Press Release: United WE and Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business Unveil Research on the Status of Women in Oklahoma

Oklahoma Has Larger Gender Earnings Gap Than U.S.; If Trends Continue, Oklahoma Women Will Not See Equal Pay Until 2076 

United WE, a non-partisan nonprofit organization, held a virtual press conference today to announce findings from initial research on the Status of Women in Oklahoma. United WE commissioned the year-long study with Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business to specifically examine women’s economic status in the state and to highlight areas of possible action to economically empower women and their families. 

The research illuminates important findings, implications, and policy insights as women in Oklahoma face challenges that hinder them from achieving their full economic potential. The research shows that the gender earnings gap is larger in Oklahoma than in the United States overall. Oklahoma women earned 74.5 cents for every dollar earned by a man between 2015 and 2019, compared to 80.8 cents per dollar for U.S. women. If current trends continue, women in Oklahoma will not see equal pay until 2076. 

In addition, the research reveals that childcare in Oklahoma is unaffordable for many families. The average cost of childcare in Oklahoma is more expensive than a year of in-state tuition at a four-year public college. The typical married couple in Oklahoma spends about 11.7% of their income for infant care and 20.6% of their income for two children. Childcare is considered affordable if it costs 7% or less of a family‘s income. 

“We have a long history of commissioning evidence based research in nearby states so we are delighted to expand our efforts into Oklahoma to better understand the challenges hindering the region’s women from achieving their full economic potential,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of United WE. “It is our collective responsibility to take this research, identify innovative solutions, educate elected officials and community leaders, and unite to advance and support policies that strengthen Oklahoma women and families for the economic development of the region.” 

The Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University and the Ash Grove Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of one of the largest cement companies in the United States that serves multiple regions in Oklahoma, funded the research project. 

“We are delighted to partner with such a well-respected organization as United WE to explore the status of women in Oklahoma,” said Dr. Ken Eastman, Dean at Spears Business. “At Spears, we are committed to enhancing the opportunities of women and all Oklahomans and Dr. Ahlstrom’s research provides valuable insight on areas of needed improvements.”

The findings highlight areas of possible action to help economically empower women and their families. Findings from the research include the following:

Employment and Earnings

• Oklahoma’s gender earnings gap is one of the highest in the country. Women in Oklahoma effectively stop getting paid on September 24 (compared to October 29 for U.S. women overall) while continuing to work for the remainder of the calendar year.  

• If equal pay were a reality in Oklahoma, the poverty rate for working women would be reduced by nearly 50%, and women’s earnings would increase by approximately $5.4 billion annually. 

• If women in the state took off one day of work, the Oklahoma GDP would lose $222.4 million. 

• United WE advocates for salary history bans and has established pay equity best practice guidelines to promote equal pay for equal work. 

Childcare

• The annual cost of childcare for an infant in Oklahoma in 2020 was $8,940, or $745 a month. The typical married family with two incomes spends about 12% of their income on infant childcare compared to 40% for the typical single-parent.

• The annual cost of infant care in Oklahoma is greater than the cost of in-state tuition at a public, four-year university in the state.

• United WE advocates for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave at 100% pay for all part-time and full-time workers. 

Health Care

• In 2019, Oklahoma was only one of two states where the uninsured rate was higher than 14% while the U.S. national average was 9.2%. The state had the second highest number of uninsured women in the United States in 2022.

• Smaller percentages of men and women in Oklahoma are enrolled in Medicaid compared to their United States peers. Among women in the United States, about 21% are enrolled in Medicaid relative to 18-19% of Oklahoma women.

Poverty and Social Insurance

• Women in Oklahoma ages 25–64 have a higher poverty rate than men in Oklahoma as well as when compared to women in the United States overall. 

• Among women who are 65-years-old and older, the share of women in poverty in Oklahoma is lower than the percentage for women in the United States as a whole.

