Unpaid Care Work Among Utah Women

Unpaid work, including childcare, eldercare, housework, and other tasks, is vitally important to the creation of strong families, communities, and nations; in fact, such domestic work has been called “the work that makes all other work possible.” According to the McKinsey Global Institute, the monetary value of women’s unpaid work is estimated to be $10 trillion each year, and women worldwide spend a significantly larger portion of their time than men performing this critical work. This happens for many reasons, including personal values and choices, cultural and social norms, unconscious biases, and specific economic and employment considerations. The global average for a women’s daily unpaid work is 4 hours and 47 minutes vs. 1 hour and 30 minutes for men. The gap between men’s and women’s unpaid work is largest in many developing nations, yet it remains significant in the United States, and the gap in Utah is higher than the national average. Researchers and thought leaders worldwide are urging individuals and societies to recognize that unpaid work is indeed work and to value it accordingly; additionally, many assert that this important work must be distributed more equally between men and women in order for families and communities to thrive

Women and Finances: What Utahns Need to Know

Throughout much of history, women have been seen as an extension of their male relatives when it comes to finances; American women were not allowed to own property in their names until the mid-1800s, overt pay discrimination was legal until 1963, and women could not access credit on their own until 1974. Hence, it is only in the last half century or so that women in the US have been able to participate fully in the financial matters that affect their everyday lives. This holds true in Utah as well, yet Utah women’s lives in the 21st century look dramatically different from their lives in years past; there has been a marked increase in labor force participation and a decrease in the marriage rate. This means that now, more than ever before, Utah women need to be financially literate and prepared to be financially independent. Unfortunately, research shows that most adults have major gaps in their financial literacy, women more so than men (only 30% of women and 35% of men worldwide show proficiency). There is a pressing need for women to increase their understanding of the financial situations and decisions they will face during their lives, and Utah women are no exception in the need to acquire vital individual financial expertise

Substance Use Disorders Among Utah Women

Substance use disorders, including the opioid epidemic, have reached crisis levels throughout the United States, and Utah is no exception. In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, a number that has doubled in the past decade. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 635 Utahns died from a drug overdose in 2016; that is 22.4 per 100,00 population, a rate that was above the national average of 19.8 and the 19th highest in the nation for that year. Although in Utah and the U.S. as a whole, men are more likely to die from a drug overdose, this issue affects a significant number of women. From 2013–2015, 776 Utah women died from a drug overdose. Women are more likely to be prescribed opioids and to develop an addiction more easily when compared to men. As substance use disorders have serious negative effects on individuals, families, and communities, understanding and working to reduce this epidemic is imperative to improving the lives of women throughout the state

Childcare: What Utahns Need to Know

Childcare is an important consideration for millions of American families; 71% of all women with children under 18 are in the labor force, comprising one-third of the total female workforce in the U. S. Further, childcare costs are becoming increasingly burdensome; in the U.S. generally, and in 33 states specifically (including Utah), the annual cost of childcare is higher than the cost of in-state tuition at a four-year public college. Although childcare is a family and community issue, women often bear the primary responsibility for managing childcare, and, in the case of female heads of household, women may carry both breadwinning and caregiving duties with very little support. Considerable data are available surrounding childcare issues in Utah, and yet there are additional, sometimes nuanced, factors to consider when analyzing Utah’s childcare landscape

What Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialists can do to Strengthen the Impact of Utah Girls and Women

Utah is full of engaged, passionate individuals who frequently ask the question, “What can I personally and/or professionally do to strengthen the impact of Utah girls and women?” To provide specific answers to that question, the Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) hosted a series of “think tank” gatherings to collect best practices for various stakeholders interested in supporting and empowering Utah women

Labor Force Participation Among Utah Women

Over the past half-century or so, Utah women’s participation in the labor force has steadily increased at a rate of about 8% per decade (Utah Women & Leadership Project, 2019). According to the most recent (2017) U.S. Census Bureau estimates, women in Utah make up 45% of the state workforce, which is slightly lower than the U.S. women’s share of the national workforce, 47.8% (United States Census Bureau, 2017a). In general, Utah women are about as likely to be employed as U.S. women, but Utah women are less likely to work full-time year-round (Department of Work-force Services, 2014). Numerous factors influence Utah women’s experiences in the labor force, including such barriers to successful employment such as trouble accessing affordable childcare and occupational segregation in lower-paying industries. Since solid employment is a key aspect of financial health, as well as a contributor to intellectual and social well-being, understanding labor force issues is critical. This research snapshot focuses on three key areas: 1. An overview of Utah women’s labor force participation, broken down by demographics, 2. An exploration of the industries and occupations in which Utah women are most likely to work, and 3. A discussion of ways to increase Utah women’s success in the labor force

Voting and Civic Engagement Among Utah Women

Utah has a strong history of women’s political and civic involvement. The state was an early leader in giving women the vote, was home to the first female state senator in the nation (MacKay, 2005), and, as recently as 1996, had the strongest women’s voter participation in the United States (Davidson, 1996). However, these factors do not give the full picture; and in 2015 the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (2015) ranked Utah dead last in the area of political participation. Much of this ranking was due to the lack of women running for and serving in public office, but Utah women’s voter ranking and some aspects of civic involvement also were found to have room for improvement. As engagement in the community can be a key indicator of social health, while also providing opportunities for emotional and intellectual growth, these issues deserve attention. This research snapshot focuses on three key areas: 1. Utah women’s voting participation rates and national ranking when it comes to voter turn-out, 2. Utah women’s policy priorities, compared with those of Utah women and men nationwide, and 3. Utah women’s levels of civic and community engagement, focusing on volunteer work but also exploring other ways in which Utah women are involved in their communities

Poverty Among Utah Women

Although Utahans in general experience lower rates of poverty than the national average (11.3% in Utah vs. 14.7% nationwide), Utah women are more likely than Utah men to live in poverty, especially women who are heads of households and/or single parents. Many factors influence the levels of poverty among Utah women. The gender wage gap in Utah is one of the highest in the nation; women are much more likely to work minimum wage jobs, and women in Utah have lower levels of educational achievement—particularly at the bachelor’s degree level and higher—than women across the nation. Utah women within specific demographics (including certain ethnic and racial groups) are even more likely to experience poverty

Flexible and Family-Friendly Policies at Utah’s “Best Places to Work”

The COVID-19 pandemic that reached Utah in March of 2020 has had an enormous impact on the way companies do business. Perhaps the biggest change for employees came in the widespread shift to remote work as a public health measure, but many companies adjusted work practices and policies in other ways to support their employees during a challenging time. Many changes focus on flexibility and family-friendly policies, which have traditionally been a double-edged sword for working women. Though such offerings have made it possible for some mothers to remain in the workforce, taking advantage of such programs has often placed women on the “mommy-track,” where they are seen as being less committed to their careers. Yet these programs are not for women only, and men who utilize family-friendly benefits have also experienced backlash

Sexual Assault Among Utah Women

Nearly one in two women in the U.S. will experience some form of sexual violence victimization in her lifetime (broadly defined), and Utah has the same overall rate. According to the most recent Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice report, when considering more specific definitions, one in three Utah women has been sexually assaulted, and one in six women report having been raped. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, rape occurs in Utah at a rate higher than the national average. Hence, sexual assault is a serious problem within the state