In the news over the past few months, the Arab Nations, the Republic of Ghana, and the state of Wyoming all made headlines for changes regarding gender equity within the respective geographic locations. While there are some big moves happening across the globe, I did not anticipate the story about Wyoming from USNews.com, written by Josephine Rozelle, titled “Gender Equality Remains Elusive in the Equality State.”
Rozelle wrote that Wyoming proudly brands itself as the “Equality State,” earning that title for the following reasons:
· In 1869, the Wyoming Territory became the first of any state or territory to permanently give women the right to vote and hold office – 50 years before Congress passed the 19th Amendment extending voting rights to women across the country.
· In 1870, three months after the Wyoming Territorial Legislature recognized women’s rights to vote and hold office, women were called to serve on a grand jury—the first time in history.
o Martha Symons Boies was selected to act as a bailiff for that same grand jury, the first woman in history to serve in such a judicial position.
· In 1924, the state elected its first female governor in the United States, Nellie Tayloe Ross.
· For more women in Wyoming’s history, click here: https://wywf.org/wyoming-womens-history/
These milestones have long been points of pride and historical significance, and they set a standard for equality that shaped the state’s identity.
What changed?
Rozelle then sites a fact that seems at odds with the state of “firsts” for women’s progress.
“In a 2022 analysis, U.S. News ranked Wyoming 45th out of the 50 states for gender equality. The state lagged behind other states most in two categories – representation and power, and family planning – and struggled to see gender parity across a number of metrics, including college graduation rates, mental health and affordability of being a single parent.”
Rozelle interviewed Jennifer Simon, founder of Wyoming Women's Action Network, a women-focused advocacy group. Simon shared that the late journalist Cokie Roberts described Wyoming as “the state of firsts, but not a lot of seconds.”
If you are from Wyoming, please know that I have nothing against you or your great state. It is beautiful, and I love the history, progressive and ahead of its time historical moves regarding women in leadership. The story is simply an example of what happens when solid decisions at a point of time are not sustainably reinforced, the intention is lost and points out why diligence and continuing the conversation are key.
The early history aligns with a message I write about in my book Men-In-The-Middle: Conversations to Gain Momentum with Gender Equity’s Silent Majority; leadership is gender neutral. Another key message is that when we don’t talk about issues, especially those with deep systemic roots, the silence can impede progress. Wyoming’s story offers an insightful lens into the progress—or lack thereof—regarding gender representation, pay equity, and broader issues of equality.
The Legacy of Equality: Being First is a Symbol, Not a Solution
When Wyoming granted women the right to vote, it set a revolutionary precedent. It was a bold move that made the state a symbol of progress at a time when much of the nation wasn’t ready for such change. However, symbols of equality do not equate to actual equity in practice. Despite its pioneering stance on voting rights, Wyoming has consistently ranked low on measures of gender equality in recent years. According to the US News article, Wyoming is at the bottom in terms of the gender pay gap, and women in the state are underrepresented in leadership roles, both politically and economically.
The gap between symbolic victories and real-world outcomes isn’t unique to Wyoming. What happened in Wyoming, is symbolic of what can happen when any of us rest on our laurels of our good moves, and we don’t continue talking about the issues at hand that underpin the systemic structure in the first place.
The Gender Pay Gap: A Modern Frontier
Rozelle wrote that Wyoming’s gender pay gap is among the worst in the nation, with women earning only 65 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to 2022 data. This is more than a statistic; it reflects systemic barriers that women face in accessing equal opportunities, wages, and benefits. The root causes of this gap are complex, involving cultural, economic, and social factors that affect how women are perceived and valued in the workforce.
State industries like energy and agriculture dominate and are traditionally male-dominated sectors. The pay gap is exacerbated by the concentration of women in lower-paying fields like education and healthcare. These fields are crucial to the state's well-being but are undervalued financially. This disparity reflects deep-seated cultural norms that have been resistant to change. This also is not unique to Wyoming.
These cultural norms that are often assumed and therefore go undiscussed can hold us back. In Men-In-The-Middle, I call it the bummock; the part of the iceberg that is below the surface that we can’t see. When it comes to diversity, for example, it is easy to see the visible traits at the top of the iceberg, a symbol often used in change management. Those issues at the tip are the ones we talk about and most often hear. The challenge is, that much like the Titanic, it is not the tip of the iceberg that sank the ship; long before the captain and crew saw the tip, the ship already had hit the bummock of the iceberg that is typically much larger, daunting, under the surface and the least talk about. If we want to address change, we need to talk about those issues that people don’t like to talk about.
I write about engaging men in the gender equity conversations. Men hold most of the leadership positions that control compensation decisions, and they are in a prime position to advocate for transparency and fairness in promotions and pay structures. By understanding the barriers women face and actively working to dismantle them, men can contribute to a more equitable workplace, not just in Wyoming but across the country.
In order to engage the men, however, we also need to understand what might be holding them back from advocating for gender equity that can benefit men and women alike. This means actively engaging the silent ones, the men, who don’t see gender equity as their issue, but why?
Female Representation: Where Are the Women Leaders?
In addition to pay, another aspect of Wyoming’s struggle with equality is the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles. Whether in politics, business, or other sectors, the lack of female voices at the decision-making table is a significant barrier to achieving true equality. The US News article points out that, despite its early adoption of women's voting rights and a historic female governor, Wyoming lags in terms of female political representation today.
The reality is that women's underrepresentation in leadership positions has a ripple effect. When women are absent from key decision-making spaces, policies and practices that affect gender equity are often overlooked or ignored. This is particularly concerning in a state that prides itself on being a trailblazer for women's rights.
There also is an extensive body of research that focuses on benefits including better decision making when men and women are both influencing decisions.
The Role of Education: Raising the Next Generation
Wyoming has the opportunity to address gender inequality by focusing on education. The US News article highlights the importance of educating young people about the state's history of gender equality and the work that still needs to be done. This is where change truly begins. If we teach young boys and girls about equality—not just as a historical fact but as a present and urgent issue—we lay the groundwork for a more equitable future.
It is about a conversation where people may have differing viewpoints, but that is where we can gain momentum in the process. Wyoming’s rich history as the "Equality State" provides a unique opportunity to study what can happen over time, when we don’t continue to prioritize conversations and perspective taking to lead the way for a better tomorrow.
Changing the Narrative on Second Chances and Seconds
I love a good legacy story, as I believe we can all go off path at some point, and the victory is finding our way back. Wyoming made some bold moves near the turn of the 19th century, hiring and electing female leaders well before the rest of the nation. The second act is about redefining what equity looks like in the present day.
I see a clear path forward: Men and women working together to dismantle the systems that perpetuate inequality. It is about addressing the gender pay gap, promoting women into leadership roles, and ensuring that the next generation understands that equality is not just a historical artifact but a living, breathing goal for all of us.
Wyoming, I look forward to hearing the rest of the story.