• United WE supports policy reforms that remove barriers and leverage opportunities for women’s economic development, such as gender pay equity, which impacts retirement savings for women in the long-term. 

Civic Engagement

• About one-fifth of the Oklahoma legislators were women in 2021, a smaller share than the United States average. 

• Oklahoma women vote more than Oklahoma men, but voter turnout rates are lower in Oklahoma for both genders than for men and women in the United States overall.  

• United WE’s Appointments Project® facilitates the appointment of women to civic boards and commissions and addresses a critical gap in representation and leadership. The project is expanding to cities across the country including Oklahoma City. Free public training events for Oklahoma City are planned for April 27, 2022, and May 24, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. CT.

“Our research illuminates the challenges and inequities faced by women in Oklahoma while serving as a benchmark for tracking the advancement and progress of women in our state,” said Dr. Laura J. Ahlstrom, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics at Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business. “The data validates the importance of removing barriers and advocating for policies that support women, ultimately making families and communities healthier and the economy stronger.” 

A full copy of the report can be viewed here.

Governor Kelly signs new law removing major barrier for eyebrow threaders

SB-348 exempts hair threaders from a cosmetology license, costing more than $15,000 and 1,000 hours of training. This important bipartisan regulatory reform is another win for women across Kansas. We are grateful for Governor Kelly’s continued support of our work to remove occupational licensing barriers, allowing women to fully participate in the workforce.

Appointee Profile: Elizabeth Danforth

Elizabeth Danforth was appointed by Mayor Quinton Lucas to the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri. As Director of Public Affairs, Elizabeth leads Evergy’s Corporate Social Responsibility including Community Relations and Customer Affairs Departments. 

Guided by shifting customer and community needs, her teams work to advance the Company’s corporate citizenship and social responsibility programs with an emphasis on improving policy and programs to assist disadvantaged customers and communities, working to establish Evergy as a leader in environmental sustainability, and helping to retain and attract business to the region. 

Internally Elizabeth has led multiple, Company-wide initiatives.  Externally, she serves on the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Reconciliation Services and Downtown Council Boards. She has also served on Missouri Energy Initiative Board, Child Protection Center Board, NonProfit Connect Board, Hospital Hill Economic Development Council, Friends of Powell Gardens Board, the Greater Kansas City Chamber’s Energy Committee and Executive Women’s Leadership Council as well as United WE’s policy and fund development committees. 

Prior to Evergy she was a development and marketing professional where she led multi-million-dollar capital, endowment, and operational campaigns, as well as comprehensive marketing communications and media initiatives.

Elizabeth lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband Kyle Foote, a partner at Stinson. They have two children – Bella and Piersen.

From Our President & CEO: Celebrating the Impact of Women

This Women’s History Month, we celebrated the impact of women who have come before us and the women blazing new trails. It’s so important to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of women leaders and not let them be erased by history. Doing so is an important part of empowering and inspiring women today. Our work for change is built on the shoulders of other women before us. Yet, researchers have estimated that women’s stories make up only a HALF of a percent of recorded history. 

We are stronger when we can see ourselves in the lives and legacies of those who came before us - including strong, pioneering women like Olive Boone and Annie White Baxter. Celebrating our history also creates the opportunity to share the vision for our future. Whether building on the contributions of those before us, or advancing the leaders of today and paving the way for those of tomorrow, we are united. 

And, united, you celebrated women this month with your voices and actions. You joined long-time ally and partner, Bank of America Kansas City Market President, Matt Linski, in taking the #BreaktheBias pledge with more than 35,000 others around the world, you engaged in events to expand your knowledge and hear the latest research about advancing women in civic leadership, and you supported more than 22 women owned and led businesses to further empower women. Your actions help demolish barriers to women’s economic and civic leadership.

You unite for women to strengthen this movement. United, we navigate both the progress and setbacks, but we never lose sight that we can - and must - solve the problems of gender inequity for future generations. 

