A Washington, D.C. nonprofit has given Connecticut a ‘B’ grade for its progress on women’s poverty and economic opportunities — the fourth-highest score of all 50 states.
The report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) ranked states on women’s education attainment, business ownership, poverty, and access to health insurance coverage. Poverty was more heavily weighted than the other categories.
Connecticut ranks eighth in the percent of women ages 18 to 64 with health insurance; fifth in the percentage of women aged 25 and up with a bachelor’s degree or higher; 19th in the percentage of women-owned businesses; and fourth in the percentage of adult women living above the poverty line.
There are significantly more male-owned businesses in Connecticut, and more men live above the poverty line.
Carolyn Treiss, executive director of the Connecticut Permanent Commission on the Status of Women and an IWPR advisory committee member, said in a statement that continued inequities in Connecticut make the case for legislation that would increase wage transparency and require paid family and medical leave.
