Columbus, Georgia, ranks among the worst cities for women in a surprising new survey
Unfortunately, there is more bad news for women, especially if you live in Columbus, Georgia. Columbus ranks among the worst cities for female residents, according to a WalletHub survey.
The city placed in the bottom 10 of 182 cities, coming in at no. 173, raising concerns about earning potential, life expectancy and unemployment.
The breakdown of Columbus’ scores
The survey uses 15 metrics related to women’s living standards. Key indicators include economic, health and safety concerns, none of which Columbus excelled in.
General rankings:
Economic and social well-being: no. 158
Healthcare and Safety: no. 167
Specific ranking:
Life expectancy at birth: no. 180 - this is the second to lowest among all the cities studied.
Columbus fared slightly better than Augusta, which came in at no. 179 for its overall score, but Atlanta was the best-performing Georgia city with a ranking of no. 35 overall.
Global studies have shown a decline in women’s rights with the U.S., surprisingly, trending down. According to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, the challenges faced by women, particularly women of color, are intensifying across various demographics.
Economic inequality
Poverty: Black and Latina women are twice as likely to live in poverty, compared to white women
Wage gap: Georgia mothers earn significantly less than fathers do, with an annual wage gap of $21,579
Lack of paid family leave for women in Georgia
Retirement income age: Women over 65 are at greater risk of poverty than men due to the retirement income gap
Healthcare access and outcomes
Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates, with Black women three times more likely to die in childbirth
15% of women 19-64 are without health insurance
Reproductive rights
Access to women’s preventive healthcare is ranked no. 30 in the nation
Leadership and Representation
Women make up only 25% of all directors of boards in public companies in Georgia.
Only 24% of local political administrations are comprised of women.
In 2019, only 30% of newly registered business owners were women.
Although these are statewide numbers, based on Columbus’ ranking in this survey, it is apparent that the city has a long way to go.
