NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, March 16, 2012

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Jan Scott, (314) 997-6262 or jan@StLWomenOnTheMove.com

MISSOURI WOMEN’S REPORT SHOWS LINGERING EQUITY GAP
BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN

More than 60 people were on hand Friday morning (March 16, 2012) at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park for the release of the newly published Missouri Women’s Report. The report details how women in Missouri are faring in health care access and well-being, workforce education, economic justice, and civic engagement.

The report was produced by the Women's Policy Alliance and the University of Missouri Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis, and primarily includes statistics gathered from 2004-2011. The Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis co-sponsored the forum with the Women’s Alliance and the Foundation for Missouri Women.

The report contains good news and bad news, said Gloria S. Ross, president of the Press Club.

“The bad news is that in 2012, there is still an equity gap between men and women in Missouri,” Ross said. “The good news is that there is a clear path to close the gap.”

The report calls on community leaders to help bridge the gap.

"Given the hardship that the current economic situation has caused so many Missourians, we are encouraging our state's leaders, in both the public and private sectors, to look strategically at women as an asset to help Missouri thrive," said Margaret Eaton, board president of the Women's Policy Alliance.

“The Missouri Women's Report is especially timely, given the current controversy over women's health issues and the national primaries,” Eaton added.

Researchers interviewed more than 130 women leaders and advocates in six cities across the state.

The report used dozens of indicators to measure the status of women. Selected data from the report show:

* Average earnings of women are 74% of men's earnings.

* Women college graduates earn 90% of what men college graduates earn.

* More than 32% of Missouri's women who are poor have no health insurance.

* Rural areas have the highest incidents of breast cancer.

* More than 21% of women report being hurt by an intimate partner.

* Missouri State Senate: 6 women, 28 men; House: 41 women; 121 men

The speakers were Margaret Eaton, Board President, Women's Policy Alliance; Susan Kendig, JD, MSN, Coordinator, Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Program, UMSL/ Consultant, Health Policy Advantage, LLC; Pat Rich, President, Women's Foundation of Greater St. Louis; Dayna Stock, Manager, Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life; and Nancy Wegge, Ed.D, President, Foundation for Missouri Women.

A limited quantity of reports was printed. They are available to media, and public policy agencies and nonprofit agencies. The report is accessible online at http://missouriwomensreport.org.

For more information or to order a report, contact Jan Scott at (3141) 997-6262 or jan@StLWomenOnTheMove.com.

*The Women's Policy Alliance is a nonprofit organization formed in 2004 to improve the status of women in Missouri. The Alliance provides policy makers, advocates and the media with data and evidence-based analysis of public policies that promote women's opportunities for advancement and equity.