I imagine the women whose historical contributions we celebrate want us to celebrate a better future that is possible for gender equity. A future where...

• A woman president is not a novelty, but completely normal.

• Elected offices are filled with as many women as men.

• Women are equally represented in civic boards and commissions nationwide.

• The pay gap isn’t even a conversation point anymore.

• Every woman and family that needs it has access to affordable, quality childcare.

• Women can be entrepreneurial and obtain professional licensing without unnecessary barriers. 

• A national paid family leave policy is in place.

• Women can achieve their full economic potential. 

If we can imagine this future, we can have this future. If we unite together, we can make this future a reality. I look forward to the Women’s History Month where we live this reality and celebrate the impact that we are making today as United WE - a more equitable, inclusive world for all. Let’s do this! 

United WE Trailblaze,

Wendy

Donor Feature: Barb Stubbendieck

Barb Stubbendieck, CEO of Helen Jon, is a proud supporter of United WE, and most recently collaborated with United WE for Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. “As a women-owned, women-managed company headquartered in the greater Kansas City area, it’s important for Helen Jon to support organizations that empower women in our local community. The mission of United WE is near and dear to our hearts.”

Barb knows how important it is for women to have a seat at the table and Women’s History Month celebrates the progress that has been made and also highlights there is more work to do. ‘Our parents’ generation blazed the trail for women and careers—it’s our mission to continue this path for our son and daughter.  My mother and her peers had to “fight to sit at the table.” My generation and I are “sitting at the table.” Our hope is that our daughter and her contemporaries will be welcomed and expected “at the head of the table”. Women in the workforce face so many barriers to success—having an organization like United WE that is focused on creating an equal playing field allows more and more women to achieve (and even surpass) their career goals.’

When Barb reflects on why she chose to support United WE, she says, “Kansas City is my home. The women United WE helps are my friends. They’re my daughter and her friends. They’re my employees. They’re the entrepreneurs whose businesses I patronize. They’re the healthcare workers who take care of our families. They’re veterans who have served to keep us safe. This shouldn’t just matter to me, this should matter to everyone.”

Thank you, Barb, for being an incredible supporter of United WE! Please consider joining Barb and make a gift of any size to celebrate the impact of women! Make your gift today. Link https://secure.givelively.org/donate/united-we For more information on ways to give and volunteer, please contact Robyn Kollar, Director of Annual Giving, at agd@united.we.org

Press Release: United WE Partners with OKC’s Latino Community Development Agency to Expand Appointments Project® in Oklahoma City

United WE and Oklahoma City’s Latino Community Development Agency (LCDA) today announce a collaborative effort to expand the Appointments Project® effort to increase the number of women on Oklahoma City’s community-wide boards and commissions. Started in 2014, the Appointments Project® has successfully placed 175 women on boards and commissions.

“LCDA is extremely excited to join efforts with The City of Oklahoma City and United WE in practicing the true meaning of Diversity and Inclusion by identifying and placing minority women in leadership positions,” said Dr. Raúl Font, LCDA President.  

United WE’s Appointments Project® serves as a talent bank, advisor and advocate for women seeking opportunities to lead their communities and works to attract diverse applicants for appointed positions on boards and commissions. The award-winning approach guides women through the process of applying for these positions and suggests applicants for appointment.

“We are delighted to be expanding our efforts in Oklahoma City with Mayor Holt and the Latino Community Development Agency,” said Wendy Doyle, United WE President & CEO. “With the support of the National League of Cities, we are creating opportunities for women to maximize their voices in local boards and commissions and positively impact their local communities.” 

The Appointments Project® fills a critical need in creating a pathway to more equitable and inclusive representation. Approximately 16% of the Appointments Project appointees and 37% of registrants are women of color. Based on a growing number of success stories and city partnerships, the pipeline of women leaders is growing rapidly across the country. 

