Q&A: STATE OF WOMEN IN CENTRAL INDIANA REPORT

The report uses publicly available data and women’s voices to answer a simple question: How easily can women thrive in central Indiana?

The report looked at several factors contributing to what we might consider “thriving,” including women’s health, safety, financial security and more.

Yes. And no. And maybe. At 52% of the total, women make up more of central Indiana’s population than they do statewide or nationwide (SOWR, p.31). So, obviously, there are many different women with different experiences, even within certain groups. 

Say you’re a single mother, which is the case in about 1 in 25 central Indiana households (p. 35). Of all single-mother households in Hamilton County, 57% fall below the ALICE threshold, or Asset-Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (p. 89). What some may call “the working poor.”

Moving down to Morgan County, you’ll find 85% of single-mother households sit below ALICE, the highest rate of any central Indiana county.

Now, what about childcare for these single mothers?

If you live in Marion County, finding childcare isn’t too hard compared to surrounding counties. 84% of Marion County children who need licensed care can find it. That’s the highest percentage in the region. But the average cost is also higher than in any surrounding county (p. 76).

If you live in Hancock County, licensed childcare will cost far less. Unfortunately, only 46% of the demand can be accommodated.

So, even within one demographic, like single mothers, the experience varies.

While this report looks only at Hoosiers, we can make comparisons using national data.

Let’s look at women’s wages, since that plays into a lot of this.

Locally and nationally, women experience a gender pay gap. While we can—and should—discuss the reasons for that gap, what is important for Hoosiers to understand is that the gender gap is larger in Indiana.

In 2022, Hoosier women working full-time made 75 cents for every dollar earned by men (p. 81). Nationally, women made a little over 83 cents for every dollar (US Bureau of Labor).

Put another way, the gender gap is 8 cents worse for Hoosier women than the average American woman. And that gap widens significantly for Hoosier women of color.

Again, women are 52% of our community, so if central Indiana isn’t working for women, then it isn’t working.

But make no mistake, women are working for central Indiana.

Many regional economic strategies rely on sectors of the workforce that are dominated by women. Take the health and hospital economy. In central Indiana, women make up 73% of all health care support roles and 63% of all health technicians. But their median annual earnings are $30k and $41k, respectively (p. 85). Both of those totals sit below our state’s ideal minimum housing wage of $46k a year (National Low Income Housing Coalition).

Or let’s look at the convention and tourism sectors. You cannot imagine these economies without women’s labor, especially if you took away their 15% majority in food prep/serving positions or their 10% majority in arts/entertainment/sports/media.

I know we are accustomed to some jobs providing lower pay, but if we accept that, then we also need to address the drawbacks of tentpole economic strategies that rely on mostly female laborers who can’t afford housing, childcare, or continuing education.

Study it, especially the direct testimony. We wanted to include women’s voices in this study because we know how impersonal numbers can be. 

But still, those numbers are important. If you’re a nonprofit applying for a grant, reports like this one help quantify need and attract funding.

For my fellow funders and philanthropists, reports like this one provide literally hundreds of target areas for investment.   

For decision-makers, we now have three major reports offering us a panorama of women’s lives in central Indiana from birth until old age (SOWR, Indiana Girl Report, State of Aging in Central IN).

Let’s get to work.