More now than in previous years, the concept of women’s rights and equality is prevalent in national conversation. With the wage gap persisting as a topic of debate amongst men and women, it is of many’s concern whether we’re progressing or backtracking as a country.
A recent study by WalletHub took note of national trends that seem to broadly indicate decreasing opportunity for women, such as the U.S. being unable to make it even in the top 40 countries in the world for gender equality, and low numbers for women in leadership roles (only 25% in executive or senior-level management positions and only 6% as CEOs).
Although women are the majority in America compared to men, and make up a prominent portion of the workforce, it seems that imbalances still exist throughout the nation. Comparing all 50 states and analyzing factors such as leadership wage gaps and unemployment rates, the study found the best and worst states for representation of women’s equality. Impressively, Illinois scored rather high.
The overall score was made up of individual scores for Workplace Environment, Education and Health, and Political Empowerment. Illinois scored 31 for Workplace Environment, 7 for Education and Health, and 2 for Political Empowerment, contributing to an overall ranking of third in the nation. Hawaii was ranked in first place, while Utah scored the lowest. In a separate analysis within the study, Illinois asked ranked as a top tier state for having one of the smallest gaps in political representation amongst men and women.
Check out the top 10 states for women’s equality below:
- Hawaii
- Nevada
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Washington
- Maine
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Wisconsin
- Vermont
What do you think of the results of this study? As a local, do you feel that women are represented and treated fairly in your workplace and community? Let us know in the comments section.