“We are thrilled to connect United WE and the Latino Community Development Agency to increase the positive impact we have seen to date with the Appointments Project,” said Mayor Holt. “We are always looking to engage more women in our community’s decision-making, especially women of color, so that our outcomes reflect the broadest possible spectrum of life experiences.”

United WE is partnering with the Latino Community Development Agency, a leading local organization, to provide overview webinars for interested women to learn more about how they can get involved in civic leadership.

Free public training events are planned for April 27, 2022, and May 24, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. CT.

To learn more about the Appointments Project® and to sign up for the trainings, visit www.united-we.org/ap-overview. 

Press Release: United WE Unveils New Research on Gender Parity on Kansas Municipal Boards and Commissions

Study reveals Kansas women are underrepresented on “power boards” that have significant influence in local communities

United WE today announced research conducted by the University of Kansas Institute for Leadership Studies about women’s representation on Kansas municipal boards and commissions. Funded by United WE, the research project was conducted as part of the Appointments Project® and Ready to Run Kansas Women’s Leadership Series, which focuses on preparing women to participate on civic boards and commissions and run for political office in Kansas. 

The report, “Kansas Municipalities and Gender Balance” revealed that Kansas women are underrepresented on civic boards and commissions, especially on “power boards” that have direct influence on policy making and financial resource allocation such as planning and zoning boards. Of the six most common civic boards and commissions, Kansas women have achieved gender parity on only two: library boards and housing boards, regardless of community size. In fact, while women hold more than two-thirds of the seats on library boards across Kansas, they hold only about one-quarter of the seats on planning and zoning boards. 

“Our award-winning Appointments Project® is successfully advancing women’s representation in many communities,” said Wendy Doyle, United WE President & CEO. “As we continue to improve women’s economic and civic empowerment, we know that expanding our Appointments Project® to reach all women will facilitate more women appointments across all boards and will help create a more fair and equitable community for all.”  

“Elected officials rely on recommendations from civic boards and commissions to drive informed policies that arguably have the greatest effect on our day-to-day lives,” said Erik Sartorius, Executive Director for the League of Kansas Municipalities. “Boards and commissions play an important role in public policy and it is imperative for women’s voices to be heard at these decision-making tables.”

The next evolution for representation in civic leadership of our communities is to ensure that equal representation must occur on the powerful and influential boards which make critical community decisions, not just the boards that have a more narrow impact on the community and its residents. 

“While Kansas women are well represented in some instances, we found that Kansas communities have some work to do,” said Emily Vietti, co-author and partnership director for the Appointments Project and Ready to Run Kansas Women’s Leadership Series. “Increased transparency and accessibility of information about the appointments process will be necessary to move our state toward gender parity on municipal boards and commissions.”

With these key findings in mind, the study seeks to provide a benchmark on the status of gender parity on Kansas’ civic boards and commissions. By providing a look at municipal boards and commissions, these results offer policymakers, elected leaders, and advocacy groups data from which to evaluate their practices in identifying and filling open seats.

The full research study is available here. To learn more about United WE’s Appointments Project® visit www.united-we.org/appointments-project.

Press Release: University of Notre Dame and Tulane University Researchers to Study the Impact of United WE’s Appointments Project®

The five-year study will assess the impact of United WE’s national program to attract qualified women for appointed positions on civic boards and commissions.

United WE today announced an agreement with researchers from the University of Notre Dame and Tulane University for a five-year research program to assess the efficacy of the Appointments Project®, which works to empower women and strengthen communities by increasing gender parity on civic boards and commissions.

The study will evaluate the impact of the Appointments Project® as part of United WE’s mission to advance all women’s economic and civic leadership. The research will focus on the characteristics of board members in cities and the opportunities for women who participate in the program, or serve in an appointed role, to run for and serve in elected office.  

“United WE is dedicated to continued research that will help drive gender and racial parity,” said Wendy Doyle, United WE President & CEO. “Over the course of this study, we plan to expand the Appointments Project® nationally to facilitate the appointment of hundreds more women. We are thrilled to join with the researchers at the University of Notre Dame and Tulane University to study the Appointments Project® during this exciting time.”  

