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March 2011

Prepared by

U. S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

and

Executive Office of the President

Office of Management and Budget

In cooperation with

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Census Bureau

National Center for Education Statistics

National Center for Health Statistics

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics

for

White House Council on Women and Girls

I. People, Families, and Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1. While the populations of both men and women are aging, women continue

to outnumber men at older ages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2. Both women and men are delaying marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3. Fewer women are married than in the past . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4. More women than in the past have never had a child . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5. Women are giving birth to their first child at older ages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

6. Women are having fewer children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

7. Most adults live in households headed by married couples; single-mother

households are more common than single-father households . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

8. Women are more likely than men to be in poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

II. Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1. Women’s gains in educational attainment have significantly outpaced those of

men over the last 40 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2. Female students score higher than males on reading assessments and lower than

males on mathematics assessments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3. Higher percentages of women than men age 25–34 have earned a college degree . . . . . . . 

4. More women than men have received a graduate education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5. Women earn the majority of conferred degrees overall but earn fewer degrees

than men in science and technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

6. Higher percentages of women than men participate in adult education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

III. Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1. After decades of significant increases, the labor force participation rate for

women has held steady in recent years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2. Unemployment rates for women have risen less than for men in

recent recessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3. More women than men work part time, and women and men have roughly

equal access to flexible work schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
is decreasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2. Women are almost 40 percent more likely than men to report

difficulty walking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3. More women than men report having a chronic medical condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4. Females age 12 and older are more likely than males to report

experiencing depression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5. More than one-third of all women age 20 and older are obese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

6. Less than half of all women meet the Federal physical activity guidelines

for aerobic activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

7. In 2008, the cesarean rate was the highest ever reported in the United States . . . . . . . . . . 

8. Many women do not receive specific recommended preventive care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

9. The share of women age 18–64 without health insurance has increased . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

10. One out of seven women age 18–64 has no usual source of health care . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

V. Crime and Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1. Nonfatal violent crimes against women declined between 1993 and 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2. Homicides of females declined between 1993 and 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3. Nonfatal attacks on women by intimate partners declined between

1994 and 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4. Reported rape rates declined during the 1990s and have remained stable

in recent years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5. Women are at greater risk than men for stalking victimization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

6. Females account for a small but growing share of persons arrested for

violent crimes other than homicide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

7. Females are convicted more frequently for property crimes than for violent crimes . . . . . . 

8. The imprisonment rate for females has increased significantly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Detailed Sources and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

ii
parents and often the entire family. When there’s no affordable child care, it hurts children who wind 

in second-rate care, or spending afternoons alone in front of the television set. 

The Council’s mission is to provide a coordinated Federal response to the challenges confronted by

women and girls and to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policie

and programs impact women and families. The Council also serves as a resource for each agency and

the White House so that there is a comprehensive approach to the Federal government’s policy on

women and girls. 

In support of the Council on Women and Girls, the Office of Management and Budget and the

Economics and Statistics Administration within the Department of Commerce worked together to

create this report, which for the first time pulls together information from across the Federal statistica

agencies to compile baseline information on how women are faring in the United States today and ho

these trends have changed over time. We believe that the information in this report is vitally importa

to inform the efforts of the Council on Women and Girls—and may be equally important in providi

facts to a broad range of others who are concerned with the well-being of women and girls, from

policymakers to journalists to researchers. 

This report provides a statistical picture of women in America in five critical areas: demographic and

family changes, education, employment, health, and crime and violence. By presenting a quantitativ

snapshot of the well-being of American women based on Federal data, the report greatly enhances ou

understanding both of how far American women have come and the areas where there is still work

to be done.

Each page of this report is full of the most up-to-date facts on the status of women. Of particular no

are the following:

■ As the report shows, women have made enormous progress on some fronts. Women have no

only caught up with men in college attendance but younger women are now more likely than

younger men to have a college or a master’s degree. Women are also working more and the

number of women and men in the labor force has nearly equalized in recent years. As wome

work has increased, their earnings constitute a growing share of family income.

■ Yet, these gains in education and labor force involvement have not yet translated into wage an

income equity. At all levels of education, women earned about 75 percent of what their male

counterparts earned in 2009. In part because of these lower earnings and in part because
■ Women are less likely than in the past to be the target of violent crimes, including homicide.

But women are victims of certain crimes, such as intimate partner violence and stalking, at

higher rates than men.

Facts alone can never substitute for actions that directly address the challenges faced by women of all

ages and backgrounds. But facts are deeply important in helping to paint a picture of how the lives o

American women are changing over time and in pointing toward the actions and policies that might 

most needed. The White House Council on Women and Girls has supported Administration efforts 

ease the burden of going to college; increase the number of girls interested in science, technology,

engineering and math; and promote equal pay for women. We also fought for passage of the Afforda

Care Act, which provides health insurance to millions, and coordinated an unprecedented governmen

wide effort to end violence against women and girls. Yet, we know there is much more to do. The

Council on Women and Girls is committed to raising the visibility of women’s lives, as well as thinki

strategically about how to address these challenges. Reports like this one help us to achieve that goal

We thank those who worked on putting this report together, and are particularly grateful to the Fede

statistical agencies that regularly collect and report these data so that all Americans can better

understand the society and economy in which we live. 

Valerie Jarrett Christina Tchen

Chair, Council on Women and Girls Executive Director, Council on Women 

and and Girls,

Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor Assistant to the President, 

and

Chief of Staff to the First Lady 

iv
Statistics Administration was asked to coordinate the work and prepare the final report. Our efforts

relied heavily on the work of individuals in Federal statistical agencies who provided the data and

substantive portions of the report. Our thanks go, in particular, to the following individuals who

contributed significantly to various chapters of the report and provided the statistical content on whic

this report is based. 

Chapters Agencies Staff

People, Families, Census Bureau Amy Symens Smith 

and Income Department of Commerce Carrie A. Werner

Martin T. O’Connell

Kristy Krivickas

Trudi J. Renwick

Laryssa Mykyta

Education National Center for Education Statistics Val Plisko

Department of Education John Ralph

National Center for Science and Lynda T. Carlson

Engineering Statistics Joan S. Burrelli

National Science Foundation Jaquelina C. Falkenhe

Rolf Lehming

Employment Bureau of Labor Statistics Tom Nardone

Department of Labor Marianne Reifschneid

Dorinda Allard

Rachel Krantz-Kent 

Mary Bowler 

Karen Kosanovich 

Census Bureau Edward J. Welniak, Jr.

Department of Commerce 

Health National Center for Health Statistics Edward J. Sondik 

Department of Health and Human Services Jennifer H. Madans 

Kate M. Brett 

Crime and Violence Bureau of Justice Statistics James P. Lynch

Department of Justice Allen J. Beck

Donald J. Farole
and Rochelle W. Martinez of her office for their help in conceptualizing this report and engaging the

statistical agencies in this collaboration.

Finally, we deeply appreciate the work of the staff in the Office of Management and Budget, for their

input and assistance. Meaghan Mann, Ariel D. Levin, Rebecca Leventhal, and Pooja Kadakia all help

to plan, design, and edit this report.

Rebecca M. Blank Preeta D. Bansal

Acting Deputy Secretary General Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor

and Office of Management and Budget

Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Executive Office of the President

U. S. Department of Commerce 

vi
■ People, Families, and Income. This section describes various demographic characteristics an

trends in women’s marriage, living arrangements, childbearing, and poverty. The Census Bur

is the primary source of the data (census.gov).

■ Education. This section describes levels and trends in women’s educational attainment, scho

enrollment, and fields of study. The data are primarily from the National Center for Educati

Statistics (nces.ed.gov). 

■ Employment. This section describes levels and trends in women’s employment, earnings, an

time use. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the main source of the data (bls.gov). 

■ Health. This section describes levels and trends in women’s life expectancy, prevalence of

chronic health conditions, access to health care, and health insurance coverage. The data com

primarily from the National Center for Health Statistics (cdc.gov/nchs). 

■ Crime and Violence. This section describes levels and trends in women’s victimization, crim

and involvement in the criminal justice system. The data come primarily from the Bureau of

Justice Statistics (bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov). 

Using the Document

Each section of this report consists of a two-page narrative introduction followed by a single page for

each of the indicators. Each indicator page has bullet points about the indicator, followed by a chart

illustrating some of the bullet points. References for the introductions, bullets, and charts, as well as

explanatory notes, are located in the Detailed Sources and Notes section at the end of the report.

Unless otherwise indicated, all comparisons of statistics for various subpopulations at a particular poi

in time, as well as comparisons of statistics over time, are statistically significant. 

Racial and ethnic data were included when they were available; however, in many instances such data

were not available. For example, racial and ethnic data about the Asian American and Pacific Islande

communities, in particular, were less available than data about the non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, an

African American populations—a data shortcoming that President Obama’s Executive Order 13515,

“Increasing Participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Federal Programs” (October 14,

2009), is designed in part to address over time.

For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 
to look at these resources.

2 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.


demographic changes is beyond the scope of this report. However, it is clear that these complex and

multidimensional phenomena affect women and men differently. 

Demographic changes have resulted in an aging population with a larger female share. Until about

1950, the population was majority male. Now, nearly 51 percent of the population is female, with fo

million more females than males. The long-term trends that resulted in a female majority in the

population were driven in part by midcentury reductions in immigration (particularly by men) coupl

with life expectancy increases for women that outpaced those of men. The gender imbalance is even

larger at age 65 and older, where women have a 57 percent population share.1

Marriage and Childbirth

Major changes have occurred in marriage and family formation patterns over the past 50 years. At th

peak of the 1946–1964 baby boom, both women and men were typically marrying in their late teens 

early twenties. The median age at first marriage has increased since the 1960s for both sexes. Women

continue to be younger than men (by about two years) when first married. At age 65 or older, 95

percent of both men and women have married at least once; however, at these older ages, three times 

many women as men are widowed. 

The typical age at which women have their first child has been rising in recent decades. Since the mid

1970s, there has been a sharp decline in the proportion of women in their twenties who have had a

child. The likelihood of a woman having her first child at age 30 or older increased roughly six-fold

from about 4 percent of all first-time mothers in the 1970s to 24 percent in 2007. Delays in marriag

and childbearing are associated with a reduction of about one child per mother by the end of the

childbearing years (in 2008, mothers had on average about 2.3 children each).2

The trends toward delaying first marriage and childbirth coincide with an increase in schooling amon

young men and women, and rising labor force participation by women. College graduates marry and

begin families several years later than their less-educated counterparts. Of women in their mid-twenti

those without a high school diploma are three times as likely to have had a child as are women with a

least a college degree. Nevertheless, the most recent data indicate that eight out of 10 women still go 

to have children, compared to nine out of 10 women in the mid-1970s. Although there is a large

difference across education levels in the percent of women in their mid-twenties with children, this

difference is much smaller for women in their forties with children.

For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 
Differences in poverty rates have narrowed somewhat over the last decade, although women continue 

experience higher poverty rates. While women comprise nearly half of the employed labor force, they

continue to earn less than men. Changes in household and family structure, including a rise in femal

householders (with and without children), also have contributed to higher poverty rates for women.

Furthermore, older women are more likely to be poor than older men.

6

For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

(See chart.)

■ People under age 18 account for a smaller share

of the population in 2009 than in 1970, and

males continue to outnumber females at

younger ages. The share of this age category has

fallen dramatically since 1970, from 36 percent

to 25 percent for males and from 33 percent to

23 percent for females. (See chart.)

