YWCA Utah advocates for all women and girls in Utah. We are a statewide voice for change on issues critical to the well-being of Utah women and girls. We have the only full-time policy person in the state devoted to women’s issues and addressing inequities. YWCA Utah works with statewide partners and legislators to make policies that benefit all Utah women and girls.
YWCA Utah's 2021 Policy Priority Areas
Empowerment & Economic Advancement for Women and Girls
TIER 1—HIGH PRIORITY ISSUE
TIER 2—PRIORITY ISSUE
TIER 3—SIGNIFICANT ISSUE
Racial Justice & Civil Rights for Women and Girls of Color
TIER 1—HIGH PRIORITY ISSUE
TIER 2—PRIORITY ISSUE
TIER 3—SIGNIFICANT ISSUE
Health & Safety for Women and Girls
TIER 1—HIGH PRIORITY ISSUE
TIER 2—PRIORITY ISSUE
TIER 3—SIGNIFICANT ISSUE
The Well-Being of Women in Utah – Fact Sheet
YWCA Utah’s vision is that all Utah women are thriving and leading the lives they choose, with their strength benefiting their families, communities, and the state as a whole. YWCA Utah and the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) have partnered to publish this 2018 fact sheet on the well-being of women in Utah as part of IWPR’s Status of Women in the States project. We are proud to provide a reliable resource, with particular focus on the intersection of race and ethnicity with gender, and further encourage exploration, community collaboration, and policy change for the benefit of the entire state.
This fact sheet builds upon the briefing paper published in 2014 by IWPR and YWCA Utah, The Well-Being of Women in Utah: An Overview, and IWPR’s Status of Women in the States 2015. The 2018 fact sheet compares indicators of women’s well-being to the same indicators from the 2015 report, where available, and lays the foundation for what will become an annual snapshot of Utah women’s well-being in key dimensions of their lives.
Data Highlights
As of 2016, women in Utah still work outside of the home at similar rates to women nationally and—while not yet at the same levels as U.S. women—they also continue to pursue business ownership, make progress in educational attainment, and overcome some aspects of poverty. Utah women, however, still face significant challenges and lag behind both women nationally and Utah men in earnings and leadership opportunities in the workplace and the political sphere, as well as educational attainment beyond the bachelor’s degree level. These gaps widen for women of color in Utah. A notably higher wage gap and lower bachelor’s degree attainment among Hispanic and Native American women are just two examples of significant racial disparities experienced by Utah women.
While Utah women are less likely to report experiencing violence than women nationally as of 2012, one in three women in the state experiences violence by an intimate partner in her lifetime. In comparison with the 2015 report and women nationally, the data also point to a troubling trend indicating that more Utah women are losing their lives to suicide.
Policy Implications
Policy changes must be holistic in their approach, taking into account the unique backgrounds, circumstances, and obstacles facing women and families in Utah. Closing the gender wage gap and addressing the needs of workers striving for self-sufficiency are key to sustaining Utah’s economy and ability to attract new business. Policies that improve workplace flexibility and access to paid family leave can address workers’ diverse caregiving responsibilities and help employers hire and retain highly skilled workers in a tight labor market. Policies to address violence against women, or to support women experiencing mental health challenges, must also be considered within a broader context. Solutions to these complex problems require consideration of many overlapping issues such as access to health care, affordable housing, and economic opportunity in general.
While an annual data profile cannot possibly include every indicator that is important to Utah women, or address the complex and varied reasons for current trends, it does present a representative baseline from which to explore policy changes that can improve women’s lives. YWCA Utah shares this fact sheet to increase knowledge and awareness about the well-being of women in Utah and to promote statewide policy change based on shared values and a common desire to make Utah an even better place to live, work, raise a family, and build strong, prosperous communities.
