Hawaii ranks 9th nationwide
in survey on status of women

It's No. 1 on reproductive rights
but state political turnout suffers

By Pete Pichaske
Star-Bulletin

WASHINGTON -- Poor economy or not, women fare better in Hawaii than in most states, according to a study released today.

The study by the Institute for Women's Policy Research, a research organization affiliated with George Washington University, rated women's status in each state and the District of Columbia using 20 indicators in four general areas.

Hawaii was ranked No. 1 in reproductive rights, seventh in economic autonomy, 15th in employment and earnings, and 29th in political participation and representation.

Overall, Hawaii was ranked 9th.

"That's exciting news. I'm pleased to hear we rank so high," said Leslie Wilkins, chairwoman of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women.

But Wilkins said she was only "cautiously optimistic" about the findings.

The narrowing salary gap between women and men, she said, probably is partially due to smaller salaries for men resulting from the ailing local economy. A ban on partial-birth abortions, which almost passed the state Legislature this year, would erode Hawaii's top status on reproductive rights.

And, she said, it is still difficult for women to get the capital needed to start a business.

"There is still work to do, still gaps to close," Wilkins said.

One such gap is clearly in the political arena. Despite a tradition of strong, visible women in politics -- including Pat Saiki, Patsy Mink and Linda Lingle -- Hawaii ranked 29th among the states politically.

It had the nation's second-lowest proportion of women voter turnout and the third-lowest voter registration among women.

Nationally, the study found wide variations among states in all four areas rated. "All too often, the state of women's well-being is determined by the state in which they live," said Linda Tarr-Whelan, president and CEO of the Center for Policy Alternatives.

The top five areas for women, in order, were the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire and Vermont.

The Hawaii findings were similar to those of two years ago, when the institute released its first study on women's status in the states.