The mission of the Fordham Institute for Women and Girls is to promote the well-being of women and girls who experience poverty, violence, health problems and workplace discrimination.  The resolution of these persistent problems requires addressing gender, age and racial inequities in order to create a more just and caring society for all.

To accomplish its mission, Institute members conduct interdisciplinary and applied research and disseminate research findings that:

•     expand our understanding of the problems facing girls and women, such as poverty, ageism,
      sexism and racism;

•     contribute to critical analyses of the position of girls and women in our society;

•     improve programs and the delivery of services for girls, women and their children;

•     help prevent inequity and injustice towards women and girls by influencing  public policy;

•     enhance the capacity of organizations and institutions to advocate on their behalf.

The Institute also aims to support the empowerment of women and girls by transferring knowledge through collaborative research models; by providing technical assistance and consultation to organizations serving women and girls; and by promoting the integration of content on women and girls into social work curricula.