The Mississippi Women's Economic Security Initiative has organized to promote policies to improve the economic wellbeing of women in Mississippi and their families.
The Mississippi Women's Economic Security Initiative has organized to promote policies to improve the economic wellbeing of women in Mississippi and their families.
Working moms – especially single moms - need affordable child care so they can go to work and remain employed. But child care is more expensive than Community College tuition and women in Mississippi earn low wages leaving them unable to afford the high cost of child care. Mississippi has a program to help working moms pay for child care, but it only serves about 14% of those who qualify.
Working moms – especially single moms - need to make enough money to support their families. Women work, but earn wages that are too low. Women’s earnings are lower than men’s at every education level and in every occupation. While women make up half Mississippi’s workforce women make up 80% of Mississippi’s minimum wage workers. A minimum wage leaves a family of 2 (mom and child) below the federal poverty level. Moms cannot support their families through work when they earn wages that are too low.
The Institute for Women’s Policy and Research gave Mississippi an “F” in women’s health and wellbeing. Mississippi women need affordable health that is care easy to access. Women also need accurate information and comprehensive reproductive health services.
The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi identified the lack of child care and financial aid as the biggest reasons that women fail to attend or graduate from community college.
Women experience domestic violence and sexual assault, and deserve and are owed child support to help with their families’ economic security.