Our editorial approach

At Women's Rights Data Initiative (WRDI), accuracy and clarity come first. Every post is based on publicly available information from credible, verifiable sources — including legislation, court filings, government reports, and independent news sources.

We rely on a mix of primary sources (such as official documents) and reputable secondary reporting (such as AP and Reuters). When advocacy or academic organizations are used, they’re cited and balanced with additional verification whenever possible.

Each post is reviewed for:

• Source quality and diversity — facts must be confirmed by at least one primary or reputable secondary source.
• Neutral tone — WRDI avoids editorializing and emotional language.
• Timeliness — every post includes a date stamp to reflect when the information was last verified.

“Why It Matters” sections highlight context and potential implications. They reflect the best available interpretation of the evidence — often supported by expert or institutional perspectives.

Dashboards & Maps

WRDI uses a standardized rating system to track how women’s rights are protected across U.S. states. Ratings are based on the current legal and legislative landscape, drawing from government and expert data, media outlets, and reputable analysis and reporting. We update ratings as laws and conditions change, which will correlate with state summary publishing dates.

Dashboards

For our state and rights category dashboards, we use status ratings to describe current conditions, based on current law and policy:

• Protected – Legal protections are in place, and access is generally available, though enforcement or coverage may vary.
• Limited – Protections are partial, uneven, or narrowly defined, resulting in inconsistent access or coverage.
• Restricted – Laws or policies significantly limit access to rights or impose substantial barriers.

Trend indicators show the direction and intensity of change impacting rights:

• Expanding – Protections or access are strengthening through new laws, court rulings, funding, or enforcement.
• Stable – No major recent changes; conditions remain largely the same.
• At Risk – Credible threats exist that could weaken protections, such as proposed legislation, court challenges, or policy shifts.
• Under Siege – Active and immediate efforts are underway to roll back or dismantle existing rights. Even where protections currently exist, conditions are unstable and rapidly deteriorating.

USA Map

The map provides a directional snapshot of women’s rights nationwide. All 50 states are color-coded based on an assessment of current laws and policies.

• Green – Protective or Most Protective
• Yellow – Limited
• Red – Restrictive or Most Restrictive

Some states have full WRDI profiles with documented sources and analysis. Their color-coded ratings reflect this reporting. Other states are still in progress. They display preliminary ratings that reflect a composite analysis of several sources. Their ratings are updated as needed once their WRDI profiles are complete.

Corrections & Updates

WRDI strives to ensure every post reflects accurate, up-to-date information. If you notice an error or omission, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@womensrightsdata.org.

Information on this site represents the best available data as of a post's publication date and is provided for informational purposes only. It should not be interpreted as legal advice or professional counsel.