Wisconsin is moving forward with the Wisconsin Women Equal Prosperity Initiative .
“It's impressive.” That's what Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton says about the five year progress report on Wisconsin's economic development plan for women. The state's highest-ranking female official says the entire state benefits by recognizing the role of women.
“We will prosper if women prosper.”
Lawton says her work on the report allows us to see the progress and the extreme challenges they've encountered along the way.
“It was exciting to announce that real progress has been made. And progress has been made in policy areas at the state level and in areas in the private sector where they're finally really beginning to understand that when women succeed businesses profit and grow.”
Significant strides were made in our legislature to improve the status of Wisconsin women since the program began five years ago.
“ Compassionate Care for Rape Victims is just one of the areas where we have made improvements in working to bring an end to violence against women.”
The report details progress made in four areas critical to women's workforce participation and economic success: Economic Sufficiency; Leadership and Political Participation; Health, Safety and Well Being; and Educational Achievement, including the need to engage more women and girls in study and work in STEM-related fields. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.)
NOTE: WW=P was launched by Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton in response to a Women's Policy Research Institute's 2002 report that gave Wisconsin an overall grade of C- for the status of women.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (1:33 MP3)
