The Most Dangerous Places For Women In The USA


The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence recently used data from the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Census Bureau to highlight which states are the most dangerous for women. Compiling statistics that focus on rape and sexual assault, domestic violence, murder, stalking, and suicide rates among women in each state showed that, as women, we’re still a long way from being able to feel “safe” in this country.

1. Rape

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Image by Mariel Loveland via Pixable

According to the statistics, these 10 states had the highest prevalence of rape in 2010:

“1. Alaska (21%)
2. Oregon (21%)
3. Michigan (20%)
4. Nevada (18.8%)
5. New Hampshire (18.7%)
6. Oklahoma (18.6%)
7. Washington (18%)
8. Colorado (18%)
9. Minnesota (16.9%
10. Connecticut (16.9 %)”

2. Sexual Assault

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Image by Mariel Loveland via Pixable

On this map, women most frequently report being victims of sexual assault, other than that which meets the definition of rape, in the following 10 states:

“1. Oregon (43.3%)
2. Alaska (42%)
3. Maryland (41.9%)
4. New Hampshire (40.8%)
5. Washington (40.5%)
6. Illinois (38.6%)
7. North Carolina (38.3%)
8. New York (38%)
9. Connecticut (37.2%)
10. Kentucky (36.8%)”

3. Murder

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Image by Mariel Loveland via Pixable

Compiled statistics list the following 10 states as those where women are most likely to be murdered:

“1. Louisiana (4.44)
2. Mississippi (4.13)
3. Alabama (3.85)
4. New Mexico (3.69)
5. South Carolina (3.57)
6. Arkansas (3.48)
7. Nevada (3.48)
8. Georgia (3.32)
9. Tennessee (3.1)
10. North Carolina (3.07)”

4. Stalking

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Image by Mariel Loveland via Pixable

These 10 states showed the highest prevalence of stalking experienced by women in the United States:

“1. Kentucky (19%)
2. Alabama (18.4%)
3. Nevada (17.7%)
4. Oklahoma (16.6%)
5. New Mexico (16.4%)
6. North Carolina (16%)
7. Tennessee (15.3%)
8. Wyoming (15.2%)
9. Mississippi (15.1%)
10. Pennsylvania (15%)”

5. Intimate Partner Violence

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Image by Mariel Loveland via Pixable

In these 10 states, the rates of three different forms of intimate partner violence (rape, physical violence, and stalking) are most common for women:

“1. Oklahoma (36.8%)
2. Nevada (34.8%)
3. North Carolina (33%)
4. Michigan (32.5%)
5. Washington (32.4%)
6. Maryland (32%)
7. New Hampshire (32%)
8. Alaska (32%)
9. South Carolina (31.7%)
10. Tennessee (30.6%)”

In fact, according to the Violence Policy Center,

“Considering 94% of women who are murdered and four fifths of women who are raped are attacked by someone they know, these statistics are particularly telling.”

What it tells me is that those of us working on prevention initiatives to end domestic violence and sexual assault have a long way to go and that it is only with the widespread support and understanding of others in our communities that these numbers will ever be lowered.

As always, if you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, or for more information, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit their website at thehotline.org. For support after experiencing sexual violence or for more information about sexual violence, please visit the website of Rape, Abuse, & Incest Natioanl Network (rainn.org) or call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Featured Image courtesy of Pixable by Mariel Loveland