New report from WREN reveals issues faced by women and girls across South Carolina

(WCIV)–The Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network released the results of a first-of-its-kind research project that analyzed the issues women and girls across the state face.

The network, also known as WREN, performed this study to not only identify the issues women and girls face, but to also create a call to action and open up space for discussion on how these issues can be solved or addressed.

“We wanted to move beyond statistics and really understand the lived experiences behind the numbers,” said Dr. Amalia Luxardo, CEO of WREN. “This research is both a wake-up call and a roadmap for collective action. South Carolina can and must do better for its women, girls, and families.”

Research and data collected in this project spanned across multiple topics, including access to healthcare, childcare, fair pay and safe housing. Once the data was collected the report was compiled into statewide and county-level data, which shows where women and girls are struggling and where systems must change.

Some of the key findings are detailed below:

• Economic insecurity is widespread: One in three South Carolina households cannot afford basic needs such as housing, childcare, and food.
• Health outcomes are alarming: South Carolina has one of the nation’s highest maternal mortality rates, with Black women nearly four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes.
• Childcare access is shrinking: Nearly half of all census tracts in the state are “childcare deserts,” where few or no licensed providers exist.
• Housing costs outpace wages: Minimum-wage earners would need to work more than 90 hours per week to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment.
• Geography determines opportunity: Rural and low-income counties face the steepest barriers to healthcare, education, and economic mobility.

WREN invites individuals, organizations, and policymakers to use these findings to shape conversations, investments, and advocacy efforts that lead to lasting change in these communities.

“This is about building solutions with communities, not for them,” said Luxardo. “We’re meeting people where they are, because their voices must guide the path forward.”

To read the full report click here.