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Women & Social Security
IWPR is a leading national resource on women’s income security, and especially the economic security of women in retirement and the possible effects of Social Security privatization on women.

As research by IWPR and others shows, the current Social Security program is a mainstay for women.  Women are nearly 60 percent of all beneficiaries, including retirees, the disabled, and the survivors of deceased workers.  Twenty-seven million women receive Social Security checks every month. 

About the Institute for Women's Policy Research
IWPR is a scientifi c research organization dedicated to informing and stimulating the debate on public policy issues of critical importance to women and their families.

The Institute works with policymakers, scholars, and public interest groups around the country to design, execute, and disseminate research that illuminates economics and social policy issues affecting women and families, and to build a network of individuals and organizations that conduct and use women-oriented policy research. IWPR, an independent, non-profit, research organization also works in affiliation with the graduate programs in public policy and women's studies at The George Washington University.

IWPR's work is supported by foundation grants, government grants and contracts, donations from individuals, and contributions from organizations. Members and affiliates of IWPR's Information Network receive reports and information on a regular basis. IWPR is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

Program Areas:

  • Poverty, Welfare & Income Security
    Welfare reform, low-wage workers, social security reform
  • Work & Family
    Paid and unpaid family leave, child care, flexible work arrangements, changing family and work structures
  • Employment, Earnings & Economic Change
    Pay equity, affirmative action, the wage gap, part-time and contingent work, women and unions, women in management, unemployment insurance
  • Health & Safety
    Women's access to health insurance, costs and benefits of preventative health services for women, costs of domestic violence
  • Democracy and Society
    Women's political participation, as activists, voters, candidates, and policy makers, the status of women in the states: and tax and budget policy

What Makes IWPR Special?
IWPR is special in several ways. First, the Institute specializes in the use of quantitative techniques and original research, interpreting the data through the lens of the special conditions of women's lives, paying close attention to gender and racial disparities. Second, IWPR works in partnership with women's advocacy groups and other public interest organizations to respond directly to the policy needs of their constituents by producing and disseminating research that supports specific policy initiatives.

Research dissemination and citizen education are critical components of our work, ensuring that the results of our research are used effectively to promote economic justice and structural change. Our research dissemination and citizen education activities include:

  • Briefing Congress and the Administration as well as women's and other public interest groups
  • Convening conferences, lectures, and a brown-bag lunch series (the joint IWPR and GWU Friday Forums) on policy issues affecting women and their families
  • Advising women's organizations and other public interest groups on specific policy issues
  • Organizing public relations campaigns and media events

Institute for Women's Policy Research 1707 L Street, NW, Suite 750 ~ Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202.785.5100 ~ Fax: 202.833.4362 ~ Email: iwpr@iwpr.org

© 2006 by IWPR

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