While it’s not a faultless country by any means, New Zealand has become a much more progressive country in recent years. Compared to the United States, where women’s reproductive rights are currently under attack, New Zealand has many points in its favor in regard to women’s equity.
The Person in Charge is a Woman Leading a Diverse Government
Three cheers for Jacinda Ardern! Not only does she prove that you can be a mother and a woman with a successful career at the same time, but Jacinda Ardern led her country through the pandemic when other countries were failing at to do so. Ardern is a modern feminist icon. Every time I turn around, she is in the news talking about progressive and fair programs that she wants to implement into her government.
New Zealand Was the First Country That Gave Women the Right to Vote
This isn’t a brand new fact, but it says a lot about New Zealand’s commitment to women’s rights. In 1893, Lord Glasgow signed an act into law that allowed all women of New Zealand to vote in parliamentary elections. What’s ironic is that suffragettes in New Zealand were initially inspired by British suffragette campaigns, yet New Zealand’s suffragettes were more successful in their attempts.
There’s Universal Healthcare
If you’re a woman living in the United States with no health insurance, your life is pretty miserable. Unfortunately, this is the case for many American women. Fortunately, New Zealand has been able to implement healthcare standards for all residents through a publicly funded program, which is mostly developed through taxes. There are some copayments but no deductibles. New Zealand started putting this program together as early as 1938!
if You’re Tired Of The Stress Of the Girl Boss Life – New Zealand Doesn’t Have That
If you’re familiar with the “slow way of life” phrase that is used to describe a lot of European living, then don’t be surprised that New Zealand believes in it too. The cities are quieter and there’s less traffic. Even though a lot of women are involved in running the country, New Zealand women don’t tend to stress over attending school and getting a good job, especially since the educational system is so much better there. As someone who prefers a quiet life with a dash of feminism, I’d personally like to live a New Zealand lifestyle, please.
The Crime Rates Are Almost Nonexistent
It would be a nice change to live somewhere where I am not afraid to walk alone at night. While it’s truly impossible to eradicate crime, there are fewer weapons in New Zealand and crimes usually consist of pickpocketing. In fact, there’s hardly any data available on mass shootings in New Zealand. Gun ownership in New Zealand is lower than in the United States, but Ardern’s government is currently working on legislation so that not just anybody can easily access weaponry as is currently allowed.
