A recent study conducted by WalletHub found that some states in the U.S are more women-friendly than others. The findings were based on extensive research, done to commemorate Women’s History Month.
So, what makes a state more women-friendly than others? The site took various factors into consideration including earnings, unemployment rates, high-school dropout rates, the share of women living in poverty, voter turnout, preventative health care, and the number of women-owned businesses.
The study was conducted in all 50 states including the District of Columbia. Each state was ranked in two areas- women’s health and safety and economic and social well-being. These were further divided into over twenty key living standard indicators for women.
The study found that the better states had smaller gaps between men and women in terms of education, wages, political representation, and health. Minnesota came out on top since due to its high rates of graduation, life expectancy at birth, and median earnings for women. There are also fewer women without health insurance or living below the poverty line in this state compared to others.
Here are the top 5 states for women in the U.S.:
- Minnesota
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
- North Dakota
- Wisconsin
Alternatively, Louisiana was named the worst state for women according to the study. This is because of the state’s high rate of female homicide and the number of women living in poverty.
These are the worst states to live in if you’re a woman:
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
Alabama
Some Other Interesting Findings
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- While the southern states fared poorly, several states in New England came out on top.
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- In terms of women business owners, Alaska has the highest percentage (23%) while South Dakota is on the opposite end of the spectrum (14%).
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- Women’s life expectancy and poverty rates are the lowest in Mississippi.
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- When it comes to median earnings for female workers, the District of Columbia ranked highest followed by Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, and Delaware.
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- California, Connecticut, Oregon, Hawaii, and Montana have the lowest median income rates.
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- Hawaii is a top state for women thanks to its low percentage of uninsured women and high female life expectancy at birth.
- Red states are not as women-friendly as Blue states.
So where does your state stand and more importantly what do these results mean for you as a woman? Take a look at the complete list of findings at WalletHub to find out more.
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