SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, the California Budget & Policy Center (Budget Center) and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (Commission) unveiled the 2024 California Women’s Well-Being Index (WWBI). This updated Index, the first since 2020, provides a crucial look into the well-being of women across the state.
This update results from the strategic partnership between the Budget Center and the Commission, which aims to enhance and refresh the Index to reflect the current needs of women in California. By pooling their expertise and resources, these organizations have created a comprehensive tool and outreach plan to analyze women’s well-being and support the development of effective, equitable policies.
“Given the structural barriers that have prompted racial and gender inequities in our state, the 2024 Women’s Well-Being Index offers an essential update on how women in California are faring,” said Laura Pryor, research director at the California Budget & Policy Center. “This comprehensive tool not only provides valuable data for policymakers but also empowers communities to push for changes to advance gender equity. We look forward to collaborating with advocates, community leaders, and policymakers to leverage these data for meaningful policy improvements.”
The WWBI is a robust tool designed to evaluate women’s well-being at the county level. The Index covers five key dimensions: health, safety, employment, economic security, and political empowerment. Each dimension is assessed through six indicators, culminating in an overall Index score for each of California’s 58 counties. The data reveal critical insights into how women are faring across various aspects of their lives and supports the creation of informed, equitable public policies.
“Finding data is always the first step in closing equity gaps,” said Darcy Totten, interim executive director at the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, “and this data can help direct conversations about mobilizing resources for on-the-ground service providers and community-based organizations. This online interactive tool can show local and state governments what structures or policies need to change to alleviate challenges as well as what policies are working well for women and girls in California.”
The update to the WWBI reveals a complex landscape of progress and persistent challenges for women across the state. While improvements have been noted in areas such as political representation and health care access, significant disparities remain, particularly affecting women of color and women in rural regions. The Index highlights that Black, Latinx, and Native American women face entrenched systemic barriers that contribute to lower economic security, limited access to quality health care, and reduced safety. For example, Native American women experience the highest levels of economic insecurity, with a median earnings gap of approximately $11,000 compared to their white counterparts, and face substantial barriers to accessing essential services. Latinx women encounter significant wage gaps, earning only 44 cents for every dollar earned by white men, and struggle with higher rates of food hardship and child care costs.
Despite overall improvements in health insurance coverage, access to adequate prenatal care has declined, particularly for Black and Native American women, who face increased risks of adverse health outcomes. Safety remains a critical concern, with women in the Far North region experiencing elevated risks, such as higher rates of fatal accidents and hospital visits due to assault. Employment and earnings data underscore persistent gender inequities, with women in the San Joaquin Valley facing the most significant obstacles, including the lowest median earnings and the largest wage gaps compared to other regions. These regional differences further underscore the need for targeted policy interventions to address the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities and to tackle the systemic issues contributing to these disparities.
As California continues to navigate these challenges, the WWBI is a critical tool for driving meaningful change and advancing gender equity across the state.
For more information on the California Women’s Well-Being Index, visit CalBudgetCenter.org/resources/Womens-Well-Being-Index/.
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About the California Budget & Policy Center:
The California Budget & Policy Center (Budget Center) is a nonpartisan research and analysis nonprofit advancing public policies that expand opportunities and promote well-being for all Californians.
About the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls:
For nearly 60 years, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls has identified and worked to eliminate inequities in state laws, practices, and conditions that affect California’s women and girls. The Commission provides leadership through research, policy and program development, education, outreach and collaboration, advocacy, and strategic partnerships. Learn more at women.ca.gov.
