Minnesota Women Lose Ground in Some Areas, New Foundation Report Shows

Overall, it's better to be a woman in Minnesota than in most other states, according to a new report. But Minnesota has slid backward in some important respects since the Women's Foundation of Minnesota and the Institute for Women's Policy Research published the first edition of "The Status of Women in Minnesota" in 2000. An update released by the Women's Foundation indicates, for example, that Minnesota women's wages have declined in relation to men's in the last four years.

"We are encouraged by the gains women have made over the years, but we have a long way to go," said Lee Roper-Batker, president of the Women's Foundation of Minnesota. Roper-Batker points to one compelling statistic from the report: At 71 percent, Minnesota women lead the nation in the number of women who are working, however, the state ranks 31st of all 50 states for the ratio of women's to men's earnings, a drop of seven places since the 2000 report.

In a 2004 report on the Status of Women in Minnesota Counties, the foundation found that women are making 54 cents on every man's dollar in Koochiching County. "That's an unfair gap that we implore business leaders and policymakers to close," said Roper-Batker. "If economics are so unequal in a state that is ranked as 'better for women,' it tells us how much our whole country needs to change."

Since the 2000 report, Minnesota has improved in two categories, moving from 12th to 2nd in health and well-being and from 12th to 6th in social and economic autonomy. But in three other categories, Minnesota has lost ground since 2000, moving from 7th to 9th in employment and earnings; from 22nd to 23rd in reproductive rights; and from 4th to 6th in political participation.

"The Women's Foundation is also concerned with uncovering racial disparities hidden in Minnesota's overall rankings," said Roper-Batker. "The experience is significantly different for women of color in every category. For example, in the category of Health and Well-Being, where Minnesota placed No. 2 in the nation, indicators such as infant mortality rates show that women of color are faring poorly." The foundation is currently preparing a report, which it intends to release in February 2005, on the status of women of color in Minnesota.

"Minnesota's continued insistence on evaluating the status of women and shortly the status of women of color economically, politically and socially will not only benefit our society, but ultimately future generations of women and girls," said Dr. Heidi Hartmann, president and CEO of IWPR. "Women have made tremendous progress, but there's a lot more to do. We need to keep focused on our goals and continue working to improve conditions."

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