A majority of Americans continue to struggle in the wake of the recession, and the impact on women has been particularly severe. Despite the official end of the recession, growing numbers of Americans say the economic downturn has affected their families, with more saying they are living paycheck to paycheck than a year ago. The long-term impact appears more severe for women than men.
- 71 percent of women said they were affected by the recession compared to 65 percent of men. Low-income women continue to feel the greatest impact from the downturn,
with 80 percent saying it has had some or a great deal of impact
compared with 73 percent of low-income men.
- The percentage of low-income women who said they were living paycheck to paycheck increased by 17 points in the 2011 poll to 77 percent.
Despite the rhetoric from political leaders, the desire for a stronger economic role for government has actually grown in the past year.
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Among women, the desire for a stronger government has increased seven points over the past year to 62 percent currently.
The public in general, including a significant majority of women, are concerned that deficit cutting will come at the expense of families and children.
- Two thirds of women (66 percent) and 57 percent of men agree that the government should focus on creating jobs, even it means increasing the deficit in the short term.
Find out more about the 2011 poll.
Learn what the 2010 data uncovered.
Read the Press Release
Press Coverage
The Myth of the Mancession [Ms. Magazine] 10 August 2011
Spotlight Webcast: Poll Finds Women Struggle in Wake of Recession [Spotlight on Poverty - Video] 11 July 2011
Ms. Foundation CEO Warns of Looming ‘Womancession’ [Forbes.com] 30 June 2011
Child care fund cuts taking toll in Mississippi [Jackson Clarion Ledger] 26 June 2011
Anika Rahman on CBS MoneyWatch: The Womancession and Women's Unemployment [CBS MoneyWatch - Video] 13 June 2011
Spending Cuts and the 'Womancession' [Lexington Herald-Ledger] 29 May 2011
Anika Rahman: Fighting the Womancession [GRITtv - Video] 12 May 2011
Help Working Women on Mother's Day [Politico] 08 May 2011
Washington Journal for Monday, April 25 [C-Span - Video] 25 April 2011
New Poll: Most Americans Want Government Help Even If It Means Increasing the Deficit [Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity] 15 April 2011
What do women really want? [Politico] 04 April 2011
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