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| Dear Changemakers,
I want to speak to you—not as a CEO, but as a woman who lives, works, and raises a family in Indiana. This month, we are confronting a painful but urgent truth: women’s health in our state is under siege. And if we don't act, the consequences will only deepen for generations to come.
Since Indiana’s abortion ban took effect, I’ve heard from women across our state—nurses, teachers, students, single moms—who now fear what might happen if they face an unwanted pregnancy or a life-threatening complication. I’ve spoken with working mothers forced out of the labor force because childcare is unaffordable and their healthcare plans no longer cover what they need. I’ve listened to survivors of domestic violence who are being told there’s no room at the shelter and no funding left to help them feel safe.
These aren’t isolated stories. They are symptoms of a system that devalues women’s autonomy, safety, and worth.
And yet—here’s what gives me hope. Every single day, Hoosier women are fighting back. You are organizing, voting, speaking out, and showing up for one another. And Women4Change is here to make sure your voice turns into real, lasting change.
This month’s newsletter is filled with stories, data, and opportunities to act. Because this isn’t just about policy—it’s personal. For all of us.
With deep gratitude and fierce determination,
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| Women-owned businesses in Indiana have surged by 27% in the last decade, especially in Central Indiana. But the pandemic—and now restrictive policies—are erasing that progress. Women entrepreneurs, particularly Black and Latina founders, were hardest hit. Many haven’t recovered.
Combine lost childcare, rising costs, and limited access to reproductive care, and the result is clear: women are being pushed out of the workforce, not by choice, but by design.
When women lose economic ground, entire families fall behind. This isn’t just about small business—it’s about whether Hoosiers can build wealth, raise healthy families, and retire with dignity.
It’s time to act: Support policies that protect reproductive freedom, expand childcare access, and invest in women-led businesses. Indiana’s future depends on it. |
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| Abortion bans don’t just regulate clinics—they create ripple effects that increase women’s vulnerability to violence. When women lose control over their reproductive choices, they are more likely to remain trapped in abusive relationships, face reproductive coercion, and experience worsening health outcomes.
In the months following Indiana's near total abortion ban, enacted in two years ago this August, counties across the state have reported double-digit increases in domestic violence calls. At the same time, funding for survivor support services and shelters is being cut—placing women in even greater danger.
Survivors shouldn’t have to choose between physical safety and reproductive safety.
But in Indiana, both are on the chopping block. |
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| The most fundamental right a person can have is the right to control their own body. When that right is stripped away, so is their freedom to chart their future.
In Indiana, women are being denied medical care not because of science, but because of politics. Doctors face legal uncertainty. Patients are turned away even in cases of rape, incest, or life-threatening complications. The message is clear: women's bodies are not their own.
This is more than a policy fight—it’s a cultural one. Restricting abortion is part of a broader effort to push women backward, out of leadership, out of the workforce, and out of public life. And that’s something we must fight with everything we have. |
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| Change doesn’t end with reading an email—it begins with action. There are many ways to stay engaged and make your voice count with Women4Change Indiana:
📲 Follow Us on LinkedIn We’re diving deeper into the workplace issues impacting Hoosier women, like pay equity, childcare, harassment, and leadership gaps. Join the conversation, share your insights, and help us amplify stories that need to be heard.
📅 Attend a Virtual Event or Webinar Our monthly partner webinars bring together advocates, policy experts, and community voices to explore urgent issues—from domestic violence to reproductive justice.
🗣️ Share Your Story Have a lived experience that speaks to safety, equity, or workplace barriers? We want to hear from you. Your story could inspire advocacy, drive policy change, or support another woman navigating the same fight.
💌 Subscribe & Share Forward this newsletter to a friend, share it on your socials, and help us grow a movement rooted in truth, justice, and collective power.
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| Your donation mobilizes women to engage effectively in civic affairs in order to strengthen our democracy and to advocate for the leadership, health, safety, and dignity of all women in Indiana. Women4Change Indiana is a registered 501(c)3 corporation, and your gifts are tax-deductible. |
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