Author

Sharon Johnson

Sharon Johnson is a free-lance reporter based in New York City who focuses on women's health, economic trends, and legal issues.

Sharon Johnson's Latest Articles

Planned Parenthood Attacks Intensify Pressure on Independent Clinics

By Sharon Johnson ● Health & Science ● December 21, 2015

These abortion clinics have fewer resources but are exposed to the same if not worse risks. “The longer the expanded protests continue, the greater the risks of copycat crimes like the arsons at the four Planned Parenthood clinics this summer,” says the director of one clinic.

Hillary Clinton Heads into 2016 with Female Edge in Iowa

By Sharon Johnson ● Politics ● December 16, 2015

As the Democrats get closer to their first two primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire in early February, the front runner’s lead with female voters can’t be taken for granted given Bernie Sanders’ strength on such issues as the high cost of education and health care. Campaign finance reform also remains in focus.

Meet the 2 Women Giving Big Money to Hillary Clinton

By Sharon Johnson ● Politics ● December 8, 2015

Female mega-donors–those who contribute at least $1 million–lean right. Here are two major exceptions; both “Hillblazers” who promise to extend their support by raising $100,000 or more from friends and business colleagues in the coming months.

Five Mega Female Donors Are Backing Jeb Bush

By Sharon Johnson ● Politics ● November 10, 2015

Most are focused on their families and foundation work. Politico Nancy Goins Kinder is the exception. She served as the executive director of the 1992 Republican National Convention in Houston and ran regional campaigns for Jeb’s brother, George W. Bush.

5 Women Give Millions to Middle of the GOP Presidential Pack

By Sharon Johnson ● Politics ● October 28, 2015

You may not know their names but their mega campaign donations are helping these candidates seek the national limelight: Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich and Chris Christie.

GOP Candidates Have Little Good to Say About Equal Pay

By Sharon Johnson ● Politics ● September 30, 2015

So far, only Trump, Fiorina and Graham have commented on the gender pay gap during the campaign, but they all have track records on this issue. Here’s a quick run-down of what we could find.

Divorce in dictionary

Hidden Divorce Penalty Is Older Age Poverty

By Sharon Johnson ● Employment ● September 3, 2015

Divorced women who deferred their education to put husbands through school or moved multiple times to enable their husbands to move up the career ladder are at special risk. So are those who gave up jobs to raise children.

Aging Immigrants Often Work as Unpaid Caretakers

By Sharon Johnson ● Arts & Culture ● July 6, 2015

If you reach retirement age without any Social Security checks to keep you going, it often means you just keep on doing the same unpaid or low-wage work. “These women are an invisible population,” says the leader of an advocacy group.

State Lawmakers Target Guns and Domestic Abusers

By Sharon Johnson ● Crime & Law ● June 29, 2015

In the wake of the latest mass shooting in the U.S., gun control frustration is back in the headlines. One area of activism: 20 states where politicians are trying to fill loopholes in the current federal gun-control law that leave women vulnerable.

Lifelong Wage Gaps Shrink Women’s Social Security Checks

By Sharon Johnson ● Employment ● May 27, 2015

Trends in female employment all add up to a “perfect storm” for women’s retirement, says a labor economist. Those trends also raise women’s stakes in any election-year discussion of adding or subtracting from Social Security.