December 8, 1998

Women’s Center sponsors report on status of women

The Loyola Women’s Center is one of 16 co-sponsoring organizations of the report, “The Status of Women in Louisiana: Politics, Economics, Health, Demographics.” The report was released by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and Newcomb College Center for Research on Women at a press conference in Baton Rouge last month. The study investigated women’s economic status including employment, earnings and economic autonomy, political participation and representation, health, vital statistics, and reproductive rights of women across the country and in the region that includes Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Women in Louisiana rank 11th nationally in the number of women who voted in the 1992 and 1996 elections. According to the study, 21 percent of women in Louisiana live in poverty, more than 62 percent of Louisiana women younger than 18 are working, and women in Louisiana earn 64 cents for every $1 men earn. In addition, Louisiana ranks 48th in median annual earnings, educational attainment, and percent of women with health insurance. Louisiana also ranks 49th in labor force participation and percent of women who live above poverty.

Various sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and the state Office of Public Health provided information for the study. Those involved in the study hope it will provide a basis for further research and for developing policy decisions about women in Louisiana.

Dr. Barbara Ewell, co-chair of the Loyola Women’s Studies Program, hopes that the study, “will encourage women to become more proactive in voting their own interest because it is clear from this data that women’s interests are not currently being served by the Louisiana legislature.”

–Angelique Narcisse, A’98, Intern in the offices of publications and public affairs