Women's Rights Landscape

As of September — Women’s health policy remains deeply divided across the country. States continue moving in different directions on abortion, contraception, maternal care, and other reproductive health services, while federal Medicaid cuts and other changes to the program are expected to reduce federal funding and access. At the same time, a new March of Dimes report finds persistent gaps in maternity care, with one in three U.S. counties lacking obstetric clinicians or birthing facilities and continued closures of hospital labor and delivery units.

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As of September — Policies involving gender identity and biological sex continue to change across the United States, particularly in healthcare, education, athletics, and identity documents. States are also expanding some protections for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, while the Justice Department continues to fund federal violence-prevention and survivor programs. At the same time, new federal grant conditions affecting some Violence Against Women Act programs remain tied up in court, creating uncertainty for organizations that receive federal funding.

Related posts: Violence & Safety

As of September — Workplace protections for women continue to vary widely by state. Federal law prohibits sex and pregnancy discrimination, while the EEOC is increasing scrutiny of DEI programs that use sex or other protected characteristics in hiring, promotion, training, and other employment decisions. At the same time, states continue expanding paid leave, pay transparency, and other workplace protections, while the United States still has no federal guarantee of paid family and medical leave.

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As of September — Education policies affecting girls and women continue to vary widely across the country. The Supreme Court ruled that Title IX does not prevent states from limiting girls’ and women’s sports teams based on biological sex, while the Department of Education continues investigating schools over athletics, facilities, and parental access to student information. States are also considering hundreds of bills involving sex education, including what students learn about contraception, consent, sexual assault prevention, and menstrual health.

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As of September — Voting rules continue to change ahead of the 2026 elections. Several states have added proof-of-citizenship, voter ID, and other requirements, while others have expanded early voting and strengthened state voting-rights protections. The federal government has also sought access to state voter data and changes to mail-voting procedures, although courts have blocked several of those efforts. These changes mean voter registration requirements and access to the ballot increasingly depend on where a voter lives.

Related posts: Voting & Civic Participation