Study shows Kansas women excelling in education, falling behind economically

The Women's Foundation in conjunction with KU's Center for Science Technology and Economic Policy have spent the last year conducting a study that measures the status of women in Kansas.

The results of that study were revealed during a Statehouse news conference on International Women’s Day.

The reasearch study focused on areas where there is typically a gender divide such as employment, income, education and economic security.

Results show that Kansas women hold fewer management positions than men and are less likely to be self-employed.

The study also shows Kansas women are excelling in higher education, with 34 percent of women having a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 31 percent of Kansas men.

The Women's Foundation will use these findings to highlight key problem areas and take action to help women succeed – especially in the Kansas economy.

“In the income category, there is a pay gap between a woman and a man in the state of Kansas. It’s just about in line with the national trend that’s about 79 cents to the dollar that men make, but still – there’s a wage gap. That’s an issue we can address,” said Women’s Foundation president Wendy Doyle.

Doyle says it has been almost 15 years since a women’s status study of this size has been conducted in the state of Kansas.