The percentage of students who are women has been steadily increasing since the 1970s. Today, women students are the statistical majority; however the social climate is slow in adjusting to this change.
- In the job market, women typically earn less money than men doing the same job.(Institute for Women's Policy Research, 2010.)
- Women are most likely to be the battered partner in violent relationships. (Kilmartin and Allison, 2007.)
- Women are more likely than men to be faced with the dilemma of limiting career opportunities to care for family. (National Committee on Pay Equality, 2010.)
- Women have more difficulty reaching upper levels of most professions. (National Committee on Pay Equality, 2010.)
- Women are less likely to be electedto public office; Pennsylvania ranks 46th out of 50 states for proportion of women in state legislature. In Congress, women hold only 16.8% of the states. (Center for American Women and Politics, 2010.)
SRU recognizes the need for ongoing advocacy and support for women if such discrepancies are to change.