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SALT LAKE CITY — A new Wall Street 24/7 study ranks Utah the "worst" when it comes to women earning money for work and holding positions of leadership.

The study analyzed Census Bureau numbers, looking at women’s wages, poverty rate and holding leadership positions in state government, compared to men.

Susan Madsen, director of the Women and Leadership Project at Utah Valley University, has been researching women’s leadership roles in Utah. She said she’s not surprised by the results but also offered some theories, based on her research, that could help explain why Utah ranked worst in the study.

“We have in Utah a very high percentage, compared to other states, of women working part-time,” said Madsen. “So if you compare part-time wages, they’re just much lower than full-time wages.”

Madsen said Utah has a unique religious culture that encourages women to be stay-at-home mothers. She said many Utah mothers, including herself at one point, choose to work part-time “and take some of those lower wages for flexibility” with family responsibilities.

Madsen’s research also shows fewer Utah women than men graduate from college.

“We in Utah have the widest gap in the nation, which is about 6 percent, between men and women who have bachelor’s degrees,” said Madsen. “And of course the more education you have, the higher salary you have.”

I wanted to be an example. I have five nieces. I want them to know that they can rule the world and that there are possibilities out there that are completely endless. –Mary Bohnet, Utah Valley University student.

When it comes to career paths, Madsen said Utah women, more than women in the rest of the country, tend to choose traditionally lower paying careers, such as education and social work.

“When in reality, computer science is a great place for women right now,” said Madsen. “And business, IT, STEM, sciences — those have higher salaries overall.”

Madsen said ultimately Utah women tend not to participate in the community where there are opportunities to take on leadership roles, nor do they participate in local politics.

But Madsen is working to change the culture and perception of Utah women through education and participation at places like the Women’s Success Center at Utah Valley University.

The women there feel empowered.

“I wanted to be an example. I have five nieces,” said Mary Bohnet, Utah Valley University student. “I want them to know that they can rule the world and that there are possibilities out there that are completely endless.”

Renee Jardine is a single mom who’s working to complete her bachelor’s degree at Utah Valley University.

“I want to be able to support my family and be there for them,” said Jardine. Taking a page from Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Jardine said, “We have to ‘lean in.’ Just because we are business women in a man’s world, we can put our opinions in because we are smart.”

The women agreed that ultimately, changing Utah’s worst ranking will depend on women participating more in the community, civic responsibilities and political activities.

“I think more of us just need to get out there and prove that there is a possibility for us to get out there, said Heidi Shimmin, Utah Valley University student. “I think sometimes we hide behind the fact that we have a family and think (we) can't do anything.”

Overall, the women said, the key to success for Utah women will be education.

“We have very low graduation rates here at Utah Valley University, some of the worst in the nation,” said Anne Wairepo, senior director of the Women’s Success Center at Utah Valley University. “And if we don't change that, then we're never going to have women in a place where they can move forward and take the roles that they should.”

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