Hispanic (7 percent), Asian (11 percent),

and American Indian and Alaskan Native

(8 percent) women are 65 and older, compar

to 16 percent of White women.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Male Female Male Female Male Female

65 and older

Under 18

1970 1990 2009

Source: Census Bureau

Population by Age

(Percent Distribution by Selected Age Groups and Sex, 1970, 1990, and 2009)

18-64
8

For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

school diploma. College-educated men typically

married at age 31, compared to age 29 for men

without a high school diploma. 

women, and 29 for non-Hispanic White and

Hispanic men, compared to age 31 for Black

women and men. 

15

19

17

21

23

25

27

29

Median Age at First Marriage

(1950–2009)

1950 1957 1964 1971 1978 1985 1992 1999 200

Source: Census Bureau 

Men

Women
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

■ In 2009, among those 65 and older, 44 percent

of women were married, compared to 74 percent

of men. Widowed women account for about

41 percent of women 65 and older, but only

13 percent of men 65 and older are widowed. 

women (64 percent, 65 percent and 42 perce

respectively), and much less likely to have

never married (11 percent, 18 percent and

32 percent, respectively). 

Men Women Men Women Men Women

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1970 1990 2009

Source: Census Bureau

Marital Status

(Percent Distribution of the Population Age 25 and Older, 1970, 1990, and 2009)

Never married

Divorced

Widowed

Married 
10

For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

counterparts. Among women age 25–29 in

2008, only 19 percent of those with less than a

high school education had not had a child,

compared to 31 percent of high school

graduates and 72 percent of those with at least a

college degree. These differences are much

narrower among women age 40–44. 

White women age 25–29 had not had a chil

compared to only 33 percent of Black wome

and 31 percent of Hispanic women. Howeve

there is not much difference by race among

women age 40–44; 18 percent of Black and

non-Hispanic White women and 19 percent 

Hispanic women in this age group have neve

had a child. 

Source: Census Bureau 

Women Who Have Never Had a Child 

(Percent of Selected Age Groups, 1976–2008)

1976 1980 1984 1992 1988 2000 2001995 2004

40-44 Years

35-39 Years

30-34 Years

25-29 Years

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

100%
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

birth for the first time, they account for only

one percent of first-time mothers. (See chart.)

■ The average age at which women first gave birth

in 2007 was 25, compared to 21 in 1970.

■ Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black women wh

gave birth to their first child in 2007 were

younger than non-Hispanic White women.

The mean age at first birth was 23 years for

both non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic wom

compared to 26 years for non-Hispanic

White women.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Source: National Center for Health Statistics 

Age of Mother at First Birth 

(Percent Distribution of Women Having their First Birth by Year and Age, 1970–2007)

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2007

40 and older

30-39

20-29

Under 20
12

For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

compared to only 2.3 children in 2008.

(See chart.)

■ In 2008, Black and Hispanic mothers had a

higher average number of children than nonHispanic White mothers. 

2.9 children, while those with at least a colle

degree had given birth to 2.2 children. 

1.5

2.5

2.0

3.0

3.5

Average Number of Children per Mother

(Births Per Mother for Selected Age Groups, 1976–2008) 

1976 1980 1984 1992 1988 2000 2001995 2004

40-44 Years

35-39 Years

30-34 Years

25-29 Years

Source: Census Bureau
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

y

households headed by a single woman

(14 percent) is greater than those residing in

family households headed by a single man

(6 percent). (See chart.)

p

headed by married couples. In addition,

43 percent of Black women live in femaleheaded family households, compared to

14 percent of non-Hispanic White women a

25 percent of Hispanic women.

Men Women

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Living Arrangements of American Adults*

(Percent Distribution of the Population Age 15 and Older by Household Type, 2008)

Source: Census Bureau

* Data for each type of household include all people, age 15 and older, who dwell in that particular type of household, regardless o

their relationship to the householder. For example, a 20-year-old living with 50-year-old married parents is included in this chart i

the married-couple category even if the child is single.

Living in

households

headed by:

Married

couples

Male

householder,

no spouse

Female

householder,

no spouse

Persons living

together, but

not related

Persons

living alone
14

For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

considered to be in poverty varies by family size

and composition. For example, in 2009, a single

woman under age 65 and living alone would be

considered to be in poverty if her family income

was below $11,161. The poverty threshold for a

single mother living with two children under

age 18 was $17,285.

6 percent among male workers. 

■ Black and Hispanic females are more likely t

be poor than non-Hispanic White females. I

2009, slightly more than one-quarter of both

Black females (28 percent) and Hispanic

females (27 percent) had family incomes belo

the poverty line, compared to 11 percent of

White, non-Hispanic females. 

0%

50%

40%

60%

20%

10%

30%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Percent in Poverty

(Percent of Each Group with Incomes Below Poverty Line, 1959–2009)

1959 1966 1973 1987 1980 1994 2002001

Female householders 

(no husband present) 

with children under 

18 years 

Source: Census Bureau

Male

Female


in the last few decades. This trend showing steady gains in education among women holds across raci

and ethnic groups and is also visible in other developed countries. In many instances, the progress

made by females in recent decades exceeded that of their male counterparts across an array of

educational measures.

Understanding the relationship between educational attainment and employment outcomes requires

accurate data about credentials that have value in the job market. Current Federal sources on

educational attainment have two main data limitations. First, there is scant information available on t

relationship between degree attainment in specific fields of study and labor market outcomes. Second

current surveys of educational attainment do not count non-degree credentials such as postsecondary

(mostly vocational) certificates or industry-recognized certifications—both of which prepare women

for work.1

Enrollment and Graduation

Women enroll in greater numbers than men in both undergraduate and graduate institutions. From

1972 through 2008, regardless of age, the immediate college enrollment rate—defined as the percent

of high school completers of a given year who enroll in two- or four-year colleges in the fall immedia

after completing high school—increased for both males and females, but the increase was greater for

females than males. In 2008, the immediate college enrollment rate for all females was higher than th

for all males, 72 percent versus 66 percent, respectively.2 By 2019, women are projected to account f

nearly 60 percent of total undergraduate enrollment.3 Further, the number of females in graduate

schools surpassed the number of males in 1984. More recently, between 1997 and 2007, the increase 

female full-time graduate students was nearly double that of males.4

Women also have higher graduation rates at all academic levels. In 2008, non-Hispanic White, nonHispanic Black, and Hispanic females age 16 to 24 had lower high school dropout rates than their m

counterparts.5 Female students also took more Advanced Placement exams than their male counterpa

(1.6 million and 1.3 million, respectively).6 Women earned more postsecondary degrees than men

within each racial and ethnic group in 2007–2008. This finding is particularly notable for non-Hispa

Black women, who earned more degrees than non-Hispanic Black men across all postsecondary levels

The trend toward increasing female educational attainment is not limited to the United States. In 20

the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported that females earned

on average, 58 percent of undergraduate degrees conferred in OECD countries.8

For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 
men. This difference in gender participation in science and technology fields is a global phenomenon

OECD member countries reported that in the fields of humanities, arts, education, health and welfar

women comprised nearly two-thirds of graduates; however, in science and technology, females made u

only about one-quarter of graduates.10 

Other Challenges

Looking beyond academic achievement, there are gender differences in other important aspects of

students’ educational experiences. For example, findings regarding violence show that male and femal

students are subject to different types of violence in school. While male students are more likely to be

victimized with weapons, female students are more likely to experience electronic bullying. In 2007,

about 10 percent of male high school students reported being threatened or injured with a weapon on

school property, compared to 5 percent of female students.11 Of more recent concern is bullying in

schools, particularly electronic bullying. Across an array of technologies (e.g., social networking sites,

instant messaging programs, text messaging), females were victims of electronic bullying twice as ofte

as males.12

Across several measures women are doing as well as, if not better than, men in educational attainmen

and achievement. Although there is still room for improvement, specifically in science and technology

women have made definite and pronounced gains in educational levels for more than four decades. 

18 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

()

■ For the population as a whole, women have

caught up with men in the percentage who have

at least a college degree, about 28 percent for

each group in 2009. In 1970, only 8 percent of

women and 14 percent of men were college

graduates. (See chart.)

gpg

percentage of bachelor’s and master’s degrees

were earned by women than men. For nonHispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic

American Indian/Alaskan Native groups, mo

than 60 percent of bachelor’s and master’s

degrees were earned by women. For nonHispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Asians,

more than 50 percent of bachelor’s and mast

degrees were earned by women. 

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Men Women Men Women

1970 2009

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

Levels of Educational Attainment

(Percentage of Adults 19 and Older, 1970 and 2009) 

Graduate degree

Bachelor's degree

Some college

High school or equivalent

Less than high school
20 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

■ The percentage of both boys and girls proficient

in math has increased significantly since 1990,

although girls are still slightly less likely than

boys to be proficient in math. (See chart.)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Male Female Male Female

1990 2009

Male Female

Mathematics Reading

1992

Source: National Center for Education Statistics 

Mathematics and Reading Proficiency Levels for Grade 12

(National Assessment of Educational Progress, Selected Years, 1990–2009)

Advanced

Proficient

Basic

Below basic

Male Female

2009
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

ggp

1968, while the share of men with a college

degree increased by one-half. (See chart.)

■ Women earned about 57 percent of all college

degrees conferred in 2007–2008. Women also

constituted 57 percent of total undergraduate

enrollment.

p

women accounting for 60 percent, Hispanic

women accounting for 58 percent, and nonHispanic White women accounting for

56 percent of corresponding enrollment,

respectively. 

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

Percent of Adults Age 25–34 with a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher

(1968–2009) 

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

100%

1968 1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003 200

Men

Women
22 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

■ In 1998, more doctoral degrees were conferred

to men than to women. A decade later, more

doctoral degrees were conferred to women

than men. 

■ In 2008, women accounted for 59 percent of

graduate school enrollment.

63 percent, respectively, of corresponding

enrollment. Non-Hispanic White females

comprised 60 percent of non-Hispanic Whit

enrollment and non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific

Islander females comprised 55 percent of non

Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander enrollment. 

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

Percent of Adults Age 25–34 with Two or More Years of Graduate Study

(1968–2009) 

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

100%

1968 1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003 200

Men

Women
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

gpy

well as in engineering and computer sciences. In

engineering and computer sciences at the

college level, women’s share of degrees conferred

in these fields is small (less than 20 percent) and

has declined slightly over the last decade.

(See chart.)

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

900,000

1,000,000

Men Women

1998

Men Women

2008

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

Number of Bachelor’s Degrees Conferred by Field of Study

(1998 and 2008)

All other fields

Health

Education

Humanities

Social and

behavioral science

Business and

management

Biological sciences

Mathematics and

physical sciences

Engineering and

computer sciences
24 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

y 

but differed in the two most common categories

(work-related and personal interest), in both of

which women had higher participation.

(See chart.)

■ In 2005, non-Hispanic White women had

higher levels of participation in adult educati

than non-Hispanic White men; non-Hispan

Asian women had lower levels than nonHispanic Asian men; Hispanic and nonHispanic Black groups had no differences

by sex. 

