These are the best and worst states for women
A new index reveals that opportunities and obstacles for women vary across the United States.
Employment. Education. Maternal mortality. Political clout. Physical safety. How U.S. women fare in these key aspects of life differs widely across the nation, according to a new benchmark of women’s well-being. The 2020 U.S. Women, Peace and Security Index measures women’s inclusion in society, sense of security, and exposure to discrimination. It shows how the status of women differs from state to state, driven by economic, racial, and ethnic disparities, among other factors.
Created by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the index evaluates how women are faring in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in three categories—inclusion, justice, and security.
Massachusetts achieved the best score in the country. The state has high rates of college completion and health-care affordability, and low rates of maternal mortality and gun violence. Massachusetts passed recent laws that have helped advance women’s rights, including an updated equal pay law in 2018.
