Jackson Free Press

Today, National Women's Equality Day commemorates the 89th anniversary of women's suffrage, the day that women gained the right to vote in the U.S. While women have reached several milestones since then, research shows that there is still much progress to be made.

The National Women's Law Center reports that in Mississippi women are paid 73 cents for every dollar paid to men. This falls 5 percent below the national average of 78 cents paid to women for every dollar men earn.

The Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women finds that the Magnolia State ranks near the bottom for women elected to office compared to other states in the nation. Currently, Mississippi is one of only two states that have never elected a woman either as governor or as a member of Congress, states a report issued this month.

The report also shows that the average support payment per child is less than $600 a year. The state's current child-support formula is based on a fixed formula that does not include expenses for child-care or health-care expenditures.

Dr. Marianne Hill, senior economist at the Mississippi Institute for Higher Learning, is a member of the commission. Hill points out that high child-care costs coupled with low child-support payments and wages are just a few of the issues the commission is working to improve.

The Mississippi Legislature created the commission in 2001 as part of a nonpartisan effort comprised of 13 appointed members. The commission was designed to assess and influence policies that affect women.

"The average child-support payment is less than $100 per month," Hill told the Jackson Free Press. "In addition to that, there is no adjustment for inflation. That means the same amount will be paid each month from the time the child is one to 16—unless the mother goes to court."

The commission's report includes findings from a survey of state agencies. The survey collected data from state agencies including the Department of Health and the attorney general's office. The report recommends that the Department of Health place more focus on education for reproductive health and violence against women, and praises the attorney general's office for recent efforts to combat domestic violence through the creation of the Domestic Violence Unit.

Currently, the commission is planning a series of legal seminars this fall to address issues facing women. The commission has also circulated a paper on child support issues in an effort to gain support and feedback for legislation that would provide annual adjustments for inflation for child support payments.