Expert highlights vast disparities in the top 10 best states for working women in the U.S.

Oxfam's latest report on the Best and Worst States to Work in the U.S. has ranked Washington, D.C., California, and Oregon as the top three states for employees based on criteria such as minimum wage, paid leave, and workers' rights to organize.

A Better Balance's president, Inimai Chettiar, states that there are significant differences in access to essential workplace protections depending on the state.

Oxfam focused on policies that significantly impact women and women of color to determine the top states for female workers.

Oxfam analyzed the tipped minimum wage in each state, considering that nearly seven out of 10 tipped workers are women, according to the National Women's Law Center. The organization examined various worker protections, including equal pay, protection against sexual harassment, and providing paid pumping breaks for breastfeeding workers, says Kaitlyn Henderson, senior researcher at Oxfam and author of the report.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 77% of public school teachers are women, and the organization assessed "where states allow collective bargaining for public school teachers."

Here are the top 10 places in the U.S. for women workers:

1. Oregon

2. New York

3. California

4. District of Columbia

5. Illinois

6. Minnesota

7. Washington

8. Connecticut

9. Massachusetts

10. Nevada

Chettiar states that these states have generally been more forward-thinking in their leave and discrimination policies, thinks.

While many states at the bottom of the ranking are situated below the Mason-Dixon line, it's worth noting that there has been significant incremental progress in the South. For instance, South Carolina and Tennessee have recently enacted paid parental leave for state government workers.

As the issue of balancing family and work responsibilities becomes more pressing, she predicts that more states will take steps to make it easier for women to achieve this balance.

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