Susan Madsen

Opinion

Opinion: Latest data on women’s equality raises questions for Utah

Utah ranks 50th in education and health, 49th in workplace environment and 49th in political empowerment

By Susan Madsen

A U sculpture on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022.

Opinion

Opinion: What Gov. Cox is missing with his new Board of Higher Education

Gov. Cox’s new Board of Higher Education is made up primarily of industry leaders. How could this hurt higher education in Utah?

By Susan Madsen

Opinion

Opinion: These mothers have to send their children into abusive situations. We can change that

These tragedies are preventable, and Utah can change the narrative.

By Susan Madsen

Students work in a common space at Utah Valley University in Orem.

Opinion

Opinion: Change is uncomfortable, but we need diversity, equity and inclusion policies

Growth starts with discomfort, progress comes from growth. How are we making Utah more diverse, equitable and inclusive?

By Susan Madsen

Opinion

Opinion: The undiscussed issue of bathroom lines is about equity, not equality

We assume that equality means giving everyone the exact same things regardless of their starting points. Men and women do not have the same needs when it comes to bathrooms.

By Susan Madsen

The benefits of having a diverse workforce have been clearly articulated for decades now.

Opinion

Opinion: We won’t achieve belonging if we don’t have these 4 things

The benefits of diversity in the workplace are well known, but we can’t achieve diversity without these other vital components.

By Susan Madsen

People walk on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City.

Opinion

Opinion: Education opens doors — but Utah’s women of color face more obstacles

If we want Utah to be a place where people thrive, we need to help all people obtain education.

By Susan Madsen

Becky McFalls-Schwartz helps place flags representing those who sought safety from domestic violence.

Opinion

Opinion: If we want Utah to be safe for families, we need to change these statistics

In Utah, 1 in 3 women experience some form of domestic violence. We need to turn the tide on this trend if we want women and families to feel safe here.

By Susan Madsen

Opinion

Opinion: You need to know the real story behind sexual assault reporting

Victim blaming and the trauma of reporting a sexual assault leads many women to stay silent. an estimated 95% of college students never report their assault.

By Susan Madsen

Opinion

Opinion: Families need fathers — the crucial role dad plays

Amid the gun violence, some wonder if fatherlessness could be to blame for teenage shooters. Studies show the vital impact a father can have.

By Susan Madsen

A mother walks her child to school, holding his hand as they approach the school building.

Opinion

Opinion: What the state of motherhood says about our shrinking families

A mother’s emotional and physical labor of love takes a toll, and working moms in higher numbers struggle to find affordable child care.

By Susan Madsen

Four women standing and holding up signs that spell out the word “vote.”

Opinion

Opinion: What we’re missing when we don’t vote for women

Utah is falling behind when it comes to women’s equality. When we have equal representation in government, our community thrives.

By Susan Madsen

Tennis legend and equality rights advocate Billie Jean King speaks at a Women’s History Month event in Washington.

Opinion

Opinion: How Women’s History Month began

Women’s History Month is a time for all of us to consider how women throughout history have impacted our lives and land in simple and profound ways.

By Susan Madsen

Women consistently earn less than men in Utah for the same work.

Opinion

Opinion: Women in Utah should be paid more

Research and facts are clear: Utah does have a troubling gender pay gap

By Susan Madsen

A mother and father lift their child up by the hands while walking up a hill.

Opinion

Opinion: How traumatic childhood experiences affect us as adults

Nearly 13% of Utahns report being molested before the age of 18, with more than one-third of those occurring before the age of 10.

By Susan Madsen

Curtis Linton and Jackie Thompson hug as community activists and educators protest a Utah State Legislature resolution to ban Critical Race Theory concepts. Counterprotestors holding signs stand behind them.

Opinion

Opinion: Don’t lose sight of the purpose of education

Thinking critically does not mean examining things in order to tear them down. In the academic sense it is the process by which we actively examine and evaluate information that ultimately guides our beliefs and actions

By Susan Madsen

Graduates throw their caps in the air at the conclusion of commencement ceremonies.

Opinion

Why a college education is the greatest gift you can give a child

Earnings are just one benefit of a college education. We also know there are so many others.

By Susan Madsen

Purple flags in Liberty Park recognize victims of domestic violence.

Opinion

The 5 things people get wrong about domestic violence

As we take steps to see who among us may be suffering, we can mitigate trauma and promote healing in individuals, families, and communities across the state.

By Susan Madsen

The pandemic has increased stress, anxiety and depression.

Opinion

Opinion: COVID-19 is taking a toll on mental health and coping skills

We take comfort knowing that hard times aren’t forever, like the terrible twos or the more terrible teens. The pandemic, however, has turned ‘unprecedented’ into the norm

By Susan Madsen

A black teen’s hand and a white teen’s hand for a church steeple to symbolize racial unity.

Opinion

Opinion: Utah won’t become truly welcoming until people understand the meanings of these words

The words diversity, inclusion, belonging, equality and equity mean separate things and are important for helping the state move forward.

By Susan Madsen

A father helps his daughter study a book in a piece of art from 1906 called “The Father and Daughter.”

Opinion

Opinion: The best dads don’t see things in pink and blue

I want dads to know how much they matter to their daughters because as they come to a greater understanding of their influence, they can better support their daughters’ growth in all areas of their lives.

By Susan Madsen