Men Women

0%

10%

5%

20%

30%

40%

50%

15%

25%

35%

45%

100%

Adult Education by Type of Activity

(Percent Participating During the Previous 12 Months, 2005)

All Basic skills and

GED courses

Credentials and

apprenticeships

Work-related

courses

Personal interest

courses

Source: National Center for Education Statistics


remains. As more women have entered the labor force, interest has risen in how they divide their tim

between their jobs and other activities. 

Labor Force Participation

The labor force participation rate for women—the percentage of all adult women who are working o

looking for work—rose steadily during the latter half of the 20th century.1 This rate increased from

about 33 percent in 1950 to 61 percent in 1999. During the first decade of this century, it has held

steady at around 61 percent. In contrast, men’s labor force participation rate has declined steadily sinc

the 1950s. 

Despite the trends of recent decades, women remain less active in the labor market than men.

The labor force participation rate of adult women (age 20 and older) was still significantly lower than

that of adult men, 61 percent versus 75 percent in 2009. Moreover, on average, women at every

educational level and at every age spend fewer weeks in the labor force than do men. The differences

between men and women in labor force attachment are much smaller among those with a college

degree or more education.2

As part of the overall growth of women’s presence in the labor force, the participation rate of mothers

also increased. From 1975 to 2000, the labor force participation rate of mothers with children under 

18 rose from 47 percent to a peak of 73 percent. This rate receded to about 71 percent in 2004, whe

it has remained through 2009. Unmarried mothers had a higher labor force participation rate than th

married counterparts, 76 percent compared to 70 percent in 2009. 

Occupations

The jobs working women perform also have changed as their market activity has increased. A larger

share of women now works in management, professional, and related occupations.3 In 2009, women

accounted for 51 percent of all persons employed in these occupations, somewhat more than their sh

of total employment (47 percent). 

One reason for the shift in occupations is women’s greater educational attainment. Among women ag

25–64 in the labor force, 36 percent held college degrees in 2009, compared to 11 percent in 1970.

Over the same period, the proportion of women workers with less than a high school diploma fell

from 34 percent to 7 percent. Individuals with higher levels of education generally have better

For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 
for many factors that can be significant in explaining or further highlighting earnings differences. 

As women’s earnings have risen, working wives’ contributions to their family incomes also have risen. 

2008, working wives contributed 29 percent of their families’ incomes, up by 5 percentage points fro

1988, when wives’ earnings accounted for 24 percent of their families’ total incomes. The proportion

of wives earning more than their husbands also has grown. In 1988, 18 percent of working wives

whose husbands also worked earned more than their spouses; in 2008, the proportion was 27 percent

Dual-earner couples made up 57 percent of all married-couple families in 2008, compared to 46

percent in 1970.7

Working women spend their days somewhat differently than do working men. In 2009, on the days 

they worked, employed married women age 25–54 spent less time in labor market work and workrelated activities than did employed married men in the same age group—7 hours and 40 minutes,

compared to about 8 hours and 50 minutes. However, these employed wives spent about 40 minutes

more time than did their male counterparts doing household activities such as cooking, housework, a

household management. 

28 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

p()

■ At all levels of educational attainment, the labor

force participation rate of men was higher than

that of their female counterparts. In 2009, the

participation rate of women with less than a

high school diploma was only 34 percent,

compared to 59 percent for men. Among those

with college degrees or higher, the participation

rate of women was 73 percent, compared to 82

percent for men. 

g , g(p

to 63.4 percent). For men, labor force

participation continued to fall across all racia

and ethnic groups. 

■ Among mothers age 16 and over, those with

older children (age 6 to 17 only) were more

likely to be in the labor force (77 percent) in

2009 than those with children age 5 or youn

(64 percent). 

■ The labor force participation rate of persons 

55 and older began to rise in 1996 for both

women and men, but the pace of the increas

has slowed in recent years.

0%

50%

40%

60%

20%

10%

30%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

1948 1954 1960 1972 1966 1984 2001978 2002 1990 1996

Labor Force Participation

(Percent of Persons Age 20 and Older, 1948–2009)

Men

Women
30 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

g

4.4 percent to 9.9 percent. (See chart.)

■ Prior to the 1980s, the unemployment rate for

women tended to be higher than the rate for

men. Since the early 1980s, the jobless rates for

both men and women have tracked one another

quite closely during economic expansions.

(See chart.)

less cyclically sensitive and more rapidly

growing occupations, such as health care, wh

has dampened the impact of recent recession

on their unemployment rates. 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Unemployment Rates

 (Percent of Persons Age 20 and Older in the Labor Force, Seasonally Adjusted,

January 1948– December 2010)

Recession

0%

3%

6%

9%

12%

100%

1948 1956 1964 1973 1981 1989 1998 2006

Men

Women
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

y y 

year round than they were in past decades. In

2009, 75 percent of women worked year round,

up from 51 percent in 1968. The proportion of

men who worked year round changed little over

this same time period (from 74 percent to

76 percent). 

who work. 

■ Due to the nature of the work required for e

particular job, the prevalence of flexible

schedules varies by occupation. In May 200

the proportion of White and Asian workers i

occupations in which they could vary their

schedules exceeded that of other groups. Abo

30 percent of employed Whites and Asians

could vary their work hours, while the

proportion was closer to 21 percent among

Black workers and those of Hispanic ethnicit

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Part Time Work

(Percent of Employed Persons Age 20 and Older, Seasonally Adjusted,

January 1968–December 2010)

Men

Women

1968 1976 2001984 1993 2001

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

30%

25%

100%
32 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

a 2 percent rise in male earnings. In addition,

earnings for women with college degrees rose by

33 percent since 1979 while those of their male

counterparts rose by 22 percent. 

■ At all levels of education, women earned about

75 percent as much as their male counterparts

in 2009. Although both women and men with

less than a high school diploma have

experienced declines in earnings since 1979, the

drop for women (9 percent) was significantly

less than that for men (28 percent). 

■ Compared to the earnings of all men (of all

race and ethnic groups), Black women earned

71 percent and Hispanic women earned

62 percent as much in 2009. White and Asia

women earned 82 percent and 95 percent as

much as all men, respectively.

■ Compared to their direct male counterparts,

however, White women earned 79 percent as

much as White men in 2009, while Asian

women earned 82 percent as much as Asian

men. For Blacks and Hispanics, the figures w

94 percent and 90 percent, respectively. 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Earnings by Educational Attainment

(Median Weekly Earnings of Full-Time Workers Age 25 and Older, Annual Averages, 2009)

Men Women

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

Total,

25 years

and older

Less than a

high school

diploma

High school

graduates, no

college

Some college

or associate

degree

Bachelor’s

degree and

higher
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

jobs within this category. For example, in 2009,

professional women were more likely (nearly

70 percent) to work in the relatively low-paying

education (with $887 median weekly earnings)

and health care ($970 median weekly earnings)

occupations, compared to 32 percent of male

professionals. 

management, business, and finance jobs

has increased from 9 percent to 14 percent

since 1983. 

■ Women continue to be concentrated in a sm

number of traditionally female occupations. 

2009, nearly one-fifth of all women were

employed in just five occupations: secretaries

registered nurses, elementary school teachers,

cashiers, and nursing aides. 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Employment by Occupation

(Percent of Employed Persons Age 16 and Older in Major Occupation Groups, 2009)

Men Women

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

100%

Management,

business, and

financial

operations

occupations

Professional

and related

occupations

Service

occupations

Sales and

related

occupations

Office and

administrative

support

occupations

Natural

resources,

construction, and

maintenance

occupations

Production,

transportation

and material

moving

occupations
34 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

p

■ In 2008, female-headed families with children

earned 30 percent less than their counterparts

without children, although their earnings grew

faster (43 percent) than the other family types

between 1988 and 2008. 

■ Over the past two decades, women’s earnings

have constituted a growing share of family

income in all family types. 

■ In female-headed families with children,

nonearned income as a share of total family

income has declined sharply, from 24 percen

1988 to 16 percent in 2008. About 63 perce

of nonearned income for female-headed fam

with children in poverty is government cash

transfer income. 

Source: Census Bureau 

Family Income by Family Type

(Family Heads Under Age 65, in 2008 Dollars, 1988 and 2008) 

Male

householder

(no spouse)

Female

householder

(no spouse)

Married

couple

Male

householder

(no spouse)

Female

householder

(no spouse)

Married

couple

1988 2008

$0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

$70,000

$80,000

$90,000

$100,000

Nonearned 

income

Men’s 

earnings

Women’s 

earnings
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

household activities and about 40 minutes

caring for household members. (See chart.)

■ On average in 2009, employed husbands spent

about 3.2 hours engaged in leisure and sports

activities on workdays, and employed wives

spent about 2.7 hours. (See chart.) For both

employed husbands and wives, watching

television accounted for just over half of this

time (1.8 hours and 1.4 hours, respectively).

■ On days that they worked, 87 percent of

married women also engaged in household

activities in 2009, compared to 65 percent o

married men. Wives were more likely to do

housework and prepare food, while husband

were more likely to care for the lawn and do

home maintenance. 

■ On an average workday in 2009, employed

single mothers spent 37 minutes more in lab

market work and related activities than did

employed married mothers. 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Time Spent on Workdays

(Average Hours in Selected Activities on a Workday by Employed, 

Married Persons Age 25–54, 2009)

Sleeping Other activitie

Employed husbands Employed wives

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Leisure and sports

activities

Work and

work-related

activities

Household activities 

and caring for

household members
36 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Volunteer Work

(Percent of Persons Age 16 and Older Doing Unpaid Volunteer Activities Through or for a 

Main Organization, by Type of Organization, 2009)

Men Women

All Religious Other Educational

or youth

service

Social or

community

service

Hospital or

other health

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

100%


health of U.S. women has been improving according to some metrics, but progress across measures is

not uniform and some declines can be seen. Moreover, women are more likely than men to face cert

health problems, such as mobility restrictions and chronic medical conditions.

