By Heather Schindler
about.com
about.com
More women than men are college grads today in the United States
and nearly 40 percent of breadwinners are now women. Though women are
achieving so much, full gender equality takes time, and it has been
slower to arrive in some places compared to others. When you're thinking
about where to move or even where to travel, you might want to consider
which states are the most women friendly.
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It's not completely
subjective: Due to the wonder that is statistics, the "best" and "worst"
states can be mathematically calculated. The personal finance website WalletHub conducted research to determine 2016’s Best and Worst States for Women based on women's economic and social wellbeing, and women's healthcare and safety. Here is what they discovered:
5 Best States for Women
1. Minnesota
Travel Idea:
The Twin Cities are packed with events and festivals in May. Get an
insider's look at Minneapolis' vibrant art scene at the 21st annual
Art-a-Whirl festival happening in studios across the city.
For an especially family-friendly fest, head to
St. Paul's Children's EcoArts Festival where you can make art from
recycled materials and check out poetry tents.
2. Vermont
Travel Idea: Relive
your childhood with a summer camp for adults at the Kimpton Taconic
Hotel in Manchester, Vermont. Cool off with a tubing adventure on the
Battenkill River; try your hand at glass-blowing; and end the day with
s'mores, scotch, and sing-alongs by the campfire. Kimpton's Camp Taconic happens June 23 to 26 and August 25 to 28.
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3. New Hampshire
Travel Idea: The
state is full of natural beauty, from the Great North Woods to the
White Mountains to the rocky coast. Spring rains give way to purple
blooms by May when America's oldest lilac bushes blossom at the
Wentworth–Coolidge Mansion in Portsmouth. Other cities that have lilac
festivals are Rochester and Lisbon.
4. Maine
Travel Idea: Explore
coastal Maine by visiting the seaside town of Kennebunkport. Feast on
fresh seafood, dip your toes in the Atlantic, or take some surf lessons.
You might check out the Kennebunkport Resort Collection that has nine boutique hotels and resorts where you can stay in bungalows, cottages, or historic hotel rooms.
5. Massachusetts
Travel Idea: Downtown Abbey
fans might love the Berkshires, which has many remaining throwbacks to
the Gilded Age, such as the Berkshires mansions where wealthy families
such as the Vanderbilts used to spend part of their time and gardens
restored to the style of that era, such as the Iconic Blue Steps at
Naumkeag, a National Historic Landmark. The destination is about three
hours away from Boston and New York.
5 Worst States for Women
- Louisiana
- South Carolina
- Nevada
- Alabama
- Arkansas
Here is a bonus breakdown of some of the individual category findings from the WalletHub researchers:
Women's Median Earnings
Highest: District of Columbia
Lowest: Hawaii
Women's Unemployment Rate
Lowest: North Dakota
Highest: District of Columbia
Percentage of Women Living in Poverty
Lowest: New Hampshire
Highest: Mississippi
Share of Women-Owned Businesses
Highest: Alaska
Lowest: South Dakota
Women's High School Dropout Rate
Lowest: New Hampshire
Highest: Arizona
Percentage of Women Who Voted in the Presidential Election
Highest: District of Columbia
Lowest: West Virginia
Female Uninsured Rate
Lowest: Massachusetts
Highest: Texas
Women's Life Expectancy at Birth
Highest: Hawaii
Lowest: Mississippi
Homicide Rate Per 1,000 Females
Lowest: South Dakota
Highest: South Carolina
