Utahns looking to address barriers for women and girls in the state

SALT LAKE CITY — Utahns are looking for ways to help girls and women be more successful in the state. 

The Utah Women and Leadership Project led focus groups all across the state, discussing barriers girls and women face and ways local leaders could help them. The groups talked about topics ranging from affordable childcare, education, culture and, mental health.

The project’s founding Director, Dr. Susan Madsen, said they spent two hours with each focus group and one issue rose to the top.

“People are just struggling, no matter what county they are in, with options for affordable, quality, accessible child care.”

Madsen said some counties are encouraging people to start child care businesses, but it’s hard to make money in the industry. She said the government needs to get involved to support quality and affordable options. 

Madsen said mental health was also discussed in nearly every county.

“We do also have high violence rates. We’re seventh worst in sexual assault and rape,” Madsen explained. “One in seven kids will be sexually abused here in the state of Utah. All of those elements play and impact negatively mental health.”

She said many leaders at the meetings pushed for more access to mental health care, especially in rural areas.

The UWLP published its findings from the focus groups online.

Related: New research shows gender pay gap slowly shrinking in US, what about Utah?