Working moms have it rough. According to a 2015 article in The New York Times, "In most cases … women still do the majority of the child care and housework — particularly managing the mental checklists of children's schedules and needs — even when both parents work full time."
Working moms also face the stigma that they're less productive at work and less committed to their job, despite the fact research shows they are just as productive as working fathers.
Add to that the fact that the average woman makes only 78 cents for every dollar earned by the average man, and you paint a pretty depressing picture for moms who hold another full-time job. (Yes, being a mother is a full-time job. If you don't believe me, I suspect you've never appreciated a mom in action, let alone been one yourself.)
For these reasons, some states are taking action to address the inequitable struggle working moms face, while other parts of the country seem to be digging in their heels like a stubborn toddler and refusing to move on the issue.
A new report from WalletHub compared state dynamics across three dimensions – child care, professional opportunities and work-life balance – and 15 key metrics to identify the best and worst states for working moms.
According to their research, the five best states for working moms are largely clustered in the Northeast. They are, in descending order, Vermont, Minnesota, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia and Connecticut. Vermont ranked in the top-five of all three dimensions, including a number-one ranking for 'professional opportunities'. Connecticut made up for a low number of professional opportunities with high ratings in 'child care' and 'work-life balance'.
The five worst states are South Carolina, Nevada, Alabama, Louisiana and Idaho, respectively. Alabama, Louisiana and Idaho ranked near or at the bottom in 'child care' and 'professional opportunities', while Alabama didn't rank above number 42 in any category.
States that voted Democratic in the 2016 presidential election are significantly friendlier toward working mothers, based on their average rank.
So if you're looking for the best place to live as a working mom, go northeast, young mother!
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