General Health Status

Life expectancy, one overall health measure, has generally increased over time for U.S. women and

remains longer than that of men, although the gender gap has been narrowing since 1975.1 U.S. wom

do not fare well in international comparisons of this metric; in 2005, female life expectancy in the

United States was below that of most of the industrialized countries that submitted data to the

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.2

Another measure, self-reported health status, has been gradually declining among women since the m

1990s even after taking into account the aging of the population. In 2006-2008, an estimated 60

percent of U.S. women age 18 and older reported having very good or excellent health, but that rate 

only 39 percent among women age 65 years and older.3

Health can also be described by the impact of disease and impairment on limitations in physical,

sensory, cognitive, and psychological functioning, all of which affect a person’s ability to participate fu

in society. For example, in 2009, 17 percent of women reported difficulty in physical functioning4 an

13 percent reported difficulty walking a moderate distance.5

Health Conditions and Risk Factors

Mortality from heart disease, the leading cause of death for women, has decreased 68 percent since

1950.6 However, the mortality rate for cancer, the second leading cause of death among women, has

decreased by only 17 percent since 1950,7 and the lung cancer death rate has risen more than 500

percent.8 The maternal mortality rate in the United States, which had fallen appreciably from before

1950 until the mid-1980s, is significantly higher than for many European countries.9

Due only in part to their rising life expectancy, increasing numbers of U.S. women live with chronic heal

conditions. Such conditions may not prove fatal but affect full participation in society. Several conditions

including arthritis,10 asthma,11 and mental illness12—are more prevalent among women than men. In

addition, increasing numbers of women live with conditions such as obesity,13 hypertension,14 and diabete

For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 
uninsured are less likely to seek health care than those with insurance.19 With the availability of

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program for low-income children and Medicare for

persons over age 65, most of the uninsured are nonelderly adults. Eighteen percent of nonelderly wom

had no health insurance in 2009.20 The percent of uninsured Hispanic women was much higher than

that of non-Hispanic White or non-Hispanic Black women.20 Nonelderly adults are also most likely n

to have a usual source of health care.21

Women generally use the health care system—both inpatient and outpatient services—more than me

in part from a need for obstetric and gynecological services. Childbirth, for example, accounted for

4.1million hospital discharges among women age 15–44 in 2006,22 and women made 12.8 million vi

to physicians’ offices for gynecological examinations.23 The percent of live births delivered by cesarea

section has been increasing since 1996.24,25 Women also use more health care services because they ha

higher rates of certain chronic conditions. For instance, more women than men have osteoporosis and

arthritis, which put them at higher risk of falls and fractures. Approximately 13.6 per 10,000 women

were hospitalized for hip fractures, compared to 6.1 per 10,000 men in 2007.26

Women generally use preventive care more than men, although not to the recommended degree. In

2008, 53 percent of women age 50 and older received an influenza vaccination in the past year, and

62 percent of women age 65 and older had ever had a pneumococcal vaccination.27 Furthermore,

70 percent of women age 50 and older had a mammogram in the past two years,28 and 75 percent of

women age 18 and older had a Pap smear within the past three years—each down slightly over the

previous decade.29

Demographic Factors

Minority women are disproportionately affected by many diseases and health conditions, including

hypertension,14 diabetes,15 and HIV/AIDS.30 Obesity among Black and Hispanic women is significant

higher than among White women.13 In 2009, 11 percent of non-Hispanic White women reported be

in fair or poor health, compared to 18 percent of Hispanic women and 21 percent of Black women.3

Education level and family income are important factors that affect women’s health and access to hea

care. For example, less-educated women report higher rates of hypertension, while among men

hypertension is not associated with educational attainment.32 Women with family incomes below the

poverty line are more likely to smoke cigarettes33 and are 2.5 times more likely to report experiencing

depression.34 Some conditions and health risks, such as asthma11 and untreated tooth decay,35 are more

closely linked to family income than to other factors such as race and ethnicity. 

40 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

gyyyg y

Male

Female

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Life Expectancy at Birth

(In Years, 1950–2007)

1950 1957 1964 1971 1978 1985 1992 1999 200

Source: National Center for Health Statistics
42 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

gy 

fully take part in all aspects of life. In 2009,

13 percent of women reported at least some

difficulty walking a quarter of a mile—about

three city blocks—compared to 9 percent of

men. (See chart.)

y pg 

than men at every age level. (See chart.)

■ Non-Hispanic Black women (18 percent) we

more likely to report difficulty walking than

Non-Hispanic White women (12 percent) an

Hispanic women (11 percent). 

Men Women

0%

10%

5%

20%

30%

40%

50%

15%

25%

35%

45%

100%

Walking Difficulty by Age

(Percent of Persons Age 18 and Older, 2009)

All

Source: National Center for Health Statistics 

18-44 years 45-54 years 55-64 years 65-74 years 75 years 

and older
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

10 percent among women age 18–44 to 59

percent among women age 65 and older. 

educational attainment. 

Men Women

0%

10%

5%

20%

30%

40%

50%

15%

25%

35%

45%

100%

Chronic Health Conditions 

(Percent of Persons Age 18 and Older, 2009)

Hypertension Asthma Cancer Diabetes Arthritis Chronic

bronchitis

or emphysema

Heart

disease

Source: National Center for Health Statistics 
44 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

highest among those age 40–59 and lowest

among those age 60 and older. (See chart.)

g

than non-Hispanic White women and girls

(8 percent). 

■ Only 29 percent of women and girls who

reported experiencing depression also reporte

contact with a mental health professional

during the previous 12 months.

Male Female

0%

10%

5%

20%

15%

100%

Depression Rates by Age

(Percent of Persons Age 12 and Older, 2005–2008)

Source: National Center for Health Statistics 

12-19 years 20-39 years 40-59 years 60 years and older
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

■ Obesity rates for women differ by race and

ethnicity. Non-Hispanic Black women

(50 percent) and Hispanic women (43 percent)

were more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic

White women (33 percent). The differences by

race and ethnicity among men are not

significant. (See chart.)

older counterparts (about 34 percent each). 

Men Women

0%

10%

5%

20%

30%

40%

50%

15%

25%

35%

45%

100%

Obesity by Race and Ethnicity

(Percent of Persons Age 20 and Older, 2007–2008) 

All Non-Hispanic White Non-Hispanic Black Hispanic

Source: National Center for Health Statistics 
46 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

pyy g

higher education. About 24 percent of women

with less than a high school education met the

physical activity guidelines, compared to

51 percent of those who have some college

education. (See chart.)

■ The percentage of women who met aerobic

physical activity guidelines was higher in 200

(43 percent) than it was in 2000 (38 percent

Men Women

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Aerobic Physical Activity by Educational Attainment

(Percent of Persons Age 25 and Older Meeting Federal Guidelines, 2009) 

All

Source: National Center for Health Statistics 

No high school

diploma or GED

High school

diploma or GED

Some college

or more
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

jgy 

higher rates of surgical complications and

maternal rehospitalization, as well as with

complications requiring neonatal intensive care

unit admission. In addition, hospital charges for

a cesarean delivery are almost double those for a

vaginal delivery.

for mothers in all racial and Hispanic origin

groups. Non-Hispanic Black women were m

likely to deliver by cesarean (34 percent) than

non-Hispanic White (32 percent) and Hispa

(31 percent) women.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics

Cesarean Section Delivery

(Percent of Live Births, 1989–2008)

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

100%

1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 200
48 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

■ Only 53 percent of women age 50 and older

have ever received a sigmoidoscopy or

colonoscopy. Men are somewhat more likely to

report ever having these treatments (56 percent)

than women in this age group. (See chart.)

■ Women age 18 and older are more likely to

have had their blood cholesterol checked in

the last 5 years than men (78 percent and

73 percent, respectively). (See chart.)

Men Women

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Rates of Immunizations and Preventive Screenings

(Percent of Persons, Differing Age Groupings and Data Years)

Mammography Cholesterol

screening

Influenza

vaccination

Pneumococcal

vaccination

Sigmoidoscopy/

Colonoscopy

Pap smear

screening

Source: National Center for Health Statistics 
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

yy

women covered by private health insurance fell

11 percentage points to 67 percent, while the

proportion covered by Medicaid increased

5 percentage points to 11 percent. 

pp

to be uninsured than non-Hispanic White

women in 2009 (14 percent).

Men

Women

Source: National Center for Health Statistics

Nonelderly Adults Lacking Health Insurance

(Percent of Persons Age 18–64 Without Coverage, 1984–2009) 

1984 1988 2004 2008 1992 1996 2000

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

100%
50 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

p

Hispanic White women (12 percent) in this age

range. (See chart.)

half of all women who were uninsured for m

than 12 months had no usual source of care,

compared to 7 percent of women who had b

continuously insured for the prior 12 month

Men Women

0%

10%

5%

20%

30%

40%

50%

15%

25%

35%

45%

100%

Nonelderly Adults with No Usual Source of Health Care

(Percent of Persons Age 18–64, 2009)

All Hispanic Asian

Source: National Center for Health Statistics 

American

Indian/Alaska

Native

Non-Hispanic

Black

Non-Hispanic

White


community correctional supervision on probation or parole.

Information about criminal activity is available from two primary sources: victimization surveys and d

collected from law enforcement officials. Victimization surveys provide a better measure of the amoun

of crime, since a significant proportion of crimes is never brought to the attention of law enforcemen

agencies. The National Crime Victimization Survey, the principal source of criminal victimization

information in the United States, reports that the rate of nonfatal violent victimization of women has

declined significantly since the early 1990s. In 2008, there were 18 violent victimizations of women p

1,000 females, down from 43 per 1,000 in 1993. The rate at which women, particularly Black wome

have been victims of homicide has also fallen since the early 1990s, according to the FBI Uniform

Crime Reports.

Other sources of information about victimization come from Federal service data. The Department o

Health and Human Services reported that in FY 2009, domestic violence programs funded by the

Family Violence and Prevention Services Act sheltered 270,457 individuals and provided nonresident

services to an additional 956,397 individuals. However, the programs were unable to meet 167,069

requests for shelter due to lack of capacity.

Crimes Against Women

Sexual victimization and intimate partner violence disproportionately affect women. Intimate partner

were responsible for 5 percent of all violence against males and 26 percent of all violence against fema

in 2008.1 The rate of rape against females age 12 or older, as defined by the National Crime

Victimization Survey, declined by 60 percent between 1993 and 2000 and has remained at these

relatively lower levels during the past decade. Rape, however, is among the most underreported crime

America. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, between 2004 and 2008, police wer

not notified of approximately half of all incidents of rape.

Violence directed against women by intimate partners has historically been perceived as a private matte

best resolved by the persons involved. However, since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act 

1994 and other legislation, changes in law and practice have promoted, and in some cases mandated,

more active involvement in domestic disputes by law enforcement and justice system officials. The rate 

nonfatal intimate partner violence against women declined by more than 50 percent between 1994 an

2008.2 Declining rates of intimate partner violence are a promising sign not only for women themselve

but also for children who may be exposed to the violence. Research demonstrates significant adverse

impacts on children’s health and developmental well-being as a result of exposure to domestic violence

For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 
when overall crimes declined, women have represented a growing proportion of those who come in

contact with the criminal justice system. For example, women represented 18 percent of all arrestees f

violent felony offenses in 2008, up from 11 percent in 1990. The female proportion of arrestees for

property crimes, such as burglary or larceny, grew from 25 percent to 35 percent during the same

period. Not surprisingly, women have represented a growing share of persons convicted of these offen

Correctional Supervision

The past few decades have seen substantial growth in the overall number of women under correction

supervision. While the vast majority of persons under correctional supervision are men, an estimated

206,000 adult women were incarcerated in state or Federal prison or local jails in 2008 and more tha

1,111,000 adult women were under community supervision on probation or parole. Overall, the

number of adult women under some form of correctional supervision increased 121 percent between

1990 and 2008.

Incarceration can have significant and long-lasting effects on families and communities. It may remov

from the community violent offenders who would otherwise endanger families. At the same time, it m

separate parents from their children; an estimated 62 percent of women incarcerated in 2004 had one 

more minor children. While removed from the community, incarcerated mothers are unable to suppo

and raise their children during their formative years. The separation due to incarceration of parents

(mothers or fathers) from children can have multiple negative consequences for children, ranging from

decreased school performance to emotional health problems.4 Incarcerated women, whether parents 

not, also face the collateral consequences of incarceration upon reentry to the community, including

limited access to social services, lack of access to public housing, and difficulties in securing

employment.

Many risk factors can contribute to women’s criminal behavior, including substance abuse, mental

illness, and prior victimization. In 2004, 62 percent of women in state prison reported a history of pr

physical or sexual abuse, and 59 percent reported having used drugs in the month prior to their arres

54 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

■ A decline in nonfatal violent victimization of

Black women—who have generally been more

vulnerable to victimization than White women

—drove the overall decline. The nonfatal

violent victimization rate for Black women

declined from 61 per 1,000 in 1993 to 23 per

1,000 in 2003 and has remained relatively

stable since 2003. 

