With low taxes, minimal regulation, state self-sufficiency, and no knee-jerk reactions to "fix" every social problem through the government this shouldn't come as a surprise.
Your conditions don't really account for Minnesota being #3 on the list. As a Minnesotan I'd proudly describe our state as high-tax, having an appropriate level of regulation (aka much more than Texas), community focused, with lots of interest in finding smart government way to fix lots of social problems. Just another way to get to being a better place for women entrepreneurs.
But as for the rating, North Dakota is at #8, so I don't think cold weather is hurting that.
[0] http://www.startribune.com/census-twin-cities-adds-quarter-m...
Are stories about police stopping children going home a mile away and taking away their parents' parents rights have any merit?
If so, what are your definitions for places, moving where shouldn't come as a surprise?
/s
(no, I don't wonder why because I know why's that. Spoiler: Not women's fault.)
And yeah, citation needed because anecdotal data is not data.
You discount another's account, and with no additional information, you can miraculously assume what the underlying information is. That's going one better than Sherlock, who actually infers from evidence. In my lifetime, I've found that this kind of conclusion jumping is one of the most reliable indicators of bigotry. However we don't need to jump to any conclusions here. In this case, you just up and state what it is you're doing.
Spoiler: Not women's fault.
It's not a good idea to assume things about people based on their immutable characteristics. (Isn't there a technical term for assuming women are innocent, just because they're women?)
That sort of bigotry was done to me as a child, based on my race. At the time, I thought it was cool. Now, I realize that counter factual muddling which separates someone from the consequences of their merits or faults diminishes their humanity. Don't put people up on pedestals. Deal with them as human beings.