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The Center for Research on Women sent a brief on-line survey in May 2008 to hundreds of academic colleagues and community partners in an initial attempt to assess whether there was a need for a locally-focused on-line source for data on women. The result was a resounding “yes.” More than 95% of those surveyed said that they would use such a site. “Our community is wrestling with a range of complex social issues,” said Center Director Dr. Lynda Sagrestano. “Gender, along with race and class, are at the heart of many of these, and CROW is looking at ways that our Center can be of service to the researchers and service providers who are tackling these issues head-on. We wondered if an on-line source for local data on women could be a useful tool.” Respondents said they would use an on-line local data source for evaluating programs and policies (53%), grant writing and development efforts (52%), and designing programs and policies (50%). Other uses were generating support for policy initiatives (39%), setting funding and resource priorities (29%), and promoting goods and services (24%). Nearly a third of respondents (32%) said they would use information from such a site for additional purposes. Said Sagrestano, “there are many on-line and other sources for national data on women, but we are looking at the possibility of creating something unique where local data can be put into context, be it statewide, regional or national.” Examples of potential focus areas for such a data-source include Women and Economic Self Sufficiency, Women and Education, Women and Health, Women and Racism, and Women and Political Participation. For more information on the survey or the Local Women’s Data project, contact Rebecca Terrell, Assistant Director, at 901.678.2770.
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