■ In 2008, half of the nonfatal violent crimes

against women were reported to the police,

compared to 44 percent of those against men

Nonfatal violent crimes against Black women

(69 percent) were reported to the police mor

often than those against White women

(48 percent). 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Nonfatal Violent Victimization

(Number of Persons Victimized per 1,000 Persons Age 12 and Older, 1993–2008)

1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 200

Break in 

time 

series

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics

Male

Female
56 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

■ In 2008, 3,541 females and 12,731 males were

victims of homicide. 

by an intimate partner in 2007 and the

proportion has remained mostly unchanged

since 1993. 

Male

Female

0.00

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.10

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

Homicides

(Number per 1,000 Persons, All Ages, 1980–2008)

1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 200

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

p

women to 4.3 per 1,000. (See chart.)

gy

intimate partners, 11.8 per 1,000 women.

During those same years, the rate was lowest

among women age 65 and older (0.2 per 1,0

women). 

Male

Female

0

5

4

6

2

1

3

7

8

9

10

Nonfatal Intimate Partner Violence

(Number of Victimizations per 1,000 Persons Age 12 and Older, 1993–2008)

1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 200

Break 

in time 

series

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics
58 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

■ In 2008, state or local law enforcement agencies

made an estimated 22,300 arrests in which rape

of a female by a male was the most serious

charge (equivalent to about 15 arrests per

100,000 men). 

In 2008, 63 percent were committed by

acquaintances, including 18 percent that wer

committed by an intimate partner. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics

0

1

0.5

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Reported Incidents of Rape

(Number per 1,000 Females Age 12 and Older, 1993–2008)

1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 200

Break 

in time 

series
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

per 1,000 persons age 18 and older).

female victimizations were reported to the

police by the victim or another person aware 

the crime.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics

0

10

5

20

15

25

Stalking and Harassment Victimizations

(Rate per 1,000 Persons Age 18 and Older, 2006)

Stalking Harassment

Men Women
60 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

pp

■ The female share of arrests for property crimes

including larceny, burglary, and fraud rose from

25 percent of arrestees in 1990 to 35 percent

in 2008. 

p

arrested for drug abuse violations in 2008, a

proportion essentially unchanged from 1990

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics

Female Arrests by Type of Violent Crime Other Than Homicide

(Percent of Arrestees of All Ages Who Are Female, 1985–2008)

1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006

Robbery

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

100%

Simple assault

Aggravated assaul

All violent crime
For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report. 

■ In 2006, an estimated 68,020 females were

convicted of a felony drug offense in state

courts, a 55 percent increase from the 43,940 in

1990. Females still accounted for approximately

one in five persons (18 percent) convicted of a

felony drug offense in 2006.

p

females and 39 percent of males convicted

were Black. 

Male Female

0%

10%

5%

20%

30%

40%

50%

15%

25%

35%

45%

100%

Shares of Felony Convictions by Type of Crime

(2006)

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics 

Note: Percents for males and females each sum to 100 percent.

Violent Property Drug Weapon Other
62 For more information, see Detailed Sources and Notes at the end of this report.

prior physical or sexual abuse. During that same

year, 59 percent of imprisoned females and

56 percent of imprisoned males reported having

used drugs in the month prior to their arrest.

About three out of five women imprisoned in

2004 had one or more minor children,

compared to about half of imprisoned men. 

30 percent, while the rate among non-Hispa

White females rose by 15 percent. An estima

2.3 percent of non-Hispanic Black females ar

expected to enter state or Federal prison by t

time they reach age 30, compared to 1.1

percent of Hispanic females and 0.4 percent 

non-Hispanic White females.

Male

All

Female

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Rates of Imprisonment 

(Number per 1,000 Persons, All Ages, 1985–2008)

1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics
Population by Sex and Selected Age Groups for the United States: April 1, 2000 to July 1,

2009” (NC-EST2009-02), June 2010.

http://www.census.gov/popest/national/asrh/NC-EST2009/NC-EST2009-02.xls. 

2

Mothers near the end of their principal child-bearing years, 40-44 years old as of June 2008,

had an average of 2.3 children per mother. The cumulative fertility rate for all women, 40-44

years old as of June 2008, is 1.9 children per woman. The 1.9 figure is an average for all

women, both women who have had children and those who are childless. The 2.3 figure is an

average only for women who have had children. Source: Data for all women: Dye, Jane Lawl

Fertility of American Women: June 2008, Table 1, Current Population Reports, P20-563,

U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, D.C. The fertility rate for mothers was calculated using da

from the same source. 

1. While the populations of both men and women are aging, women continue to outnumber m

at older ages. 

Race/Ethnicity: U.S. Census Bureau. 1970 and 1990 Decennial Censuses and 2009 Nationa

Population Estimates, July 1. 

The data for Whites, Blacks, Asians, and American Indians and Alaskan Natives include peop

of Hispanic origin. Hispanics may be of any race. 

Chart: U.S. Census Bureau. 1970 and 1990 Decennial Censuses and 2009 National Populat

Estimates, July 1. 

2. Both women and men are delaying marriage.

Education: U.S. Census Bureau. 2008 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata

Sample, Data Ferret tabulation. 

Race/Ethnicity: U.S. Census Bureau. 2008 American Community Survey Public Use Microd

Sample, Data Ferret tabulation. 

Chart: U.S. Census Bureau. Current Population Survey, March and Annual Social and

Economic Supplements, 2010 and earlier. “Table MS-2. Estimated Median Age at First

Marriage, by Sex: 1890 to the Present,” November 2010.

http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/ms2.xls. 

3. Fewer women are married than in the past.

65 and Older: U.S. Census Bureau. Current Population Survey, 2009 Annual Social and

Economic Supplement. “Table A1. Marital Status of People 15 Years and Over, by Age, S

Personal Earnings, Race, and Hispanic Origin/1, 2009,” January 2010.

http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2009/tabA1-all.xls. 
4. More women than in the past have never had a child.

Education: U.S. Census Bureau. 2008 Current Population Survey Public Use Microdata

Sample, Data Ferret tabulation. June 2008. 

Race/Ethnicity: Dye, Jane Lawler, Fertility of American Women: June 2008, Table 1, Current

Population Reports, P20-563, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, D.C. 

Chart: U.S. Census Bureau. Current Population Survey, June 2008. Supplemental Fertility

Tables. “Table SF1. Percent Childless and Births per 1,000 Women in the Last Year:

Selected Years, 1976 to 2008.”

5. Women are giving birth to their first child at older ages.

Education: National Center for Health Statistics. 2002. National Vital Statistics Reports. 40(5

Table 7; National Center for Health Statistics. 2010. National Vital Statistics Reports. 58(2

Table 2; National Center for Health Statistics. 1997. Monthly Vital Statistics Report. 45(1

Table 2; National Center for Health Statistics. National Center for Health Statistics. Vita

Statistics of the United States: 1980, Volume 1–Natality. Table 2; and 1985, Volume 1–

Natality. Table 2; and 1990, Volume 1–Natality. Table 2.

Birth Rate for Teenagers: National Center for Health Statistics. 2010. National Vital Statist

Reports. Table 4. 58(24).

Race/Ethnicity: National Center for Health Statistics. 2010. National Vital Statistics Reports.

Tables 14 and 15. 58(24). 

The data for Whites and Blacks do not include people of Hispanic origin. Hispanics may be 

any race.

Chart: National Center for Health Statistics. 2002. National Vital Statistics Reports. 40(5). Ta

7; National Center for Health Statistics. 2010. National Vital Statistics Reports. 58(24). Ta

2; National Center for Health Statistics. 1997. Monthly Vital Statistics Report. 45(11S). Ta

2; National Center for Health Statistics. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Statis

of the United States: 1980, Volume 1–Natality. Table 2; and 1985, Volume 1–Natality. Ta

2; and 1990, Volume 1–Natality. Table 2.

6. Women are having fewer children.

Race/Ethnicity: U.S. Census Bureau. 2008 Current Population Survey Public Use Microdat

Sample, Data Ferret tabulation. June 2008. 

Education: U.S. Census Bureau. 2008 Current Population Survey Public Use Microdata

Sample, Data Ferret tabulation. June 2008. 

64
of their relationship to the householder. For example, a 20-year-old living with 50-ye

old married parents is included in this chart in the married-couple category even if th

child is single.

Male householder, no spouse present: All people 15 and older living in households hea

by males with no spouse present, regardless of the person’s relationship to the

householder.

Female householder, no spouse present: All people 15 and older living in households

headed by females with no spouse present, regardless of the person’s relationship to th

householder. 

Persons living together but not related: All people 15 and older who are living in

households where there is no person related to the householder. This excludes perso

living alone.

Persons living alone: Households consisting of a single person 15 and older who is livin

alone.

Race/Ethnicity: U.S. Census Bureau. 2008 American Community Survey Public Use Microd

Sample, Data Ferret tabulation. 

Chart: U.S. Census Bureau. 2008 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sam

Data Ferret tabulation. 

8. Women are more likely than men to be in poverty.

Poverty Threshold: U.S. Census Bureau. Current Population Survey Annual Social and

Economic Supplement. 2010. “POV35: Poverty Thresholds by Size of Family and Numb

of Related Children Under 18 Years: 2009,”

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/cpstables/032010/pov/new35_000.htm

65 and Older: U.S. Census Bureau. Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economi

Supplement. 2010. “POV01: Age and Sex of All People, Family Members and Unrelated

Individuals Iterated by Income-to-Poverty Ratio and Race: 2009,”

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/cpstables/032010/pov/new01_000.htm.

For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and

definitions, see http://www.census.gov/apsd/techdoc/cps/cpsmar09.pdf .

Female Workers: U.S. Census Bureau. Current Population Survey Annual Social and

Economic Supplements. 2010. “POV22: Work Experience During Year by Age, Sex,

Household Relationship and Poverty Status for People 16 Years Old and Over: 2009.”

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/cpstables/032010/pov/new22_000.htm. 

For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and

definitions, see http://www.census.gov/apsd/techdoc/cps/cpsmar09.pdf .
For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and

definitions, see http://www.census.gov/apsd/techdoc/cps/cpsmar09.pdf. Footnotes are availabl

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/histpov/footnotes.html. The poverty rate for familie

headed by a female householder, no husband present, with children under age 18 include

grandmother heads of household with no husband present, living with their grandchildre

it excludes families with a female householder, no husband present, residing with adult

children (age 18 and older).

II. Education 

In this section, unless otherwise noted, data by race do not include people of Hispanic origin. Person

Hispanic origin may be of any race.

Introduction

1 Federal statistical agencies including the National Center for Education Statistics, the Bureau 

Labor Statistics, and the Census Bureau began working together in late 2009 on a project to

improve Federal measures of educational attainment to include postsecondary certificates and 

begin collecting information about the prevalence of industry-recognized certifications among

U.S. adults. These new measures will provide a more accurate picture of how education and

training relate to employment outcomes.

2 Aud, S., Hussar, W., Planty, M., Snyder, T., Bianco, K., Fox, M., Frohlich, L., Kemp, J., Dra

L. (2010). The Condition of Education 2010 (NCES 2010-028). National Center for Educati

Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, D.C.

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010028.pdf, p. 70. 

