MA Among Nation's Best For Women’s Political Clout: Report

Women won the right to vote in 1919, after a long, arduous fight, but after a hundred years the gender gap continues to grow, according to a recent report from WalletHub.

The disparity in equality between men and women is especially visible in the workplace, where women are underrepresented in leadership positions, accounting for less than 29 percent of business executives, according to the report. Women also are underrepresented in state legislative ranks, with only 25 percent of the total.

The WalletHub report, released earlier this week, compiled data on 17 metrics under three general headings -- workplace environment, political empowerment and health/ education -- and assigned scores on a 100-point scale. The report also ranked the states under each of the three main headings.

Maine ranked as the best state for women’s rights in the United States, with a total score of 76.75, whereas Utah ranked as the worst with a score of 25.10 — 15 points below the state in the 49th position.

Massachusetts had an overall score of 62.48, good enough for 14th in the country. In category rankings, the state ranked 40th in workplace environment, 14th in health and education and 6th in political empowerment.

Maine took home the top spot despite not finishing first in any of three measurement categories. New Mexico was the No. 1 state for women in the workplace environment, Hawaii was No. 1 in education and health, and Nevada was No. 1 in political empowerment.

Here are the top ten overall states for women’s equality in the country:

1. Maine
2. Hawaii
3. Nevada
4. New York
5. New Mexico
6. West Virginia
7. Minnesota
8. Colorado
9. Vermont
10. Delaware

Patch reporter Gus Saltonstall contributed to this report.