The Alabama Women’s Commission, established in 1971, by Act of the Alabama Legislature, is a continuing vehicle for the determination of effective policy and legislation in areas affecting Alabama’s women. The commission is composed of three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House; two members of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and 10 members appointed by the Governor.




2006 Census of Women Executive Officers and Directors

Auburn University's Women's Leadership Institute and the College of Liberal Arts recently released a study of women in leadership positions: 2006 Census of Women Executive Officers and Directors. The study seeks to acknowledge where Alabama is in terms of women in leadership positions as well as focus on areas where further progress is needed. The companies used for this study were selected on the bases of certain criteria: Public ownership, headquartered in Alabama, and non-subsidiary status. Some key findings from the study include:

  • Women held 0% of the Fortune500 executive positions.
  • Women held 9.90% of the public companies executive officer positions.
  • Twenty six of the forty six public companies had no women executives.
  • Women held 14.81% of the Fortune 500 board seats.
  • Women held 5.49% of the public companies board seats.
  • Twenty five companies had no women board members.

For the complete study results, visit http://www.auburn.edu/outreach/womenleaders/.

Women's Commission Meeting February 12, 2008

The Women's Commission held its first meeting of 2008 on February 12th at 11am at the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in Montgomery, AL.

The Commission received an update on the progress of the study commissioned in September 2007 regarding policies and issues affecting mothers and infants. Three issues have emerged in the intial review of national data: mental health issues (post-partum depression, suicide) among mothers; infant mortality (high correlation with post-partum depression); and child care issues. Dr. Carole Zugazaga from Auburn University, lead researcher on the study, shared with the Commission that the next step in their research will be examing Alabama data related to these three themes county by county. Dr. Zugazaga will provide the next update at the April 17th meeting.

Other business by the Commission included a vote to send a delegate to the National Convention this summer in New Mexico and the 2009 budget of the Commission. The Commission discussed several new program ideas for the year that are going to be investigated including a speaker's bureau and partnering with other women's organizations throughout the state to promote women's issues.

The next meeting of the Commission will be held on April 17th in Montgomery, Alabama.

Commission members meet on October 9, 2007 in Montgomery, Alabama.

Commission Awards Grant to Study Issues and Policies Affecting Mothers and Infants

In September the Commission awarded its 2007-2008 research grant to Dr. Carole Zugazaga, Assistant Professor, Auburn University Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work. Dr. Zugazaga and her team will be identifying and analyzing issues and policies affecting mothers and infants birth to age one in Alabama. They will present to the Commission “best practices” in the public and private sector and to determine which of these “best practices” would be reasonable, feasible, and appropriate to implement in Alabama, given the identified needs of women in this state. The Commission will share the results of this study and make any appropriate recommendations to the Governor and Legislature upon the study’s conclusion September 2008.
 

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