Virginia 26th

  • Ranking: 26 / 51
  • Index Score: 0.485 / 1.0
  • Strength: College completion
  • Weakness: Reproductive health care access
Richmond, Virginia skyline

Inclusion

In 7 states, fewer than 20% of state legislators are women. We measure women's inclusion in the economic, social, and political spheres of American life. The US Index tracks women's college completion, representation in state legislatures, their employment and whether they earn a living wage.

Inclusion: Virginia vs the US Average

skip to accessible chart data
  • Virginia
  • US Average
Full-Time EmploymentWorking but PoorRepresentation in StateLegislatureCollege CompletionIndicators0102030405060708090100Percentage
Graph Description
Percentages of women’s inclusion indicators compared between the state and US averages.
RegionFull-Time EmploymentWorking but PoorRepresentation in State LegislatureCollege Completion
US Average42.5%5.6%29.5%33.0%
Virginia45.8%4.6%26.4%39.8%
  • The US Index captures the percentage of women ages 16 and older who are employed in full-time work (35+ hours per week). Source: Integrated Public Use Microdata Series USA 2020.

    Full-time Employment

    45.8% Virginia 42.5% US Average
  • Earning below a living wage is a major obstacle to the prospects of millions of Americans and their families. The US Index tracks the percentage in poverty among women who worked 27 weeks or more in the past 12 months. Source: Integrated Public Use Microdata Series USA 2020.

    Working But Poor

    4.6% Virginia 5.6% US Average
  • Political representation is key to inclusion and ensuring that women’s needs are heard and met. The US Index captures the percentage of seats held by women in both chambers of the state legislature. Source: CAWP 2020

    Representation in State Legislature

    26.4% Virginia 29.5% US Average
  • Higher education is a gateway to economic opportunities and independence. The US Index tracks the percentage of women ages 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree. Source: Integrated Public Use Microdata Series USA 2020.

    College Completion

    39.8% Virginia 33.0% US Average

Justice

In 37 States, domestic abusers subject to protective orders are not required to relinquish firearms. To capture the extent of justice for women, the US Index tracks seven key legal protections for women, discriminatory attitudes, as well as maternal mortality and access to reproductive health care.

Justice: Virginia vs the US Average

skip to accessible chart data
  • Virginia
  • US Average
Access to ReproductiveHealth CareSeven Key LegalProtections for WomenDiscriminatoryAttitudesIndicators0102030405060708090100Percentage
Maternal MortalityIndicators05101520253035Maternal Mortality Per 100,000 Live Births
Graph Description
Percentages of women’s justice indicators compared between the state and US averages.
RegionAccess to Reproductive Health CareSeven Key Legal Protections for WomenDiscriminatory Attitudes
US Average62.0%39.9%28.4%
Virginia20.0%28.6%31.2%
Differences in Maternal Mortality rates per 100,000 live births compared between the state and US averages.
RegionMaternal Mortality
US Average29.7
Virginia29.5
  • Proximity to clinics providing abortion services enables women to exercise their right to choose. The US Index captures the percentage of women ages 15–44 living in a county with a clinic that provides abortion services. Source: Guttmacher Institute 2017

    Access to Reproductive Health Care

    20.0% Virginia 62.0% US Average
  • Key laws are needed to realize protection from violence, economic opportunities, and reproductive healthcare access. The US Index includes a summary score based on whether state law provides seven key legal protections. Sources: Guttmacher Institute 2020, Alice Paul Institute 2018, Economic Policy Institute 2020, A Better Balance 2020, Legal Momentum 2014, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Farkas et al. 2019

    Seven Key Legal Protections for Women

    28.6% Virginia 39.9% US Average
  • Gender discrimination is often manifested in lack of male support for women engaging equally in economic opportunities and work outside the home. The US Index tracks the percentage of men ages 18 and older who agree with the statement: “It is much better for everyone involved if the man is the achiever outside the home and the woman takes care of the home and family." Source: National Opinion Research Center 2018

    Discriminatory Attitudes

    31.2% Virginia 28.4% US Average
  • Maternal mortality is a key indicator of women’s access to healthcare. The US Index captures the number of deaths from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy per 100,000 live births. Source: America's Health Rankings 2017

    Maternal Mortality

    29.5 Virginia 29.7 US Average

Security

In 17 States, fewer than half of women feel safe walking alone at night within a mile of their neighborhood. We measure women's safety and freedom from violence at the household, community, and societal levels. The US Index captures intimate partner violence, health care affordability, women's safety walking alone at night, and gun-related deaths.

Security: Virginia vs the US Average

skip to accessible chart data
  • Virginia
  • US Average
Experienced IntimatePartner ViolenceHealth CareAffordabilitySafety Walking Alone inNeighborhood at NightIndicators0102030405060708090100Percentage
Gun-related Deaths0.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.54.04.5Gun Deaths per 100,000
Graph Description
Percentages of women’s security indicators compared between the state and US averages.
RegionExperienced Intimate Partner ViolenceHealth Care AffordabilitySafety Walking Alone in Neighborhood at Night
US Average6.9%85.9%56.1%
Virginia5.6%86.0%62.9%
Differences in Gun-Related Deaths per 100,000 gun deaths compared between the state and US averages.
RegionGun-related Deaths
US Average3.3
Virginia3.8
  • Eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls is a prerequisite of women’s health, safety, and freedom. The US Index tracks the percentage of women who have experienced physical or sexual violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the previous 12 months. Source: Centers for Disease Control 2017

    Experienced Intimate Partner Violence

    5.6% Virginia 6.9% US Average
  • High costs obstruct access to critical healthcare services for many Americans. The US Index tracks the percentage of women who reported being able to see a doctor in the past 12 months without financial constraint. Source: KFF 2018c

    Health Care Affordability

    86.0% Virginia 85.9% US Average
  • Security and safety in the community affect women’s mobility and opportunities outside the home. Our Index captures the percentage of women ages 18 and older who are not afraid to walk alone at night within a mile of their neighborhood. Source: National Opinion Research Center 2018

    Safety Walking Alone in Neighborhood at Night

    62.9% Virginia 56.1% US Average
  • Living free of the risk of gun violence is essential to individual and community well-being. The US Index captures the number of women who died from gun-related homicides or suicides in the past year per 100,000 women. Source: Centers for Disease Control 2018

    Gun-related Deaths

    3.8 Virginia 3.3 US Average
Share on social media

Download the Report

Learn more about women's rights and opportunities in your state.

Download US Index

Woman sitting at a desk looking at her computer.

Take Action

Contact your elected representative to demand action, and support these non-profits working to improve women's rights and opportunities.

Act Now