Inside Voices: Utah women share what equality looks like to them

Happy Friday, and welcome to Inside Voices, a weekly newsletter that features a collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah — without any of the vitriol or yelling that’s become all too common on other platforms. Subscribe here.

On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was enacted and many women across the U.S. were granted the right to vote. While Utah women were voting for years before this monumental achievement, many argue that women still struggle in the Beehive State.

We asked you: What would it take to feel more like equals?

• “Full time kindergarten and preschool,” writes Michelle in West Valley City. “The Utah Legislature needs to respect that its female population has unique needs from men and that a history of unequal pay means women are at a disadvantage at the workplace when it comes to finances. The state government and our federal representatives give a lot of speeches about valuing family, but ... when I felt I needed to reach out due to a lack of support during COVID, I realized neither senator would bother listening and that was an awful feeling.”

• “I disagree that Utah is one of the worst states for women,” writes Jill in Sandy. “The only time I feel unequal is during elections when one party dominates. As an older, devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and life-long Utah resident, people sometimes assume I hold a certain set of political beliefs. I dislike being stereotyped. As a political independent with strong progressive leanings, my views are seldom represented by Utah candidates.”

• “Equal pay; equal government representation; equal medical/healthcare research and treatment; equal opportunities and promotion; equal home ownership and financial lending; and better support for single mothers and nursing mothers,” writes Erica in Riverton.

• “Women (more specifically, teachers) need to lead in local and state politics for anything to change,” writes Jody in Orem. “Women’s wages would increase with this change alone.”

• “Utah needs to provide better services for women going through/post divorce,” writes Candiss in Sandy. “I was a stay-at-home mother for 18 years and recently divorced. My ex-husband has an amazing career with a high-paying job, while I’m stuck in low paying jobs. I can’t afford to go back to school because I’m still burdened with the majority of child care and expenses. We need better services and programs for women who have been out of the workforce caring for children. A state that prides itself on ‘family values’ and pressures women to stay at home doesn’t seem to have any compassion or resources for women who have sacrificed career and educational opportunities to care for children. Starting over at 40 feels impossible.”

• “Passing the ERA,” writes Petra in Holladay.

Tell me what you think it would take to achieve true gender equality in Utah.

Utah Voices

The following excerpts come from op-eds recently published in The Tribune.

• “I have witnessed firsthand — both up close and from further away — the numerous recent efforts by the Legislature to undermine citizen initiatives — and, quite frankly, I am deeply disturbed by such continuing legislation,” writes N. Jeffrey Baker, who was appointed to serve on the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission in February 2021. I feel strongly that I must now share my belief that the Utah Supreme Court’s ruling on citizen initiatives was absolutely correct and proper.” Read more.

• “Periods don’t care whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, or whether you live in a red or blue state,” writes Emily Bell McCormick, the founder of The Policy Project. “Periods also don’t care whether you have the ability to purchase period products or not. Periods do, however, impact half of earth’s population, for about a week a month, for 40 years in a lifetime. And period products are as necessary as toilet paper.” Read more.

• “If we believe that we need to kill a perpetrator for the victim’s family to find closure, we need to reevaluate our fundamental concepts of justice and mercy,” writes Carol Rich Brown, a local educator. “My 12-year-old sister was killed after a drunk driver plowed into her when she was walking on a sidewalk as she returned home from a church activity. My father held her in his arms when she died. The loss was profound and devastating, and yet part of our families’ healing was in forgiving the driver. I am grateful I grew up in a home where forgiveness was modeled because that is a path to peace.” Read more.

• “In the weeks leading up to the fulfillment of the death penalty sentence of Taberon Honie, I was disturbed and saddened,” writes Brandon Merrill, the founder of Utah Homicide Survivors. “Not for the reasons many would think. I express no opinion on the death penalty or its merits, but I believe the focus of news coverage is misplaced. Lost in the discussion of Mr. Honie’s change in demeanor over the last 26 years, his last meal, who he was seeing for the last time, what music he was listening to, etc., was who his victim was.” Read more.

• “Housing prices have outpaced inflation by so much their average price is about the same as buying a small business,” writes Stephen Atkin in West Valley City. “Why would anyone want to sink that much money into a house? Why take out that much of a liability if it isn’t worth the risk?” Read more.

• “Let us remember Utah’s enduring legacy of citizen diplomacy, practice it as a lifestyle and prepare to once again impress the world as we host millions of visitors again in 2034,” writes Felecia Maxfield-Barrett is the president & CEO of Utah Global Diplomacy. Read more.

• “There is nothing crude about love and sexuality,” writes local romance author Melissa Schack. “Romance books bring wholesome experiences to curious minds and those who feel unloved or unwanted. It is better for children to read than seek alternative and more dangerous delinquencies.” Read more.

Share Your Perspective

What do you think about book bans? What material is appropriate for schools — and who should decide that? Let me know.

From Bagley’s Desk

I’m always looking for unique perspectives, ideas and solutions that move our state forward. Learn more about our guidelines for an op-ed, guest essay, letter to the editor and more here, and drop me a note at voices@sltrib.com.