From the wage gap to the part-time economy, paid time off, child care costs, health care access, violence and political representation, women’s issues are key to their quality of life, and Chester County took a good look at each of them during its State of Women conference at Penn State Great Valley on Monday.

The event, which attracted 240 attendees, showcased the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls’ in-depth 2016 update to its Blueprint Report: Leveraging Progress, inspired change with a keynote address by Vanguard Principal of IT Lisa McCann and tackled tough challenges through panel discussions.

“Over the last several decades, the gender wage gap has narrowed, women have graduated from college and moved into higher-paying jobs in increasing numbers, and women’s representation in political office has increased,” the report explained.

“Women in states across the nation and in Chester County, however, face challenges such as a still-large gender wage gap, poverty, limited access to affordable child care, adverse health conditions and threats to their personal safety.

Women continue to be significantly underrepresented in political office relative to their share of the population, and face stubborn disparities in opportunities and outcomes in all areas, such as business ownership — disparities that exist among women of different racial and ethnic groups, ages, geographic areas and sexual orientations. Addressing these challenges and disparities is essential to promoting the continued advancement of women and the well-being of families and communities in Chester County and beyond.”

Read much more in the CCFWG’s Blueprint Report here, and check to see if a Blueprint presentation is coming to your area on the CCFWG website here.