3 Aud, S., Hussar, W., Planty, M., Snyder, T., Bianco, K., Fox, M., Frohlich, L., Kemp, J., Dra

L. (2010). The Condition of Education 2010 (NCES 2010-028). National Center for Educati

Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, D.C.

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010028.pdf, p. 36. 

4 Fast Facts, Total fall enrollment in degree-granting institutions, by student level: Selected years,

1970 through 2007, NCES, http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=98. 

5 Aud, S., Hussar, W., Planty, M., Snyder, T., Bianco, K., Fox, M., Frohlich, L., Kemp, J., Dra

L. (2010). The Condition of Education 2010 (NCES 2010-028). National Center for Educati

Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, D.C.

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010028.pdf, p. 68. 

66
9 Chen, X., 2009. Stats in Brief: Students Who Study Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Mathematics (STEM) in Postsecondary Education, NCES 2009-16,

http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009161. 

10 OECD, 2010, Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators, “Table A3.6. Percentage of tertiary

qualifications awarded to females at tertiary level, by field of education (2008),”

www.oecd.org/edu/eag2010. 

11 Dinkes, R., Kemp, J., and Baum, K. (2009). Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2009

(NCES 2010-012/NCJ 228478). National Center for Education Statistics, Institution of

Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, and Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office o

Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010012.pdf, p. 16. 

12 School Survey on Crime and Safety, NCES, 2007, “Table 14. Percentage of students ages

12–18 who reported being bullied by another student anywhere via electronic means and the

frequency of electronic bullying, by selected student and school characteristics: School year

2006–07,”http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ssocs/tables/scs_2007_tab_14.asp. 

Science and Technology Education: For more detailed information on participation of wome

in science and technology education, see National Science Foundation/National Center for

Science and Engineering Statistics, Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science

and Engineering, NSF 09-305, Arlington, Va. http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/sex.cfm#degree

1. Women’s gains in educational attainment have significantly outpaced those of men over the

last 40 years.

OECD: Education at a Glance 2010: OECD Indicators, Web Only Tables A1.1b and A1.1c,

http://www.oecd.org/document/52/0,3343,en_2649_39263238_45897844_1_1_1_1,00.html

Race/Ethnicity: Aud, S., Fox, M., and KewalRamani, A. (2010). Status and Trends in the

Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups (NCES 2010-015). U.S. Department of Education

National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing

Office. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010015.pdf. p.135.

Chart: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey,

March1970, 1990, 2009, previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). Note: In

1992, the questionnaire items that defined educational attainment in the Current

Population Survey changed. Prior to 1989, persons with General Educational Developme

certificates were not counted among high school graduates.
literal information. When reading text appropriate to twelfth grade, they should be a

to extend the ideas of the text by making inferences, drawing conclusions, and makin

connections to their own personal experiences and other readings. Connections betw

inferences and the text should be clear, even when implicit. These students should be

able to analyze the author’s use of literary devices.

1992-2009 Mathematics: Twelfth-grade students performing at the Proficient level shou

be able to select strategies to solve problems and integrate concepts and procedures.

These students should be able to interpret an argument, justify a mathematical proce

and make comparisons dealing with a wide variety of mathematical tasks. They shoul

also be able to perform calculations involving similar figures including right triangle

trigonometry. They should understand and apply properties of geometric figures and

relationships between figures in two and three dimensions. Students at this level shou

select and use appropriate units of measure as they apply formulas to solve problems.

Students performing at this level should be able to use measures of central tendency a

variability of distributions to make decisions and predictions, calculate combinations

and permutations to solve problems, and understand the use of the normal distributi

to describe real-world situations. Students performing at the Proficient level should b

able to identify, manipulate, graph, and apply linear, quadratic, exponential, and inve

functions (y = k/x); solve routine and non-routine problems involving functions

expressed in algebraic, verbal, tabular, and graphical forms; and solve quadratic and

rational equations in one variable and solve systems of linear equations.

Science: Grigg, W., Lauko, M., and Brockway, D. (2006). The Nation’s Report Card: Scienc

2005 (NCES 2006-466). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education

Statistics. Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office.

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/main2005/2006466.pdf, pgs. 9, 18, and 33. 

Arts: Aud, S., Hussar, W., Planty, M., Snyder, T., Bianco, K., Fox, M., Frohlich, L., Kemp, J

Drake, L. (2010). The Condition of Education 2010 (NCES 2010-028). National Center 

Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education.

Washington, D.C. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010028.pdf, p. 55. 

Chart: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for

Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1990 and 20

Mathematics Assessments; 1992 and 2009 Reading Assessments, previously unpublished

tabulations (August 2010).

68
Chart: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey,

March 1968-2009, previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). In 1992, the

questionnaire items that defined educational attainment in the Current Population Surve

changed. This change may be responsible for some of the difference in educational

attainment between 1991 and 1992, which should be interpreted with caution. 

4. More women than men have received a graduate education.

Race/Ethnicity: Aud, S., Fox, M., and KewalRamani, A. (2010). Status and Trends in the

Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups (NCES 2010-015). U.S. Department of Education

National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing

Office. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010015.pdf, p. 125.

Enrollment Trends: Aud, S., Hussar, W., Planty, M., Snyder, T., Bianco, K., Fox, M.,

Frohlich, L., Kemp, J., Drake, L. (2010). The Condition of Education 2010 (NCES 2010

028). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S.

Department of Education. Washington, D.C. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010028.pdf,

pgs. 38 and 120. 

Chart: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey,

March 1968-2009, previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). In 1992, the

questionnaire items that defined educational attainment in the Current Population Surve

changed. This change may be responsible for some of the difference in educational

attainment between 1991 and 1992, which should be interpreted with caution.

5. Women earn the majority of conferred degrees overall but earn fewer degrees than men in

science and technology.

Bullets and chart: Digest of Education Statistics: 2009. “Table 275. Bachelor’s, master’s, and

doctor’s degrees conferred by degree-granting institutions, by sex of student and disciplin

division: 2007-08.” http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d09/tables/dt09_275.asp?referrer=list. 

Digest of Education Statistics: 2000. “Table 257. Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor’s degree

conferred by degree-granting institutions, by sex of student and discipline division: 1997-

98.” http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d00/dt257.asp. [Accessed August 2010].

6. Higher percentages of women than men participate in adult education.

Adult education includes participation in any formal adult educational activities in the 12

months prior to the interview, excluding full-time only enrollments in college/university or

vocational/technical credential programs. Included in this are the following: English as a Seco

Language (ESL) classes, basic skills or GED preparation classes, part-time college or universit
2005 Supplementary Web Table for: O’Donnell, K. (2006). Adult Education Participatio

in 2004-05 (NCES 2006-077). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of

Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, D.C.

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2006/adulted/tables/table_2006077_2.asp [Accessed December 2010]

Chart: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, The Adult

Education Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Program,

(AE:NHES:2005), previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). Adult education 

divided here into “Basic Skills & GED Courses” which includes basic skills, English as a

Second Language , or General Educational Development preparation courses; “Credentia

and Apprenticeships”, which includes part-time college or university degree or certificate

programs, part-time vocational or technical diploma, degree, or certificate programs, and

apprenticeship programs; “Work-related Courses”, which includes work-related courses o

training; and “Personal Interest Courses” which includes courses for personal interests. 

III. Employment 

The estimates in this section of the report are based on sample surveys of the population and are,

therefore, subject to sampling and nonsampling error. To the extent feasible, standard tests of statisti

significance have been used to determine whether the differences between populations discussed in th

text exist at generally accepted levels of confidence or whether they occurred by chance.

In this section, unless otherwise noted, data by race include people of Hispanic origin. Persons of

Hispanic origin may be of any race.

Introduction

1 The civilian labor force participation rate is the civilian labor force as a percent of the civilia

noninstitutional population. The civilian labor force is comprised of all persons classified as

employed or unemployed. Employed persons are those who, during the survey week, (a) did 

work at all as paid civilians; (b) worked in their own business or profession or on their own

farm; (c) worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers in a family business; or (d) were

temporarily absent from their jobs because of illness, vacation, bad weather, or another reason

Unemployed persons are those who had no employment during the survey week, were availab

for work at that time, and made specific efforts to find employment sometime in the prior

4 weeks. Persons laid off from their former jobs and awaiting recall did not need to be lookin

for work to be classified as unemployed.

70
in kind, or piece rates. The group includes employees in both the private and public sectors b

for purposes of the earnings series, excludes all self-employed persons, both those with

incorporated businesses as well as those with unincorporated businesses. Data on usual week

earnings include wages and salaries before taxes and other deductions and include any overtim

pay, commissions, or tips usually received (at the principal job in the case of multiple

jobholders). Earnings of self-employed workers are excluded, regardless of whether their

businesses are incorporated. Prior to 1994, respondents were asked to report earnings per wee

Since January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the easiest way for them to repo

earnings (hourly, weekly, biweekly, twice monthly, monthly, annually, or other) and how muc

they usually earn in the reported period. Earnings reported on a basis other than weekly are

converted to a weekly equivalent. The term “usual” is as perceived by the respondent. If the

respondent asks for a definition of usual, interviewers are instructed to define the term as “mo

than half the weeks worked during the past 4 or 5 months.”

5

The female-to-male-earnings ratio of 80 percent in 2009 is calculated using median weekly

earnings of full-time male and female wage and salary workers, age 16 and older. Using medi

annual earnings of year-round full-time male and female workers, age 15 and older, gives a

female-to-male-earnings ratio of 77 percent in 2009. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Highlights of Women’s Earnings in 2009, Table 1,

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswom2009.pdf (visited Nov. 18, 2010). DeNavas-Walt, C., Proctor, B

and Smith, J.C., U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, P60-238, Income, Poverty,

and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009, U.S. Government Printing Office,

Washington, D.C., 2010. Table A-4. http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p60-238.pdf

6 U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS). Th

data were collected in the 1971, 1989, and 2009 Annual Social and Economic Supplement to

the CPS and reflect earnings and work experience of the prior calendar year.

7 U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current Population Survey (CP

Unpublished tabulations from the 1971 and 2009 Annual Social and Economic Supplement

(ASEC) to the CPS.
Survey (CPS), data available from the historical series database on the Internet at

http://www.bls.gov/cps/demographics.htm#education (visited Nov. 18, 2010). 

Age 55 and Over: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current

Population Survey (CPS), data available from the historical series database on the Interne

http://www.bls.gov/cps/demographics.htm#older (visited Nov. 17, 2010). 

Chart: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current Population Survey

Beginning in 1994, data reflect the introduction of a major redesign of the Current Populat

Survey. Revisions to population controls were incorporated into the data in January of vari

years. These changes can affect comparability with data for prior periods. 

2. Unemployment rates for women have risen less than for men in recent recessions.

Unemployment Rate: This rate represents the number of unemployed persons as a percent 

the civilian labor force.

Recession: The Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic

Research (NBER) is the unofficial—but widely recognized—arbiter of when the econom

in recession, which it defines as “a significant decline in economic activity spread across t

economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real income,

employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales.” (NBER is a private, nonprofit, non-partisan research organization.) More information is available online at

http://www.nber.org/cycles/cyclesmain.html. 

Occupations: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment and

Earnings, February 2010, Table 17. http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat17.pdf [Accessed Novemb

18, 2010). 

