From the 1930's to the present, Arkansas women continue to face numerous challenges to educational attainment and employment advancement. Along with factors of race and socio-economic status, the experiences of women in Arkansas vary according to regional differences within the state. In particular, women in urban areas of the state are historically more likely to pursue advanced education and more likely to work outside of the home. Despite statewide advancements by women, these trends continue in Arkansas today.

According to the 1950 census, less than three percent of women in the state had completed 4 years of college. When the numbers are broken down by regions, the differences are highlighted. Although the 1970 census reports that a larger percentage of women had completed four years of college and a greater number of women were employed outside of the home, regional differences continued.

In addition to statistical regional differences, women in Arkansas face geographically based prejudices. Regional stereotypes held by and about women present challenges to statewide advancement. Women view the Delta as "less educated and more poverty stricken." They perceive Central Arkansas as having "better schools" and "greater job opportunities" despite "suffering from inner-city poverty" and having "more crime." Similar to the Delta, women believe the Ozarks to be largely rural with "lower educational levels and fewer jobs." Despite its geographic proximity to the Ozarks, women consider Northwest Arkansas to be "relatively affluent" with "excellent schools and some industries." Although historic regional differences may be the basis for these views, the impact of these stereotypes remains an issue for Arkansas women today.

"The Delta is terribly poor and some people are still have very horrible living conditions"

The Arkansas Delta refers to the eastern portion of the state adjacent to the Mississippi River. The region is largely rural with a primarily agricultural economy. Women in the area face limited economic and educational opportunities. Although nearly all of Arkansas experiences abject poverty, in Delta counties such as Phillips and Chicot the poverty level nears or exceeds 40% of the population. This holds true for unemployment rates among women as well. Delta counties have some of the highest unemployment numbers in the state. These statistics are the result of the era when plantations mechanized production and laborers were laid off. Industries never moved into the area, and many people were left jobless.

"The rural Ozarks have more poverty and it is probably harder to rise up for people in these regions"

"Northwest Arkansas on the other hand is booming with potential"

The Ozarks refers to the western portion of the state located to the north of the Ozark Mountain range. With the exception of the northwest corner, the region is largely rural with few industries. Despite a wider range of employment in the more urban areas of Fort Smith and Fayetteville, most women remain engaged in service industries. Because most women do not associate Northwest Arkansas and the Ozarks as being the same area, opinions about this portion of the state are often contradictory. In 1995, Benton County, home of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and located in the Ozarks, was the only county in the state to drop below double digits for the percentage of people living in poverty.

The Central Arkansas area encompasses several of the larger cities within the state including the capitol city of Little Rock. Many women who live and work in Little Rock and the surrounding areas have voiced the sentiment, "I wouldn't stay in Arkansas if I had to live outside of Little Rock...conditions are horrible." Some women believe that "educational standards in Little Rock are not any better than the universities of the small town." Statistics show that poverty rates for counties surrounding the capitol city, and including Pulaski, are no better (and are often worse) than many other areas of the state, including the Ozarks. Central Arkansas may have more "opportunities" but it also has more of the urban problems associated with those opportunities.

The southwest region of the state, including the Ouachita Mountains, encompasses cities such as: Camden, El Dorado, and Arkadelphia. This area is largely rural with an agriculturally based economy. Southwest Arkansas escapes the erroneous characterizations of neighboring regions because non-residents simply do not know what the area is like. The prevailing idea is that "southwest Arkansas has some industry, with fair educational opportunities, and a moderate poverty level." Other women consider the region as "poor with a landed gentry much like the Delta and [with] the added influence of timber, oil, and mineral industries." In reality, the southwest portion of the state is poor with 17% of Howard County's population living below the poverty line and peaking with 32% of the Lafayette County population. The major industries in the southwest area are farming, raising chickens, and cutting timber. Despite the poverty, one resident proudly stated, the area is "very rural (even for Arkansas), though a number of towns offer good schools and nice communities."