An Indiana Republican leader says a recent report giving Indiana a failing grade for policies aimed at helping women isn’t fair.

The reaction comes to the Status of Women in the States report that ranks Indiana near the bottom of the country.

The study looks at data that includes the gender pay gap, women’s health measures, paid leave policies, and child care efforts. Erin Macey with the Indiana Institute for Working Families says there was legislation to address many of those issues last session – but it wasn’t considered.

“Give the bills a hearing,” Macey says. “At least allow a dialogue to take place.”

But Indiana Republican Party National Committeewoman Anne Hathaway says the report doesn’t provide the whole picture. Hathaway is the executive director of the Lugar Series, which boosts Republican women in public service. And she’s on the board of the National Association of Women Business Owners-Indianapolis. She says the study looks for legislation in each state to create its grades.

Indiana Republican Party National Committeewoman Anne Hathaway (Photo: Indiana Republican Party)

“I’m not sure that legislative solutions are – I think there are good things happening we don’t do legislatively,” Hathaway says.

Hathaway says that includes a coding education program for offenders at the Indiana Women’s Prison and further expansion of the state’s pre-K program.

“The governor’s new parent leave policy for moms and dads, providing up to four weeks of paid leave for new parents, including those who adopt,” Hathaway says. “The growing number of women stepping up for public service in Indiana.”

Women’s political participation was the highest grade Indiana received in the report, a C-minus.