Women have always been socially disadvantaged compared to men – with lower representation in politics despite higher turnout rates, lower salaries in the same fields, sole burden of childbearing, and the lion’s share of child-raising. The Women’s Fund of Rhode Island has created an interactive database comparing women’s well-being to men and among men and among women of different races, classes, sexual orientations and abilities.
8.5¢ – the “gender gap” between the median earnings by a working woman in RI for every dollar earned by their male counterpart
23.9¢ – the RI gender pay gap in 2001
4,512 – number of women in Providence who work in education, legal services, the arts, or media
$58,913 – median annual earnings of Providence women in these fields
$53,714 – median annual earnings of Providence men in these fields
2,317 – number of women in Providence who work as healthcare practitioners
$79,536 – median annual earnings of Providence women in this field
$106,310 – median annual earnings of Providence men in these fields
1,292 – number of Providence women working computing, engineering and science
$62,437 – median annual earnings of Providence women in these fields
$94,519 – median annual earnings of Providence men in these fields
38 – total number of state legislators representing Providence in the General Assembly.
15 – number of women in the Providence delegation (39%)
23 – number of men in the Providence delegation (61%)
$8,371 – annual difference in median annual earnings between a Providence woman with a high school degree and one without. ($36,556 versus $27,825)
2,760 – number of abortions obtained in Rhode Island in 2021 (before Roe v. Wade was overturned)
2,960 – number of abortions obtained in Rhode Island in 2023 (first full year after Roe v. Wade was overturned)
54 % of RI 2022 voters who are female
46 % who are male
8 –Providence City Council members who are women (53% versus just 31% statewide)
7 – Members who are male (47% versus 69% statewide)
3 – Providence School Board members who are women (33% versus 68% statewide)
6 – members who are men. (66% versus 38% statewide)
Dexter Vincent recently graduated from Classical High School, was Co-Director of the Providence Student Union Leadership Team, and is an Elmwood neighbor. He is passionate about local politics, climate resilient urban planning, and independent journalism. In his free time, he reads books about cities and art, listens to Rachmaninoff and Miles Davis, draws Providence architecture, and plays with his baby brother.
