GENDER EQUALITY RANKS LOW: STUDY REPORTS STATE NOT REPRESENTING WOMEN WELL
By: Tamiko Utz
Staff Writer, Auburn Plainsman

Alabama women rank low. Low in leadership. Low in voting. Low in employment. Low in the number of high school graduates. Low in health. Low in reproductive rights. Low in life expectancy.

With C being the highest mark, in the area of employment and earnings, and F being the lowest in reproductive rights; Alabama women are not making the grade.

The Institute for Women's Policy Research conducted a study stating that, "Alabama women continue to face serious obstacles to achieving equality with men and attaining a standing that is equal to the average for women in the United States."

Auburn stood up and took notice by recently hosting the,"Women in Politics: A Global Perspective" forum at Auburn University's Hotel & Dixon Conference Center, bringing together women of diversity with common goals.

"Women's voices should be louder in local, state and national politics," said Marie Wilson, president of the White House Project. "Women bring a different perspective from men to the issues."

Alabama's percentage of women in the legislature, 7.9 percent, ranks last among all states. That figure was based on the 11 women in the 140-member Legislature. The number increased to 13 of 140, or 9.3 percent, with the Nov. 5 vote.

But only four states have a higher percentage of female registered voters than Alabama, and only 11 have a higher rate of women voting, according to the study.

The percentage of Alabama women who graduate from high school ranks 50th in the nation, according to the report. Alabama women earn 63 cents of every dollar an Alabama man earns. This was the earning power the average woman achieved nationally by 1979.

Also, Alabama women lead the nation in high blood pressure and diabetes, are 49th in the rate of the sexually transmitted disease Chlamydia and 48th in heart disease.

Further, Alabama women rank 46th in the nation for life expectancy, 46th in infant mortality and 47th in child mortality and low birth-weight babies. 58 percent of Alabama women are living in counties without an abortion provider, and low income women are receiving funding for abortions only in limited, federally mandated circumstances.

And all of these issues pertaining to women are, by and large, in the hands of men.

Of all the state legislatures in the country, Alabama reports a minuscule percentage of women holding seats, and the second lowest total number of women elected as state representatives or senators.

Only 11 women serve in the Alabama Legislature, compared to 129 men. Three serve in the Senate and eight in the House of Representatives.

"Over the years, several studies make it very clear that women have a distinct impact on government," said Sue Carroll of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

"They give priority to their traditional roles as caregivers, so they give more importance to subjects such as health care and education. Even on seemingly 'non-gender' issues, they view issues through a different lens, considering the importance of public policies on women and children."

"Women's rights are human rights," said Sheila Violet Makate Sisulu, ambassador of South Africa. "We are half of the population, and we give birth to all of the population."

(This article was reprinted with permission of the author from The Auburn University Plainsman)


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