6% (5th highest)
> Pct. 3-4 yr. olds enrolled in state pre-K: 1.4% (11th lowest)
> Pct. legislative seats held by women: 27.4% (18th highest)

Across a range of measures related to health, leadership, and financial security, Rhode Island is the best state in the country for women. With mandated special accommodations for pregnant workers and expansions to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 for both private and public sector jobs, Rhode Island has taken considerable steps to address gender inequality.

2. New York 
> Female earnings as pct. of male: 88.7% (the highest)
> Pct. mgmt. jobs held by women: 41.6% (12th highest)
> Pct. 3-4 yr. olds enrolled in state pre-K: 23.9% (11th highest)
> Pct. legislative seats held by women: 24.4% (24th lowest)

Nationwide, women earn only 80% of what their male counterparts earn. While the pay gap exists in every state, it is smallest in New York, where women earn 88.7% of the median male salary.

3. California 
> Female earnings as pct. of male: 85.7% (6th highest)
> Pct. mgmt. jobs held by women: 40.7% (19th highest)
> Pct. 3-4 yr. olds enrolled in state pre-K: 12.9% (23rd highest)
> Pct. legislative seats held by women: 25.8% (20th highest)

Women hold a relatively high share of government leadership positions in California. Of all 55 of the state’s congressional representatives, 38.2% are female.

4. Oregon 
> Female earnings as pct. of male: 80.8% (20th highest)
> Pct. mgmt. jobs held by women: 40.8% (17th highest)
> Pct. 3-4 yr. olds enrolled in state pre-K: 8.2% (22nd lowest)
> Pct. legislative seats held by women: 31.1% (9th highest)

A strong pre-K program can be extremely beneficial for women who might otherwise have to take additional time off or pay out of pocket for childcare. And Oregon has one of the best-funded pre-K systems in the country, with $8,648 in state money apportioned per child.

5. Connecticut 
> Female earnings as pct. of male: 82.4% (14th highest)
> Pct. mgmt. jobs held by women: 40.4% (22nd highest)
> Pct. 3-4 yr. olds enrolled in state pre-K: 16.2% (18th highest)
> Pct. legislative seats held by women: 28.3% (15th highest)

By a number of measures related to health, financial security, and legislation, Connecticut is the fifth best state for women in the country and the second best in New England. The pay gap between men and women is slightly smaller than it is nationwide, and Connecticut voters have elected more women to fill state legislature and congressional delegate seats than is typical.

In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Julie Anderson, a research associate at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, explained why the wage gap exists. According to Anderson, “the largest contributor to the wage gap is occupational segregation.” Men are more likely to be hired in higher paying, managerial roles than women. Though the share ranges from state to state, nationwide, fewer than 40% of management positions are held by women.

According to Anderson, women are also far more likely than men to work in low wage, part-time jobs. Since the wage gap only measures the incomes of men and women working full time, the problem is even more pronounced than the data indicates. These were the top 5, but for the entire 50 state ranking click on this link: 

http://247wallst.com/special-report/2016/10/20/ranking-gender-inequality-in-all-50-states/?utm_source=247WallStDailyNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=OCT252016B&utm_campaign=DailyNewsletter

The Pendulum of Leadership Continues to Swing

Leadership shows up in many forms. Sometimes we recognize leadership more after the fact than in the moment. The readings we came together to discuss were from the time of the Civil War in the United States of America. You guessed it. Abraham Lincoln. And new to me, Sojourner Truth.

The words of Sojourner spoke of responsibility for us and our lives … on our life’s journey. 

At the same time, we are existing without impeding the journey of others. She speaks of equal capability - that regardless of race or sex we can do what another can do.

When things are not collaborative - the coming together to move ourselves and communities forward, there is a loss of dignity. Sojourner acknowledged how a person loses their dignity:

• Humiliation has happened.
• Individual strength comes from deep within their heart, regardless of what they are forced to do.
• What a person MUST do that is different than who they are.

Her voice, her experience, her view influenced Abraham Lincoln who also believed in his heart of hearts that all beings are equal and there is not a need to hold people down to get what we want. 

And, his leadership guided our country through a time where some felt they were losing their dignity and others were fighting to proudly own theirs.

The conversation turned to the relevance of her words (and his) today in our time…

Contribution is different than seeking power. We are told our value by the money we make for the job we do. We tell people and companies their value by the money we spend.

With equality being championed on many fronts - we’ve seen much change, legally, since 1960 including:

• Legalization of interracial marriage 
• Legalizing same-sex marriage
• One person, one vote
• Full access to all amenities
• Women’s access to contraceptives
• Women’s right to be Pro-Choice
• Illuminating men vs women stereotypes engrained in our culture

...The pendulum keeps swinging. 

When we can hold true our personal values (without imposing them on others) and be open to ideas that differs from our own, the grip of frustration and fear loses hold.

The women that participated in this conversation:

   Marcella Bentley-Salmon

   Sharon Simmons

   Karen McGee

   and me, Jessica Dewell

We want to hear your thoughts.
The excerpts from Sojourner Truth and Abraham Lincoln we discussed were from:

Title: Leadership: Essential Selections on Power, Authority, and Influence

Pages: 214-223

Our next book club meeting is November (you do not have to be a member to join us).
You can register here.

The confirmation email will detail the excerpt we will discuss, and it will be from the same book.