Texas Named A Worst State For Women: Study

Women in Texas have it rough — at least according to a study from Wallet Hub. The study, published Monday, named Texas the No. 10 worst state for women.

The determination was made after looking at 23 key factors of women's wellness including median wages, employment rates, affordability of healthcare, share of women who vote, quality of healthcare and the number of crimes committed against women. Researchers studied these metrics and others in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The study ranked Texas notably low in two categories. The Lone Star State came in at No. 48 for percentage of women who voted in the 2016 presidential election. In fact, it beat only Tennessee, West Virginia and Hawaii in this category.

Worse yet, Texas has the lowest uninsured rate among women. Texas bottomed out this list, landing at 51 overall.

Mary Godwin, a WalletHub expert and a Professor of Sociology in the History and Society Division of Babson College, said women should consider a number of key factors when choosing a state of residence.

"The gender wage gap is key -- some states are better than others -- as is health care and the social safety net -- again, some states, like Massachusetts, are generally better than others. The education level of women and the number of women in state legislature are also important considerations," Gowdin wrote.

Women are largely underrepresented in political offices as well. According to the study, women make up 51% of the U.S. population but only 22% of the Senate and 19.3% of the House of Representatives.

As for the Texas House of Representatives, only 29 of the state's 150 house representatives are female. In Washington, only three of the states' 36 representatives are female.

Another WalletHub Expert, Elizabeth S. Smith, who chairs the Department of Politics and International Affairs at Furman University, was asked how to get more women to run for political office. Here's what she said:

"Asking them. Then, asking them again, and then, asking them again to consider running. Women are more likely than men (even similarly qualified men) to believe that they are not qualified to run for office. They need to be reassured that they are indeed qualified. Campaign training is helpful for both male and female political novices. Party support is always important to any candidate, and strong role models are hepful, as well," she wrote.

Texas' Overal Rankings By Category:

• 21st – Unemployment Rate for Women
• 38th – Share of Women in Poverty
• 20th – High School Graduation Rate for Women
• 48th – Share of Women Who Voted in 2016 Presidential Election
• 51st – Female Uninsured Rate
• 32nd – Women’s Life Expectancy at Birth
• 21st – Quality of Women’s Hospitals
• 43rd – Women’s Preventive Health Care

>>> See the full study and methodology at WalletHub