LANSING, Mich. - Despite laws and lawsuits, rallies and protests, Michigan women still earn just 74 cents for every dollar their male counterparts bring in, and today symbolically marks the 15-months-plus that women have had to work in 2013 and 2014 just to catch up to what men earned in 2013.

According to Mary Pollock, the legislative vice president of the National Organization for Women Michigan, the pay gap narrowed for several years following the passage of the Federal Equal Pay Act in 1963, but has since stalled.

"It is a value system that is at work in the United States, where the work that women do is not valued as highly as other work that is done predominately by men," Pollock declared.

Four bills are currently pending in the Michigan legislature which would address the state's pay equity gap, which Pollock characterized as among the worst in the nation. Those measures would strengthen the Michigan Civil Rights Act, increase penalties for sex-based wage discrimination, set up a pay equity study commission, and give workers more information going into salary negotiations.

Studies show that when women leave college, they lag behind men in pay on their very first jobs. Pollock said that, in addition to more transparency about pay ranges and workplace mentors who can help women with negotiation strategies, there is much work to be done on the front end.

"Counselors in high schools need to set the same standards for girls and boys in terms of their career aspirations and encourage both girls and boys to be the best they can be in whatever occupation," she said.

In recognition of Equal Pay Day, several organizations including Michigan NOW will rally at the state capitol on April 29, when the legislature is back in session. More information is on the Michigan NOW website.





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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - and experts say in recent years, they've seen a rise in diagnoses among women younger than age 40, as well as Asian American women.

Patients should discuss their risk factors, such as family medical history, breast density, age and lifestyle with a doctor. Dr. Tran Ho, a breast surgical oncologist at El Camino Health in Mountain View, sees the issue firsthand.

"If we're thinking about early-stage breast cancers, for example, if it is caught at a very early stage, the five-year survival rates are near 99% for these women, and so patients do enormously well if we can catch these cancers early," she explained.

According to the California Cancer Registry, 25,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, making it the second most common type of cancer among women in the Golden State.

Ho said certain aggressive types of breast cancer are seen in women age 40 and younger - but they respond well with early detection.

"Triple-negative breast cancers or HER-2 positive breast cancers are very treatable. It's just that these types of cancers can grow at a quicker rate, and so they're more likely to recur," she continued.

The good news is that survival rates are improving; surgeries are becoming less invasive, and radiation is now more targeted, which reduces long-term side effects.

A new report sheds light on the state of women's health in Ohio, with growing concerns about maternal care and postpartum mental health.

As September is one of the peak months for births, many new mothers face challenges such as postpartum depression.

Jennifer Winston, health data scientist for U.S. News and World Report, shared insights from the March of Dimes' latest report on maternity care deserts.

"Half of U.S. counties don't have hospitals providing obstetric care and a third don't have a single obstetric clinician," Winston pointed out. "Postpartum depression is a really important part of maternal health care. These closures put a lot of pressure on hospitals, especially in rural areas."

Winston's findings underscored concerns the lack of access to maternal health care services directly affects mental health, particularly for women in rural communities. The gap in care can intensify feelings of isolation and make it harder for new mothers to seek timely help during and after pregnancy.

Experts continue to emphasize the importance of early intervention and comprehensive support for women experiencing postpartum depression.

Dr. Donna O'Shea, OB/GYN and chief medical officer for population health at UnitedHealthcare, stressed the value of both medical and emotional support, encouraging new mothers to reach out if they notice signs of postpartum depression, such as overwhelming sadness, fatigue or feelings of disconnection.

"One in five women experience pregnancy-related mental health conditions," O'Shea noted. "Of women who have postpartum depression, 20% will face suicidal thoughts and even attempt self-harm."

While awareness of postpartum depression continues to grow, O'Shea emphasized improving access to mental health and obstetric care remains a priority. For Ohio mothers, especially those in rural or underserved areas, she said bridging these gaps will be crucial to ensuring their well-being during the postpartum period.

Oregon is in the upper echelon when it comes to the number of women in higher office.

Four of the five statewide elected positions in the state are held by women, including Tina Kotek in the governor's office. It is a rare achievement.

Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics, said the national average for women in statewide elected offices is about one in three. However, the number of women in the top positions in Oregon is guaranteed to go down in November, with men running for two of the five offices. Walsh acknowledged it is the nature of politics.

"No state can just say, 'Well, we fixed the problem of women's underrepresentation in politics. We don't need to do the work of recruiting and supporting women to run.'" Walsh stressed. "That work is ongoing."

Men will be facing off in Oregon's Secretary of State and Attorney General races in November. But Walsh noted the state has set a high bar elsewhere too. Women hold half of its Congressional seats and women are in a little more than 40% of the seats in the state legislature.

Walsh pointed out women face a number of barriers to office. While they raise comparable amounts of money to men running in comparable races, they are less likely to self-fund their campaigns. She explained women are more dependent on small donors, which can be good because it means more people are investing in the campaign.

"The flip side of that is that the amount of time and energy and work that it takes to raise $1,000 is just exponentially higher and harder for a candidate who is more dependent on those low level dollars or those low dollar donations," Walsh stressed.

Women running for office has become a big storyline this year with Vice President Kamala Harris' run for president. Walsh noted if she wins, it will be a big breakthrough for women, especially women of color.

"The only downside to seeing a woman elected at the very top is that people then think that the problem is solved because we've elected a woman President of the United States," Walsh added. "Complacency will not get us to gender equity across levels of office."


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