[Vision2020] 10 Worst States for Women

[Kenneth Marcy]

10 Worst States for Women

*http://tinyurl.com/htpce8z
*

The U.S. could elect the first female president in its history this 
November. For many advocates, representation in the nation’s highest 
office could lead to meaningful progress for women’s rights, potentially 
addressing some of the severe inequalities the nation has yet to overcome.

These issues include a gender pay gap, a lack of flexibility in the 
workplace during pregnancy and early motherhood, and, indeed, a lack of 
women holding positions of political influence. While some states have 
made progress, a number of states are far behind in closing the earnings 
gap, electing women to office, funding pre-K programs, and passing laws 
that allow women to stay in the workforce when they have children, 
should they so choose. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed and ranked the 50 states 
based on their favorability to women. These are the 10 worst states for 
women.

Perhaps the most egregious component of gender inequality in the U.S. is 
the wage gap. Though the severity of the wage gap varies by state, 
nationwide, the typical woman working full time earns 80 cents for every 
dollar a man earns. No state has a larger gap than Wyoming, however, 
where women earn roughly 64 cents for every dollar. With lower incomes, 
women are also far more likely to live in poverty than men.The U.S. 
could elect the first female president in its history this November. For 
many advocates, representation in the nation’s highest office could lead 
to meaningful progress for women’s rights, potentially addressing some 
of the severe inequalities the nation has yet to overcome.

These issues include a gender pay gap, a lack of flexibility in the 
workplace during pregnancy and early motherhood, and, indeed, a lack of 
women holding positions of political influence. While some states have 
made progress, a number of states are far behind in closing the earnings 
gap, electing women to office, funding pre-K programs, and passing laws 
that allow women to stay in the workforce when they have children, 
should they so choose. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed and ranked the 50 states 
based on their favorability to women. These are the 10 worst states for 
women.

Perhaps the most egregious component of gender inequality in the U.S. is 
the wage gap. Though the severity of the wage gap varies by state, 
nationwide, the typical woman working full time earns 80 cents for every 
dollar a man earns. No state has a larger gap than Wyoming, however, 
where women earn roughly 64 cents for every dollar. With lower incomes, 
women are also far more likely to live in poverty than men.

In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Julie Anderson, a research associate 
at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, explained why the wage gap 
exists. According to Anderson, “the largest contributor to the wage gap 
is occupational segregation.” Men are more likely to be hired in higher 
paying, managerial roles than women. Though the share ranges from state 
to state, nationwide, fewer than 40% of management positions are held by 
women.

According to Anderson, women are also far more likely than men to work 
in low wage, part-time jobs. Since the wage gap only measures the 
incomes of men and women working full time, the problem is even more 
pronounced than the data indicates.

Maternity, Anderson explained, can lead to lower overall incomes for 
women, particularly as raising a child can often lead women to exit the 
workforce for good. “If a family has to choose between someone being 
fully engaged in work and someone being a caregiver, the logical choice 
is the one who earns less will be the one to back off, and in most cases 
that will be the woman in the family.”

While the Family & Medical Leave Act of 1993 mandates that most working 
mothers must be allowed 12 weeks maternity leave, a number of states 
have additional policies in place both for public employees and the 
private sector workforce. Many states extend the minimum number of 
weeks, allow women to use sick days to cover pre- and post-natal care, 
and, in some cases, mandate paid leave for both mothers and fathers.

Another state policy that has shown to be advantageous to young mothers 
is a taxpayer-funded pre-Kindergarten program. Besides being 
instrumental in childhood development, pre-K programs give parents the 
opportunity to leave their children somewhere safe during the day.

Anderson explained that as mothers are more often tasked with the 
responsibility of watching young children, this means women avoid the 
expenses of private daycare, and also will have an easier time returning 
to the workforce. Eight states have no taxpayer-funded pre-K, and 
partially as a result rank among the worst for women in the country.

Female representation in government is also an important aspect of 
gender equality, and elected government positions are held primarily by 
men. Nearly half of all states have never had a female governor and 
women comprise an average of less than 25% of state legislatures. 
According to Anderson, this is problematic both because it may 
discourage women from running for elected office and because male 
politicians are less likely to implement reform related to gender 
equality. Anderson explained that while women are less likely to run for 
office, when they do, they tend win at the same rates as men.


*http://tinyurl.com/htpce8z*


*3. Idaho *
*> Female earnings as pct. of male:* 73.5% (8th lowest)
*> Pct. mgmt. jobs held by women:* 38.8% (19th lowest)
*> Pct. 3-4 yr. olds enrolled in state pre-K:* 0% (the lowest)
*> Pct. legislative seats held by women:* 27.6% (17th highest)

The earnings gap between men and women in Idaho is one of the worst in 
the country. The typical male in the state working full time earns 
$43,264, while the typical working female earns only $31,808, the lowest 
median salary of any state except Mississippi.

In addition to earning less, women are underrepresented in public 
office. All four of the state’s congressional delegates are men and a 
woman has never been elected governor of Idaho.



*Ken*


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