Fact Sheets

The Supreme Court's Decision in Fisher v. UT Austin will be Particularly Important for Women of Color

October 03, 2012

In October 2012, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin to decide whether UT Austin may consider race as a factor in admissions in addition to their race-neutral Top Ten Percent Plan.  This fact sheet explains how the Court's decisions will potentially impact on women of color.

Supreme Court Preview: 2012-2013 Term

October 01, 2012

This fact sheet previews important cases affecting women in the 2012-2013 Supreme Court Term.

2011 Wage Gap: State Rankings

September 20, 2012

NWLC has calculated the 2011 wage gap for each state from the U.S. Census state income data released on September 20, 2012. View our new table to see where each state falls.

Poverty Rates by State, 2011

September 20, 2012

Poverty rates for all groups of women were high in 2011, particularly for some groups of women of color and female headed-families. This table details the 2011 poverty rates for groups of women and children in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

FAQs about the Census Bureau’s Official Poverty Measure

September 17, 2012

Each year, the Census Bureau releases data on poverty and income in the United States, and the National Women’s Law Center analyzes these data to provide a picture of how women and their families are faring [link to report].  The following frequently asked questions take a closer look at what the Census Bureau numbers tell us – and don’t tell us – about poverty.

Summary Table: Poverty Rates Among Women, Men, and Children, 2011, 2010, 2000

September 17, 2012

Census data released in September 2012 show that poverty rates for all groups of women in 2011 were higher than for their male counterparts. This table provides data on poverty rates for women, men, children, and families by race, ethnicity, and age.

If Opponents of Birth Control Have Their Way, Millions of Women Would Lose Access to Birth Control

September 14, 2012

Opponents of birth control in Congress are working night and day to enact new laws and policies that would deny millions of women access to birth control -- including access already guaranteed to women by law. Thankfully, so far, supporters of birth control have stopped the worst of these Congressional attacks.  Although the anti-birth control efforts have taken several forms, they all would have the same effect: taking birth control coverage away from women nationwide. A comparison of opponents’ and supporters’ legislative priorities makes the difference clear: while opponents of contraception would take it away from women, supporters work to ensure that women have access to affordable birth control.

National Snapshot: Poverty Among Women & Families, 2011

September 13, 2012

Census data released in September 2012 show that poverty rates started to stabilize in 2011 after several years of increases, as the economy slowly recovered from the Great Recession that began in late 2007 – but that left poverty among women and children at or near historically high levels.  Poverty rates for all groups of women in 2011 were higher than for their male counterparts.

The Wage Gap is Stagnant in the Last Decade

September 13, 2012

New data from 2011 show that the typical woman still earns only 77 cents for each dollar the typical man earns.  Learn more about the numbers in this fact sheet.

If You Really Care about Criminal Justice, You Should Care about Reproductive Justice!

September 11, 2012

Working towards a more progressive criminal justice system is an important part of furthering the cause of reproductive justice. A criminal justice system that makes communities safer, protects personal liberty and limits abuses of power by governmental authorities will also further the cause of reproductive justice. Those who support a progressive criminal justice system will identify several common areas of advocacy with the Reproductive Justice movement. These include: opposing the criminalization of behaviors that are closely tied to unmet social service needs, especially mental health and substance abuse services; rejecting mass incarceration and the use of the criminal justice system to address problems better addressed through adequate social services; ensuring procedural safeguards, discouraging selective prosecution and protecting the constitutional rights of the accused; and advocating for fair, appropriate and humane sentences for those convicted of crimes.