Spotlight on Women’s Issues

The Status of Women in North Carolina

The numbers are in. North Carolina Women United has published a report detailing the status of women in our state, and the picture is somewhat bleak. Female-headed households make up only 13% of all households in North Carolina but 37% of households in poverty. 20% of women of childbearing age in North Carolina are uninsured. Women are paid only 75 cents on the dollar for equal work with their male counterparts. Women and children equal half of all the people staying at North Carolina homeless shelters. The number of women receiving domestic violence services in North Carolina has increased by 42% in the past 10 years.

 

Buncombe County Women’s Commission


Right here in our local community, there is a group focused on
improving women’s lives, and it’s called the Buncombe County Women’s
Commission. The group’s purpose is to be a voice and a resource for
today’s women, and members are appointed by the County Commissioners.
The objectives of the Women’s Commission are to maintain a diverse
representation of women, serve as an information center for women,
collaborate with other women’s organizations, communicate with County
Commissioners about women’s issues, and advocate for action in policy
initiatives affecting women.


The Status of Women in Buncombe County


The Women’s Commission is producing a report card assessing the status
of women in Buncombe County. When completed, the report will include
local information about various aspects of women’s lives, including
education, employment, housing, economic self-sufficiency, violence
against women, access to services, and more. The report will show how
Buncombe County data compares to data from the rest of the state. The
goal of the project is to highlight key issues affecting women and
girls in our community, distribute the information to community
stakeholders, and to advocate for positive change.

Want to help?


You can get involved to make a difference in women’s lives. The
Buncombe County Women’s Commission is accepting new members.
Applications for appointment are available at the Office of the Clerk
to the Board, 205 College Street, Suite 300 in Asheville, N.C. or by
calling (828) 250-4105. You may also e-mail
[email protected] or download an application at
www.buncombecounty.org.


To read the North Carolina Women United report, visit www.ncwu.org, click Resources, and click Draft Agenda.