Americas
The Best and Worst States to Be a Woman
I was shocked when I recently read a report by the personal finance website WalletHub that for 2024, the United States ranks an embarrassing 43rd for gender equality worldwide—Iceland is number one.
Additionally, WalletHub drilled down and analyzed data for all 50 states and generated some dire statistics. I was mortified to learn that women earned less than men in all 50 states, with women in Utah earning the least of all the states—26.9% less than men.
According to a recent report in the Pew Research Center, in 1982, American women earned 65 cents for every dollar earned by men. In 2022, they earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. That's a pathetic 17 cents over 40 years.
Women's inequality can manifest itself in many ways, including domestic violence, lack of legal protections, lack of bodily autonomy, lack of legal representation, lack of political representation, poor medical care, uneven access to education, gender pay gap, employment discrimination, racism, and classism.
I also found it interesting that according to WalletHub, the top ten worst states to be a woman were "red" states, and the top ten best states to be a woman were "blue" states.
Top Ten WORST States for Women's Equality (ALL "RED" STATES):
#50: Utah
#49: Texas
#48: Wyoming
#47: Idaho
#46: Missouri
#45: Georgia
#44: Oklahoma
#43: North Dakota
#42: Alabama
#41: Indiana
Top Ten BEST States for Women's Equality (ALL "BLUE" STATES):
#1: Hawaii
#2: California
#3: Minnesota
#4: Maine
#5: New Mexico
#6: New York
#7: Oregon
#8: Massachusetts
#9: Rhode Island
#10: Maryland
Why are women still second-class citizens in the United States of America in 2024? Women make up approximately 50.5% of the U.S. population, and yet gender bias continues to create huge barriers for many of them.
Women must demand change through their voting choices and support politicians who will strengthen laws against sexual harassment and gender-based violence, implement comprehensive paid family leave policies, enact legislation guaranteeing equal pay for equal work, improve access to affordable childcare, and protect and expand access to reproductive healthcare.
Women need to get politically motivated and vote, vote, vote. If not now, then when?
