Although the Center for American Progress ranked Louisiana as the worst state for women last week, the University’s Women’s Center has plans to help combat this issue.
In a nationwide analysis entitled “The State of Women in America,” Louisiana was rated the worst state for women.
The Center for American Progress stated many women in the U.S. face problems that inhibit their quality of life, but Louisiana women have it the worst when it comes to limited access to health care, lack of fair pay for equal work and underrepresentation in leadership roles.
“This report clearly illustrates the need for more access to high-quality, affordable health care providers in Louisiana,” said State Director of Planned Parenthood Melissa Flournoy. “Too many women in our state lack access to the health care they need to live healthy lives and achieve economic security.”
“The State of Women in America” analysis lists Louisiana as one of the top 10 worst states for maternal mortality rates in the country. In addition, working women in Louisiana earn only 67 percent of what men earn on average, and more than one in five women and girls in the state are currently living in poverty.
While Louisiana is struggling to resolve these issues, there is a silver lining. Director of the University Women’s Center Summer Steib said there are plans to fight these critical issues.
“The mission of the Women’s Center is to promote the advancement of women’s issues and gender equity through services, advocacy efforts and educational programs,” Steib said. “The Center also provides support, referral and information to students, faculty and staff on issues and concerns related to women.”
Steib is also a member of the University Council on Women and said they are investigating issues that impact women and impede equality at the University.
Of all the problems facing women in the state, Steib said the worst problem facing college women, in terms of economic equity, is that careers saturated with women become careers that earn less than careers saturated with men.
Last year, the American Association of University Women released a report stating that one year after graduation, women were only earning 88 percent of what their male peers earned.
“To address these concerns and issues, we began a new initiative last year called the ‘Transition Series’ where we partnered with campus and community experts to provide workshops on negotiating your first salary, budgeting on your first salary and understanding benefits,” Steib said. “We are looking to host these workshops again this year.”
With regard to underrepresentation of women in the state, Steib said a key factor to this problem is that women do not see other women in leadership positions. For example, the state’s overall rate of women serving in elected positions is below the national average.
“We also know that women are penalized professionally and economically when they decide to have children,” Steib said.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the average age for first time childbirth in the United States is nearly 26 years old.
“For many women, this comes at a critical time in their careers,” Steib said. “For women who choose to wait for a more secure time in their careers to have children, they may be faced with having complications with pregnancy.”
The analysis also reported that there is only one obstetrician for every 13,000 women in Louisiana.
Steib said the high malpractice insurance rate for an obstetrician may be a reason for the lack of practitioners in the area.
“Access to health care and family planning is so critical in our state,” Flournoy said. “When women have more access to information and health care, they are better able to plan for their future.”
Flournoy said Planned Parenthood is working to increase access to high-quality, basic preventive health care and information.
“We believe that when people are truly cared for, they will make their lives, their families, even the world, better and healthier,” Flournoy said.