07.11.2011

Women in America

Four disturbing facts related to women with low family wages are contained in a new report on the state of women in America. A new report entitled Women In America – Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being was released by the U. S. Department of Commerce this week. The report touts itself as the most comprehensive to be compiled on the state of women in some 50 years. Here are four of the highlights CWJC of Middle TN will consider when planning community services to bring positive impact to women’s social and economic well-being.

1- Some 71% of all mothers with children under the age of 18 are working mothers.

2- Female-headed families have the lowest family earnings, typically around $42,000. And this group increased by 27% from 1988 to 2008.

3- Women have more chronic health conditions than men and more women age 18-64 have no health insurance. In 2009, 18 percent of non-elderly women lacked health insurance, up from 13 percent in 1984

4- Women still lag behind men in income - Women working full-time now make 80 percent of what men make. Today 57% of all married couple families are dual-earner couples, compared to 46% in 1970.  And more women than men work part-time.