YWCA Position | Bill | Bill Sponsor | Status |
Economic Empowerment for Women and Girls | |||
Priority Support | HB57: Utah Intergenerational Poverty Work and Self-Sufficiency Tax Credit | Rep. Westwood Sen. Vickers |
Passed House Passed Senate Committee & 2nd Reading Not Funded, Filed |
Priority Support | HB 276: Social Security Tax Credit | Rep. Westwood Sen. Ipson |
Passed House Passed Senate Committee Not Heard on Senate Floor Filed |
Priority Support | HB 277: Nonrefundable Retirement Tax Credits | Rep. Westwood Sen. Weiler |
Passed House Failed in Senate Committee Filed |
Priority Support | HB 278: Paid Family & Medical Leave Tax Credit | Rep. Edwards Sen. Fillmore |
Passed House Passed Senate Committee Not Funded Filed |
Priority Support | HB 319: Early Care & Learning Coordination Amendments | Rep. Chavez-Houck Sen. Millner |
Passed House Passed Senate Committee Not Heard on Senate Floor Filed |
Priority Support | HR 6: House Resolution Encouraging Expanded Family Leave Benefits and Quality, Affordable Child Care | Rep. Edwards | Introduced on March 8 Not Heard on House Floor Filed |
Priority Support | SB 152: Equal Compensation Study | Sen. Escamilla | Failed in Senate Committee Filed |
Support | HB 117: Hourly Wage Increase Amendments | Rep. King | Failed in House Committee Filed |
Support | HB 118: Cash Wage Obligation Minimum for Tipped Employees | Rep. King | Failed in House Committee Filed |
Support | HB148: Tax Revisions | Rep. Quinn Sen. Escamilla |
Passed House Failed in Senate Committee Filed |
Support | HB156: Family Leave Amendments | Rep. Weight | Failed in House Committee Filed |
Monitor | HB 164: Early Childhood Task Force | Rep. Cutler Sen. Millner |
Passed House Committee Failed on House Floor Filed |
Support | HB 262: Hygiene Tax Act | Rep. Duckworth | Failed in House Committee Filed |
Racial Justice & Civil Rights for Women and Girls of Color | |||
Priority Support | HB 132: Juvenile Justice Modifications | Rep. Snow Sen. Weiler |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Priority Support | HB 283: Workplace Protection Amendments | Rep. Edwards | Failed in House Committee Filed |
Priority Support | SB 86: Victim Targeting Penalty Enhancements | Sen. Thatcher | Not Considered This Session Filed |
Priority Support | HR 1 House Resolution Urging Restorative Justice in Utah’s Education System | Rep. Hollins | Passed House Enrolling |
Support | HB 30: Utah Antidiscrimination Act Amendments | Rep. Dunnigan Sen. Bramble |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | HB 63: Cosmetology and Associated Professions Amendments | Rep. Kwan Sen. Bramble |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | HB 264: Elementary School Counselor Program | Rep. Eliason Sen. Stephenson |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | HCR 12: Concurrent Resolution Calling Upon Congress to Assure a Complete and Accurate 2020 Census | Rep. Chavez-Houck Sen. Van Tassell |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | SB 198: Public School Disciplinary Action Amendments | Sen. Anderegg Rep. Greene | Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Health & Safety for Women and Girls | |||
Priority Support | SCR 11: Concurrent Resolution on Awareness and Treatment of Maternal Depression and Anxiety | Sen. Zehnder Rep. Chavez-Houck |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling Learn more about maternal mental health in Utah. |
Priority Support | HB12: Family Planning Services Amendments | Rep. Ward Sen. Zehnder |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Priority Support | HB 139: Telepsychiatric Consultation Access Amendments | Rep. Eliason Sen. Bramble |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Priority Support | SB 161: Home Visiting Pay for Success Program | Sen. Escamilla Rep. Redd |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Priority Support | SB 27: Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Amendments | Sen. Weiler Rep. Romero |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | HB 41: Mental Health Crisis Line Amendments | Rep. Eliason Sen. Thatcher |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | HB 42: Medicaid Waiver for Mental Health Crisis Services | Rep. Eliason Sen. Thatcher |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Monitor | HB 87: Suicide Prevention Training Amendments | Rep. Fawson Sen. Bramble |
Passed House Committee Failed on House Floor Filed |
Oppose | HB 111: Community Reinvestment Agency Modifications | Rep. Coleman Sen. Bramble |
Passed House Committee Not Heard on House Floor Filed |
Support | HB 165: Pretrial Release Amendments | Sen. Weiler Rep. Romero |
Passed House Passed Senate Committee Not Heard on Senate Floor Filed |
Support | HB 160: Domestic Violence Provisions | Rep. Eliason Sen. Escamilla |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | HB 177: Trauma-informed Justice Provisions | Rep. Ivory Sen. Escamilla |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | HB 259: Moderate Income Housing Amendments | Rep. Wilde Sen. Bramble |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Monitor | HB 298: Victim Advocacy Confidentiality Amendments | Rep. McKell Sen. Bramble | Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | HB 308: Telehealth Mental Health Pilot Program | Rep. Ivory Sen. Adams |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Monitor | HB 325: Primary Care Network Amendments | Rep. Eliason Sen. Zehnder | Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | HB 333: Domestic Violence Response Amendments | Rep. Spendlove Sen. Bramble |
Passed House Not Heard in Senate Filed |
Support | HB 370: Suicide Prevention and Medical Examiner Provisions | Rep. Eliason Sen. Thatcher |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | HB 430: Affordable Housing Amendments | Rep. Edwards Sen. Anderegg |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | HB 431: Telemedicine Reimbursement Amendments | Rep. Ivory | Passed House Committee Not Heard on House Floor Filed |
Support | HB 464: Affordable Housing Bond | Rep. Briscoe | Passed House Committee Not Heard on House Floor Filed |
Monitor | HB 472: Medicaid Expansion Revisions | Rep. Spendlove Sen. Zehnder | Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | HB 483: Extreme Risk Protective Orders | Rep. Handy | Failed in House Committee Filed |
Support | SB 31: Utah Mobile Crisis Outreach Team Act | Sen. Thatcher Rep. Eliason |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Monitor | SB 54: Marriage and Premarital Counseling and Education Amendments | Sen. Christensen Rep. Edwards |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Support | SB 99: Domestic Violence Revisions | Sen. Christensen Rep. Sandall | Passed Senate Committee Failed on House Floor Filed |
Support | SB 142: Victims of Domestic Violence Services Account Amendments | Sen. Christensen Rep. Ray |
Passed Both Chambers Enrolling |
Oppose | SB 172: Medicaid Waiver Amendments | Sen. Hemmert Rep. Robertson | Passed Senate Failed in 2 House Committees Filed |