Chart: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Surv

Shaded areas represent recessions (see definition above). Beginning in 1994, data reflect 

introduction of a major redesign of the Current Population Survey. Revisions to populat

controls were incorporated into the data in January of various years. These changes can

affect comparability with data for prior periods.

3. More women than men work part time, and women and men have roughly equal access to

flexible work schedules.

Year-Round Work: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current

Population Survey (CPS), unpublished tabulations from the Annual Social and Economi

Supplement (ASEC).

72
Statistics, Highlights of Womens Earnings in 2009, Tables 16-17, on the Internet at

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswom2009.pdf (visited Nov. 18, 2010). 

Age: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Highlights of Women’s Earni

in 2009, Tables 12, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswom2009.pdf (visited Nov

18, 2010). 

Race/Ethnicity: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Highlights of

Women’s Earnings in 2009, http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswom2009.pdf (visited January 6, 2011

Calculations using data from Table 1. 

Chart: Source: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current Populat

Survey (CPS), 2009 annual averages

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/wkyeng_01212010.pdf.

5. Women and men continue to work in different occupations.

Education and Health Care Professional Occupations: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S.

Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment and Earnings, February 2010, Table 11, on the

Internet at http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.pdf (visited Nov. 18, 2010). 

Computer and Engineering Occupations: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labo

Statistics. Employment and Earnings, February 2010, Table 11, on the Internet at

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.pdf (visited Nov. 18, 2010). 

Management, Business, and Finance Occupations: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Burea

of Labor Statistics. Employment and Earnings, February 2010, Table 11, on the Internet a

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.pdf (visited Nov. 18, 2010). 

Traditionally Female Occupations: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor

Statistics. Employment and Earnings, February 2010, Table 11, on the Internet at

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.pdf (visited Nov. 18, 2010). 

Chart: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current Population Surv

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat9.pdf.

6. Female-headed families have the lowest family earnings among all family types.

For family types displayed in the chart, please see definitions for People, Families, and Income, Indicato

Trends Over Time: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Populat

Survey, March 1989 and 2009.
outside of the household; and other income received on a regular basis. Also, money

income does not reflect the fact that some families receive part of their income in the for

of noncash benefits, such as food stamps, health benefits, rent-free housing, and goods

produced and consumed on the farm.

7. In families where both husband and wife are employed, employed wives spend more time in

household activities than do employed husbands. 

Definitions: 

Workday: A day on which employed persons spent time working for their main or other

job, whether the persons worked just one minute of a day, 8 hours, or more. Estima

for workdays are averages for workers with many different types of work schedules an

arrangements. They include work that was done on days persons usually work and o

days they usually have off.

Leisure and sports: Time spent in sports, exercise, and recreation; socializing and

communicating; and other leisure activities. Sports, exercise, and recreation activitie

include participating in—as well as attending or watching—sports, exercise, and

recreational activities. Recreational activities are leisure activities that are active in

nature, such as yard games like croquet or horseshoes. Socializing and communicati

includes face-to-face social communication and hosting or attending social functions

Leisure activities include watching television; reading; relaxing or thinking; playing

computer, board, or card games; and other activities, such as attending arts, cultural,

and entertainment events. Travel related to these activities is also included in leisure

and sports.

Household activities: Household activities are those done by persons to maintain their

households. These include housework; cooking; lawn and garden care; pet care; veh

maintenance and repair; home maintenance, repair, decoration, and renovation; and

household management and organizational activities (such as filling out paperwork,

balancing a checkbook, or planning a party); and travel related to household activitie

Caring for household members: Includes activities done to care for or help any child

(under age 18) or adult in the household, regardless of relationship to the respondent 

the physical or mental health status of the person being helped. Activities done to ca

for or help a child include providing physical care, playing with children, reading to

children, assisting with homework, taking care of children’s health needs, and doing

other activities to care for and help household children under 18. Activities done to

care for and help household adults includes a range of activities done to benefit adult

members of households, such as providing physical and medical care, obtaining medi

74
Percent Engaged in Household Activities: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labo

Statistics, American Time Use Survey, www.bls.gov/tus, Unpublished data, 2009.

Single Employed Mothers: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,

American Time Use Survey, www.bls.gov/tus, Unpublished data, 2009.

Chart: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Surv

www.bls.gov/tus. Time use estimates are for married men and for married women age 25-

who are employed, and are for days on which these men and women did some work. Th

annual estimates are an average across all seven days of the week in 2009. 

8. Women are more likely than men to do volunteer work.

Volunteer Activities: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Volunteerin

in the United States—2009, January 2010, Table A and Table 4, on the Internet at

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/volun.pdf (visited November 19, 2010). Volunteers are

persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities at any point from September 1, 2008

through the survey period in September 2009. The count of volunteers only includes

persons who volunteered through or for an organization; the figures do not include perso

who volunteered in a more informal manner.

Chart: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Volunteer Supplement to

the Current Population Survey, 2008 and 2009,

http://www.bls.gov/cps/demographics.htm#volunteer. The reference period for the CPS

volunteer supplement is the year beginning the prior September 1 and ending during the

survey week.

IV. Health

Unless otherwise noted, all estimates that are not age-specific have been adjusted to reflect the overall

age distribution of the population in 2000 to eliminate age-related differences in observed percentage

across groups and over time. Age-adjustment has not been carried out for the cesarean section,

preventive care, usual source of care, and health insurance coverage indicators. For more information 

the method used for age adjustment, see Klein, R.J., Schoenborn, C.A., “Age adjustment using the 20

projected U.S. population” Healthy People Statistical Notes, no. 20. Hyattsville, Maryland: National

Center for Health Statistics. January 2001. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/statnt/statnt20.pdf

In this section, life expectancy data by race include people of Hispanic origin. Persons of Hispanic or

may be of any race.
4 Pleis, J.R., Ward, B.W., Lucas, J.W. Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: National Hea

Interview Survey, 2009. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10(249). 201

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_249.pdf, Table 19. 

5 Unpublished estimates by National Center for Health using National Health Interview Surv

2009 data, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/nhis_2009_data_release.htm, [Accessed August, 2010]

6 National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2009: With Special Feature on

Medical Technology. Hyattsville, Maryland. 2010, pp. 211-213.

7 National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2009: With Special Feature on

Medical Technology. Hyattsville, Maryland. 2010, pp. 217-220.

8 National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2009: With Special Feature on

Medical Technology. Hyattsville, Maryland. 2010, pp. 221-223.

9 World Health Organization. Maternal mortality in 2005: estimates developed by WHO,

UNICEF, UNPHA, and the World Bank. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2007.

10 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services

Administration. Women’s Health USA 2010. Rockville, Maryland: U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services, 2010. p. 20. http://mchb.hrsa.gov/whusa10/hstat/hi/pages/210a.html. 

11 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Health

Data Interactive. http://205.207.175.93/HDI/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=60.

[November 24, 2010].

12 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the 2009 Natio

Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Detailed Tables

http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k9NSDUH/MH/tabs/Sect1peMHtabs.htm#Tab1.1B

[Dec. 16, 2010].

13 Flegal, K.M., Carroll, M.D., Ogden, C.L., Curtin, L.R., “Prevalence and Trends in Obesity

among U.S. Adults, 1999-2008,” Journal of the American Medical Association 303, no. 3

(January 13, 2010) http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/303/3/235.full.pdf+html.

14 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Health

Data Interactive. http://205.207.175.93/HDI/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=75.

[November 24, 2010].

15 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Health

Data Interactive. http://205.207.175.93/HDI/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=61.

[November 24, 2010].

76
December 16, 2010]. 

19 McWilliams, J.M., Health consequences of uninsurance among adults in the United States

recent evidence and implications. The Milbank Quarterly. 2009;87:443-94.

20 Unpublished estimates by NCHS using National Health Interview Survey 2009 data,

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/nhis_2009_data_release.htm, [Accessed August, 2010].

21 Barnes, P.M., Heyman K.M., Freeman, G., Schiller, J.S., Early release of selected estimates

based on data from the 2009 National Health Interview Survey. Hyattsville, Md.: National

Center for Health Statistics. June 2010.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/201006_02.pdf. 

22 Buie, V.C., Owings, M.F., DeFrances, C.J., Golosinskiy, A., National Hospital Discharge

Survey: 2006 summary. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 13(168). 201

p. 23. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_13/sr13_168.pdf. 

23 Hsiao, C.J., Cherry, D.K., Beatty, P.C., Rechtsteiner, E.A., National Ambulatory Medical C

Survey: 2007 summary. National Health Statistics Reports; no 27. Hyattsville, Md.: National

Center for Health Statistics. 2010. p. 13. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr027.pdf. 

24 Martin, J.A., Hamilton, B.E., Sutton, P.D., et al. Births: Final data for 2007. National Vita

Statistics Reports; vol 58 no 24. Hyattsville, Md.: National Center for Health Statistics. 2010.

p. 60. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_24.pdf.

25 Martin, J.A., Hamilton, B.E., Sutton, P.D., et al. Births: Final data for 2008. National Vita

Statistics Reports; vol 59 no 1. Hyattsville, Md.: National Center for Health Statistics. 2010.

Internet table I-7. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr59/nvsr59_01_tables.pdf. 

26 Hall, M.J., DeFrances, C.J., Williams, S.N., Golosinskiy, A., Schwartzman, A., National

Hospital Discharge Survey: 2007 summary. National health statistics reports; no 29. Hyattsvi

Md.: National Center for Health Statistics. 2010. p. 12.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr029.pdf. 

27 Unpublished estimates by National Center for Health using National Health Interview Sur

2008 data, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/nhis_2008_data_release.htm, [Accessed December, 201

28 National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2010: with Special Feature on

Death and Dying. Hyattsville, Md. (forthcoming). Table 86.

29 National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2010: with Special Feature on

Death and Dying. Hyattsville, Md. (forthcoming). Table 87.

30 CDC. HIV/AIDS and Women. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/index.htm

[December, 2010].
20052008 data, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes_questionnaires.htm,

[Accessed August, 2010].

35 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Health

Data Interactive. http://205.207.175.93/HDI/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=106.

[November 24, 2010].

1. Women have longer life expectancy than men, but the gap is decreasing.

Race: Xu, .JQ., Kochanek, K.D., Murphy, S.L., Tejada-Vera, B., Deaths: Final data for 2007

National Vital Statistics Reports; 58(19). Hyattsville, Md.: National Center for Health

Statistics. 2010, p. 27. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_19.pdf. 

The data for Whites and Blacks include people of Hispanic origin. 

Chart: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics: National Vital Statistics System. Xu, J

Kochanek, K.D., Murphy, S.L., Tejada-Vera, B., Deaths: Final data for 2007. National Vi

Statistics Reports; 58(19). Hyattsville, Md.: National Center for Health Statistics. 2010.

p. 27. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_19.pdf.

2. Women are almost 40 percent more likely than men to report difficulty walking.

Difficulty walking is defined as having any difficulty walking three blocks or a quarter of a m

Education: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control a

Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey.

Previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). Estimates are age-adjusted to the 20

standard population using five age groups: 18–44 years, 45–54 years, 55–64 years, 65–74

years, and 75 years and over. 

Race/Ethnicity: U.S. Department. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Cont

and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey.

Previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). Estimates are age-adjusted to the 200

standard population using five age groups: 18–44 years, 45–54 years, 55–64 years, 65–74

years, and 75 years and over

Chart: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey.

Previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). Estimate for “All” ages are age-adjus

to the 2000 standard population using five age groups: 18–44 years, 45–54 years, 55–64

years, 65–74 years, and 75 years and over.

78
Race/Ethnicity and Education: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Centers f

Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics: National Health

Interview Survey. Previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). Estimates are ageadjusted to the standard 2000 population using five age groups: 18–44 years, 45–54 year

55–64 years, 65–74 years, and 75 years and over.

Chart: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey.

Previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). Estimates are age-adjusted to the

standard 2000 population using five age groups: 18–44 years, 45–54 years, 55–64 years,

65–74 years, and 75 years and over.

4. Females age 12 and older are more likely than males to report experiencing depression. 

Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a nine-item

screening instrument that asks questions about the frequency of symptoms of depression over

the past 2 weeks. Depression was defined as a PHQ-9 score of 10 or higher, a cut point that 

been well validated and is commonly used in clinical studies that measure depression (see

Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW, “The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity

measure,” Journal of General Internal Medicine 16:606-13. 2001. 

Poverty: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics: National Health and Nutrition

Examination Survey. Previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). Estimates are ag

adjusted to the standard 2000 population using four age groups: 12–19, 20–39 years, 40

years, and 60 years and over.

Race: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics: National Health and Nutrition

Examination Survey. Previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). Estimates are ag

adjusted to the standard 2000 population using four age groups: 12–19, 20–39 years, 40

years, and 60 years and over.

Mental Health Professional Contact: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics: Natio

Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Previously unpublished tabulations (August

2010). Estimates are age-adjusted to the standard 2000 population using four age groups

12–19, 20–39 years, 40–59 years, and 60 years and over.

Chart: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics: National Health and Nutrition

Examination Survey. Previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010).
height in meters squared. Adults (over age 20) are considered “obese” if BMI is equal to or

greater than 30.0 and “severely obese” if BMI is greater than or equal to 40.0. See “NCHS

Data on Obesity,” http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/factsheets/factsheet_obesity.pdf for further detail

and references. 

Obesity in women over time: Flegal, Carroll, Ogden, and Curtin, “Prevalence and Trends in

Obesity.”

Severe Obesity: Flegal, Carroll, Ogden, and Curtin, “Prevalence and Trends in Obesity.”

Age: Flegal, Carroll, Ogden, and Curtin, “Prevalence and Trends in Obesity.” Estimates are n

age adjusted.

Chart: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Preventi

National Center for Health Statistics: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surve

Flegal, Carroll, Ogden, and Curtin, “Prevalence and Trends in Obesity.”

6. Less than half of all women meet the Federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic activity.

Estimates are based on the current Federal guidelines that recommend adults perform at least

150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes (1 hour a

15 minutes) a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or an equivalent combination of

moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity. Estimates are for all adults 18 years and older, exce

the estimates by educational attainment that are for adults 25 and older to allow for higher

educational attainment. 

GED: General educational development high school equivalency diploma. 

Age: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey.

National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2010: with Special Feature on

Death and Dying. Hyattsville, Md. (forthcoming). Table 70.

Trend over time: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics: National Health Interview

Survey. National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2010: with Special

Feature on Death and Dying. Hyattsville, Md. (forthcoming). Table 70. Estimates are age

adjusted to the 2000 standard population using five age groups: 18–44 years, 45–54 year

55–64 years, 65–74 years, and 75 years and over.

80
Statistics. 2010. pp. 18-19. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr59/nvsr59_01.pdf.

Maternal Race/Ethnicity: Martin, J.A., Hamilton, B.E., Sutton, P.D., et al. Births: Final dat

for 2008. National Vital Statistics Reports; 59(1). Hyattsville, Md.: National Center for

Health Statistics. 2010. p. 19. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr59/nvsr59_01.pdf.

Chart: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics: National Vital Statistics System. Martin

JA, Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, et al. Births: Final data for 2007. National Vital Statistics

Reports; 58(24). Hyattsville, Md.: National Center for Health Statistics. 2010. p. 60

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_24.pdf and Martin, J.A., Hamilton, B.E.

Sutton, P.D., et al. Births: Final data for 2008. National Vital Statistics Reports; 59(1).

Hyattsville, Md.: National Center for Health Statistics. 2010. Internet table I-7.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr59/nvsr59_01_tables.pdf. 

8. Many women do not receive specific recommended preventive care.

Definitions: 

Pap smears: 2008 data, test received in the last 3 years, women age 18 and older; 

Mammography: 2008 data, tested in the last 2 years, women age 50 and older; 

Sigmoidoscopy: 2008 data, ever screened by sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or proctoscopy

persons age 50 and older; 

Pneumococcal vaccination: 2009 data, immunization ever received, persons age 65 and

older; 

Influenza vaccination: 2009 data, immunization received in the last 12 months, persons

age 50 and older; Cholesterol screening: 2008 data, screened in the last 5 years, perso

age 18 and older.

Estimates are not age adjusted.

Chart: 

Pap smear screening and mammography: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human

Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health

Statistics: National Health Interview Survey. National Center for Health Statistics.

Health, United States, 2010: with Special Feature on Death and Dying. Hyattsville,

Md. (forthcoming). 

Sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy and cholesterol screening: DATA2010, objectives 3-12b 

12-15, previously unreleased estimates (June 2010); 
with only Indian Health Service coverage are considered to have no health insurance coverage

Data prior to 1997 are not strictly comparable with data for later years due to the 1997

questionnaire redesign. For more information, see. Centers for Disease Control and Preventio

National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey. Health, United State

2090: with Special Feature on Medical Technology. Appendix II. Hyattsville, Md., 2010, p. 5

Beginning in quarter 3 of the 2004 NHIS, persons under 65 years with no reported coverage

were asked explicitly about Medicaid coverage. 

Estimates are not age adjusted.

Bullets and Chart: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics: National Health Interview

Survey, 1984-2009, previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). 

10. One out of seven women age 18–64 has no usual source of health care.

Starting in 1997, “usual source of care” was measured in the National Health Interview Surve

(NHIS) by asking the respondent ‘‘Is there a place that [person] usually goes when he/she is s

or you need advice about [his/her] health?’’ Persons who report the emergency department as

their usual source of care are defined as having no usual source of care. For more information

see National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2009,With Special Feature on

Medical Technology. 2010. Appendix II, p. 548.

Estimates are not age-adjusted.

Bullets and Chart: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview

Survey, 2009, previously unpublished tabulations (August 2010). 

V. Crime and Violence

In this section, unless otherwise noted, data by race include people of Hispanic origin. Persons of

Hispanic origin may be of any race. 

For questions regarding unpublished estimates, contact the Bureau of Justice Statistics at

askbjs@usdoj.gov.

Introduction

1 U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Criminal Victimization, 2009,

http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv09.pdf

2 Previously unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using National Crime

Victimization Survey data.

82
National Crime Victimization Survey, 2008, performed June 2010. 

Reporting to Police: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using National

Crime Victimization Survey, 2008, performed June 2010.

Chart: National Crime Victimization Survey. Violent crime includes rape, sexual assault,

robbery, aggravated and simple assault. Changes to the NCVS and their impact upon the

survey’s estimates in 2006 are discussed in the Criminal Victimization, 2006 Technical

Notes. All data are based on collection year and include series crimes and may differ sligh

from previously published estimates for this reason.

2. Homicides of females declined between 1993 and 2008. 

Age: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using Federal Bureau of Investigat

Uniform Crime Reports, 2008, performed June 2010.

Number of Victims: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using Federal Bur

of Investigation Uniform Crime Reports, 2008, performed June 2010.

Race/Ethnicity: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using Federal Bureau 

Investigation Uniform Crime Reports, 1993-2008, performed June 2010.

Females as Share of Homicides by Intimate Partners: Catalano, S., Smith, E., Snyder, H.,

and Rand, M. Female Victims of Violence. Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice

Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. September 2009. NCJ 228356.

Chart: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using Federal Bureau of

Investigation Uniform Crime Reports, 1980-2008, performed June 2010.

3. Nonfatal attacks on women by intimate partners declined between 1994 and 2008. 

Race/Ethnicity: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using National Crime

Victimization Survey, 2008, performed June 2010.

Age: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using National Crime Victimizatio

Survey, 2003-2008 (data for 2006 are excluded), performed June 2010.

Chart: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using National Crime

Victimization Survey data. Data for 2006 are excluded. Changes to the NCVS and their

impact upon the survey’s estimates in 2006 are discussed in the Criminal Victimization,

2006 Technical Notes. All data are based on collection year and include series crimes and

may differ slightly from previously published estimates for this reason.
Relationship between Victim and Offender: Rand, Michael. Criminal Victimization, 2008.

Bureau of Justice Statistics. U.S. Department of Justice. NCJ 227777. September 2009.

Table 6.

Chart: National Crime Victimization Survey. Note: Includes both attempted and completed

rapes. Data for 2006 are excluded. Changes to the NCVS and their impact upon the

survey’s estimates in 2006 are discussed in the Criminal Victimization, 2006 Technical

Notes. All data are based on collection year and include series crimes and may differ sligh

from previously published estimates for this reason.

5. Women are at greater risk than men for stalking victimization.

Bullets and Chart: Baum, K., Catalano, S., Rand, M., and Rose, K., Stalking Victimization i

the United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Office of Justice Programs. U.S. Departmen

of Justice. January 2009. NCJ 224527. 

6. Females account for a small but growing share of persons arrested for violent crimes other

than homicide.

Property Crimes: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using Federal Bureau 

Investigation Uniform Crime Reports, 1990-2008, performed June 2010.

Age: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using Federal Bureau of Investigat

Uniform Crime Reports, 2008, performed June 2010.

Drug Abuse Violations: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using Federal

Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reports, 2008, performed June 2010.

Chart: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using Federal Bureau of

Investigation Uniform Crime Reports, 1985-2008, performed June 2010.

7. Females are convicted more frequently for property crimes than for violent crimes.

Property crime comprises larceny (including shoplifting), burglary, and fraud/forgery.

Women’s Share of Persons Convicted: Property Crimes: Unpublished estimates by Bureau 

Justice Statistics using data from National Judicial Reporting Program, 2006, performed

June 2010.

Race/Ethnicity: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using data from Natio

Judicial Reporting Program, 2006, performed June 2010.

Chart: Unpublished estimates by Bureau of Justice Statistics using data from National Judici

Reporting Program, 2006, performed June 2010.

84
Difference in Sentencing: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Felony

Sentences in State Courts, 2006 - Statistical Tables.

http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=2152. 

Race/Ethnicity: The source of data regarding imprisonment rates is the National Prisoner

Statistics data collection. The most recent report for the time period covered in this chart 

Prisoners in 2008 (NCJ 228417), available at http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/p08.pd

The source of data regarding cumulative imprisonment rates to age 30 is Prevalence of

Imprisonment in the U.S. Population, 1974-2001 (NCJ 197976), available at

http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/piusp01.pdf

The imprisonment data for Whites and Blacks do not include people of Hispanic origin. 

Chart: Note: Imprisonment rate is defined as the number of inmates sentenced to more than

1 year under the jurisdiction of state or Federal correctional authorities per 1,000 U.S.

residents. The source of all data is the National Prisoner Statistics data collection. The

most recent report for the time period covered in this chart is Prisoners in 2008

(NCJ 228417), available at http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/p08.pdf.
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