Women Are More Likely To Live In Poverty Than Men

In The Spotlight

While women have made a number of advances in gaining equal rights, poverty continues to be a prevalent issue facing large numbers of women. Even though women continue to make strides towards securing equal pay, advancing in their careers, and family lives, they are still stifled by major setbacks related to poverty. Women are more likely the be impoverished than men and more likely to face  hardships related to finances and job security.

A recent report by Maria Shriver in partnership with the Center for American Progress, provides a look at the economic challenges, an estimated 42 million women, are faced with in modern times. The report examines the results of surveys provided to 3,500 American women, that attempt to paint a portrait of the challenges faced by them. The report highlights that low-income women, largely, express wishes related to being enabled to invest in education and other opportunities to aid in their income mobility and security.

The establishment of safety net programs has assisted many women from being lifted out of poverty; the deconstruction of such programs will disproportionately impact the very women aiming to improve their lives. Professor of Social Policy at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College,  Mimi Abramovitz, highlights that cuts to government programs and services directly constructs a “war” against women. Continued attacks on government programs designed to decrease economic inequalities is contributing to the continued oppression of women. In dismantling government safety net programs, the equal rights that women have continuously fought for are becoming directly challenged.

Direct Service Implications

While cuts to government safety net programs places a diverse set of people at great risk, women in particular will be directly impacted. Direct service providers must continue to be conscious of ways in which they can empower and understand clients who are exposed to societal oppression. By remaining informed about the unequal treatment of women across the nation, service providers can continue to advocate for their individual clients and for women as a whole. An informed and knowledgeable provider is one that can address how particular hardships faced by individual women, who, like all people, are impacted by the greater society.
One way, providers can stay informed about approaches to working with various oppressed populations is to locate resources provided by professional organizations, like the  National Association of Social Workers. Being an advocate and partnering with likeminded groups, such as the National Organization for Women, is another way to utilize partnerships as a way to empower consumers.

Courtesy of McSilver Institute of Poverty Policy and Research who has kindly given SJS permission to syndicate this piece.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the articles listed in the Policy News Briefs are not necessarily the views of the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research or NYU’s Silver School of Social Work. If you have comments or suggestions about this service, contact us at 212-998-5937 or simply reply to this email.

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