February 2022 Newsletter

Colleagues,

I have many Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) announcements for February (hang in there)!

First, we are pleased to announce the release of a new research and policy brief titled “The Status of Women in Utah Politics: A 2022 Update.” Thanks to my co-researchers Hannah Payne, Marin Christensen, Kim Buesser, and Lindsey Palmer for their fabulous work on this brief. In addition, a few weeks ago we released a research snapshot titled, “Poverty Among Utah Women: A 2022 Update” (with Dawn-Marie G. Wood, Dr. Emily S. Darowski, and Gregory C. Knapp) and an accompanying infographic.

Second, we have four free events coming up (RSVP online):

1. Relaunching Your Career: Tools & Strategies for Women Returning to the Workforce (Feb. 10, Noon-1:15pm; Virtual)
2. Conflict Management for Women: Skills, Strategies, and Solutions (Workshop; Mar. 1, Noon-1:30pm; Virtual)
3. International Women’s Day Celebration: Utah Women Learn, Lead, & Lift (Mar. 8, 9:00-10:00am; Virtual; co-sponsored by the One Utah Roadmap and others)
4. Perspectives on Women’s Leadership from Prominent Utah Women of Faith (Mar. 10, 6:00-7:15pm; Virtual)

Third, in partnership with Utah Public Radio, we have released two new podcasts titled “Sexist Comments & Responses Part I” and “Sexist Comments & Responses Part II.” These episodes cover sexist comments and responses in a discussion about an in-depth research study on sexist comments heard by Utah women. I am joined by Robbyn Scribner and Heather Sundahl for these episodes. 

Fourth, we have several resources to highlight this month:

• Event Video: Childcare Symposium: Practices, Policies, and Strategies to Move Utah Forward
• Event Video: Salary Negotiation for Women: The Latest Research & Cutting-Edge Best Practices
• Handout: Child Sexual Abuse Statistics
• Infographics: Mammography Among Utah Women and Utah Women and Mental Health (Thanks to Eva Nautiyal for her volunteer work updating these infographics)

Fifth, we have released a new dashboard titled “Impact of COVID-19 on Utah Women & Work.” Utah Women & Leadership Project researchers conducted an extensive, in-depth survey to understand the impact of COVID-19 on Utah women and work. This comprehensive study collected data from over 3,500 Utah women on a wide variety of topic areas to capture respondents’ perceptions and experiences. The dashboard is in an exploratory format that allows the user to make their own discoveries. A big shout out to USU data analytics faculty members Lianne Wappett and Polly Conrad and a wonderful team of students at the Huntsman School of Business for their work on this!

Sixth, in partnership with USU Extension, we have just released a new online 3-hour course titled, “Understanding Gender: An In-depth Exploration.” We hope this helps influencers—like parents, siblings, relatives, neighbors, family friends, community members, and teachers—create effective environments for learning and growth for children and young adults of all ages, from pre-K through college, by better understanding gender (Cost: $10.00).

Seventh, here are some of our partners’ upcoming events:

• March 2 (6:00pm-7:00pm) - Entrepreneur Leadership Series: Allison DeBona (The Center for Entrepreneurship, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business)
• March 15 (11:00am-1:00pm) - Business Women's Forum 2022: Women’s Equality in Utah: Why Utah Is Ranked as the Worst State, and What Can Be Done
• March 22 & 31 (9:00am-11:00am) - 2022 Multicultural Youth Leadership Day (Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs)

Finally, check out some articles and media published this past month:

• Susan R. Madsen: Utah is Finally Addressing the Crisis of Unaffordable Quality Childcare (The Salt Lake Tribune, Jan. 31, 2022)
• The Utah Gender Pay Gap (LinkedIn, Jan. 27, 2022)
• Understanding Women’s Negative Interactions With Each Other In The Workplace (Forbes, Jan. 25, 2022)
• The Impact of COVID-19 on Utah Women and Work: Health Impacts (Utah Women's Health Review, Jan. 19, 2022)
• USU Report Finds That Poverty Still High For Single Women With Young Children (Fox 13, Jan. 19, 2022)
• Research Shows Progress in Poverty Rates Among Utah Women, But Room for Improvement Remains (ABC4 News, Jan. 19, 2022)
• New UWLP Brief Details Objectification of Women in Utah (Utah Public Radio (UPR), Jan. 13, 2022)
• ‘A Woman’s View’ Panel Discusses Sexist Comments, Women in the Workplace (KSL NewsRadio, Jan. 7, 2022)
• ‘He Patted His Lap and Told Me I Could Sit There’: An Inside Look at the Objectification of Women in Utah (ABC4 News, Jan. 7, 2022)
• Opinion: As Utah Wrestles Over School Curricula, Don’t Forget the Purpose of Education (Deseret News, Jan. 7, 2022)
• Does Sexism, Objectification of Women Exist in Utah? Here’s What a USU Study Found (Deseret News, Jan. 6, 2022)
• Guest Op-Ed: Child Care Resources for Working Parents (Standard-Examiner, Jan. 5, 2022)

Join us on the UWLP social media platforms: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. See the community calendar as well. Email uwlp@usu.edu to let us know you want to receive these updates to your own inbox if you received a forwarded email.

Enjoy February!

Susan

Prof./Dr. Susan R. Madsen
Inaugural Karen Haight Huntsman Endowed Professor of Leadership
Director, Utah Women & Leadership Project
Jon M. Huntsman School of Business
Utah State University