Abstract
The indicators described in this paper are measures of status equality (as compared to measures of status attainment). Status equality was operationalized by expressing the status attainment scores for women as a percentage of the scores for men. Indicators of equality in the economic, political, and legal spheres of life were computed for each of the 50 U.S. states. The indicators were combined to create an overall Gender Equality Index and a subscale for each of the three spheres. Analyses of internal consistency reliability and construct validity are presented. Large state-to-state and regional differences were found for all three spheres. In respect to the overall Gender Equality Index the scores ranged from a low of 19 (i.e. 19% of what is needed for equality with men) to a high of only 60%.
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Sugarman, D.B., Straus, M.A. Indicators of gender equality for American states and regions. Soc Indic Res 20, 229–270 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00302398
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00302398