KU economist to testify before congressional panel on women in the workforce


Mon, 03/27/2017

author

George Diepenbrock

LAWRENCE — A University of Kansas economist is scheduled to testify Tuesday before a congressional working group focusing on helping women overcome barriers to success in the private sector.

Donna Ginther, professor of economics and director of the KU Center for Science, Technology & Economic Policy, will address economic research related to the challenges women confront as workers and discuss incentives, trade-offs and unintended consequences of economic actors and policies relating to women in the workforce.

According to the office of U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, chairwoman of the Working Group on Women in the 21st Century Workforce, committee members at the hearing will question CEOs and business leaders on effective practices they have implemented to support female employees, whether by increasing workplace flexibility, providing caregiving options or addressing residual bias.

The hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday, March 28, in Washington, D.C. A live stream of the hearing will be available here.

Ginther has conducted research that has focused on issues related to advancement of women in professional careers and engaging in institutional transformation efforts to affect change for women academics.

She has published 19 academic papers on women's careers, most focused on women scientists. For example, a 2014 study she co-authored in Psychological Science in the Public Interest recommended intervention programs focused on improving math skills for elementary school girls as a strategy to steer more women to STEM fields. An additional five papers have focused on marriage, family structure and children's educational outcomes.

Mon, 03/27/2017

author

George Diepenbrock

Media Contacts

George Diepenbrock

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