This independent project began with a simple frustration: many “best states for women” rankings describe where women are doing well, but do not fully show how state laws, policies and outcomes differ across issues that affect women’s health, economic security, safety, work, caregiving and legal autonomy.
How do state laws, policies and measurable outcomes differ in ways that affect women’s legal autonomy, economic security, health, safety and practical independence?
This is not a government index, peer-reviewed academic study or political-party scorecard. It combines data published by the organizations named on the Data page. Those organizations own and maintain the underlying data; they do not endorse this index.
The synthesis, domain definitions, category scores, proxy choices, normalization rules and weights are original editorial judgments in this project. The index is a model for comparison, not an objective or universal definition of the best state for every woman.
This independent project was created by an Illinois-based strategy and digital-product leader who wanted a clearer way to understand how state laws, policies and outcomes affect women’s rights, choices, economic security, health and safety.
The model uses publicly available data and documented editorial judgments. It is a personal project and is not presented on behalf of an employer, political party, advocacy organization or research institution. Its credibility should come from transparent sources, clearly stated assumptions and the ability to inspect how the results were produced.
Jobs, family, community, climate, taxes, housing preferences and countless personal considerations are outside the scope of this index. The tool isolates one question: equality and autonomy at the state-policy and state-outcome level.
If a source is outdated, a law changes or a stronger nationally comparable dataset becomes available, the index should be updated. Transparency means treating correction as part of the project, not as a threat to it.
Available methods and source dates are documented, missing provenance is disclosed, and corrections should be incorporated when a stronger comparable source or original source record becomes available.