March is Women's History Month in the USA--a good time to reflect on the status of women today.   Here are a few facts from the U.S. Census Bureau:

• U.S. Women outnumber men  157.2 million vs. 153.2 million.   Twice as many women are older than 85 compared to men.
• The median annual  income for full time working women is $36,278 in 2009, up 1.9% from 2008.  Women now earn 77 cents for every $1 earned by men.
• The highest ratio of women to men earnings are in Washington DC where women earn 88% of what men make.
• Number of women over age 25 with bachelor degrees or more education in 2009 is 29.9 million compared to 28.7 million men.  Women outrank men in all educational attainment levels except professional and doctoral degrees.
• 55% percent of current college students are women.
• There are 7.8 million women-owned businesses in 2007.  Women owned 29% of all non-farm businesses.
• 66% of female citizens 18 and over reported voting in the 2008 election.   62% male counterparts voted.
• More women  (23.9 million) worked in the education, health and social services business than in any other fields.
• 14% of the armed forces are women as of September 2008.
• Among married couples, 20.7% of the women earn $5000 more than their husbands.
• 5 million women are stay-at-home mothers (where spouse is in the labor force);   154,000 men are stay-at-home dads.

National Women's History Month dates back to March 8, 1857, when women from New York City factories staged a protest over working conditions.    It was expanded to Women's History Week in 1981, and then expanded to a month in 1987.  The trigger issue in 1857 was poor working conditions, what do you think the key issues are for women today?