Final answer:
In 2021, 30.6 percent of state legislators in the United States were women, with variation across states. The representation of women in Congress is lower than the population average, with 21.2 percent being female.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2021, women made up 30.6 percent of the nation's state legislators, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. However, this percentage varies significantly across states. For example, in Arizona and Vermont, women account for around 40 percent of the state legislative membership, while in states like Alabama and Wyoming, women make up less than 16 percent of the legislatures.
The overall representation of women in Congress is also lower than the population average. In 2018, the population of the United States was 49 percent male and 51 percent female, but the population of Congress was 78.8 percent male and 21.2 percent female.
The low numbers of women in executive roles in business and Congress continue to persist, highlighting the need for advancements in gender equality in various sectors.