Welcome to the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women

2008 Legislative Session Update through 04/09/2008

The Iowa Commission on the Status of Women (ICSW) is a state agency that seeks to assure equality for Iowa women. The ICSW advocates for Iowa women, working to equalize women's opportunities and to promote full participation by women in the economic, political, and social life of the state.

Established in 1972 by the Iowa Legislature, the ICSW is a division of the Department of Human Rights. The ICSW is composed of nine citizens appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate. Two members of the Senate, two members of the Iowa House of Representatives, and the director of the Department of Human Rights, serve ex officio.

The ICSW represents the interests of women in a number of areas including pensions, elder care, sexual harassment, welfare, insurance, divorce, nontraditional jobs, displaced homemakers, pay equity, housing, domestic violence, sexual assault, education, and credit. It also serves as a clearinghouse for information on these and many other topics of interest to women and women's equity. MORE