“This research has the potential to identify the determinants of women’s civic and political participation beyond knowing that it lags behind those of men,” said Professor Christina Wolbrecht, Department of Political Science, Notre Dame. “A multi-year study gives us the opportunity to observe how participation in the Appointments Project® impacts the trajectory of individual appointees, and how they in turn affect the cities where they serve.” 

Wolbrecht is one of three principal investigators on the study. She is joined by Associate Professor of Economics and Global Affairs, Lakshmi Iyer, Notre Dame, and Mirya Holman, Associate Professor of Political Science at the Tulane University School of Liberal Arts.

The Appointments Project’s approach to diversifying boards and commissions has been driven by evidence-based research since its inception. In 2014, United WE commissioned a landmark study about the barriers that keep women from serving in civic leadership roles. In the years since, United WE’s Appointments Project® has facilitated 175 appointments and conducted programming in 36 cities, including cities across Kansas and Missouri like Kansas City, St. Louis and Wichita, as well as scaling in cities such as Austin, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh, Pa., Richmond, Va. and South San Francisco. Approximately 16% of Appointments Project® appointees and 37% of registrants are women of color. 

“While we know that boards play an important role in public policy, we don’t know enough about who is represented on these boards,” said Holman. “We are eager to partner with United WE to evaluate how the Appointments Project® is creating opportunities for women now and in the future.”

To learn more about the Appointments Project® visit www.united-we.org/appointments-project.

Just Announced: Mayor Levar Stoney, National League of Cities and Leadership Metro Richmond partners with the Appointments Project® to appoint more women of color to boards and commissions

Recently, United WE’s Appointments Project® announced its expansion to Richmond, Virginia. The Office of Mayor Levar Stoney and the National League of Cities, in collaboration with Leadership Metro Richmond (LMR), announced their partnership to increase the number of women on local boards and commissions through United WE’s Appointments Project. Started in 2014, the Appointments Project has facilitated 175 women being placed on boards and commissions.

“I’ve seen first-hand the need to address racial and gender disparities in civic leadership to ensure that we are drawing on the talents and diverse perspectives of our residents.” Myra Goodman Smith, LMR’s President and CEO, said. “Our partnership with the City of Richmond and United WE’s Appointments Project will strengthen the city by increasing the number of women and women of color who are at the decision-making table of their communities.”

United WE’s Appointments Project serves as a talent bank, advisor, and advocate for women seeking opportunities to lead their communities and works to attract diverse applicants for appointed positions on boards and commissions. The award-winning approach guides women through applying for these positions and suggests applicants for appointment.

“Our research showed us that women don’t become civically engaged because they weren’t being asked. As a result, we created the Appointments Project so local boards and commissions could reflect the communities they serve,” said Wendy Doyle, United WE President & CEO. “With the help of partners like Mayor Levar Stoney and Leadership Metro Richmond, we are addressing the gender disparities in local leadership and are able to make significant changes in our communities.”

The Appointments Project fills a critical need in creating a pathway to more equitable and inclusive representation. Based on a growing number of success stories and city partnerships, the pipeline of women leaders is growing rapidly across the country.

An Information Session will be held virtually on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at 6:00 pm EST with United WE, city officials, and LMR. Learn about the Information Session here or register for the session here.

“We encourage and invite everyone to learn more and join us in unlocking women’s potential for civic leadership,” Mayor Stoney said. 

Statement by United WE President & CEO Wendy Doyle on Ukraine

The war in Ukraine is very worrying and a source of concern especially for women and children. The current situation is full of fear, danger and uncertainty, devastating their advancement and freedoms.

As we approach International Women’s Day (March 8, 2022), United WE supports the fair and equal treatment of all women. It is our hope that a peaceful solution can be identified soon.