Transcript Document

Ascend Roundtable:
Low-income women & Single Mothers
Perspectives on Economic Security
Findings from two research projects: National Surveys
for Wider Opportunities for Women & Center for
Community Change/Ms. Foundation
March 2011
Celinda Lake
Lake Research Partners
Washington, DC | Berkeley, CA | New York, NY
LakeResearch.com
202.776.9066
Summary
2
•
The 2010 Community Voices for the Economy survey for the Ms. Foundation/Center for Community
Change (2010 Nationwide Survey of 1,004 Adults with Oversamples of African American Women, Latinas,
Low-Income Women, and Single Moms) showed Americans saying that the economic downturn has
affected both their families and their communities.
•
Latinas seem to be particularly hard hit during the downturn - especially by job loss, with two-thirds saying
their personal situation has been affected by the country’s economic situation, and over half reporting
that they or someone in their household has lost a job in the past year.
•
Security and stability are the new frame. Job security is a major concern, key to a quality job and key to
well-being. Quality jobs are preferred over good-paying jobs. Stability and security is a new concept that
has emerged in this up-and-down economy where hard work, playing by the rules, savings and plans can
be undermined in a moment by others’ actions. For unmarried women, opportunity is an important goal
for the economy, as well as stability.
•
As we learned from the 2010 research for Wider Opportunities for Women (Focus groups & a nationwide
survey of 1,000 adults with oversamples of African-American, Latino, & low-Income adults), many
Americans feel they do not have economic security, but that this is something they aspire to—for
themselves and for their family members—and it is a goal that everyone shares.
•
The strength of the frame, “building economic security” bears out in the polling—it is strong among the
public overall, as well as those who are lower-income and higher-income. It is also strong crossgenerationally.
Specific Experiences of Low-Income Women & Single
Moms
•
The 2010 Community Voices for the Economy survey found single moms and low-income women
with little to fall back on, and single moms have been particularly hard hit in this recession. They
have particular concerns about health care costs, everyday expenses, losing a job, and what
jobs pay.
•
They seek security and especially stability, and they feel they have less control over the economy.
Living paycheck to paycheck is a reality for majorities of low-income women and single moms.
•
Pay raises, job security, and health care costs and other costs stabilizing are their economic goals.
•
Single moms especially are simply short of money and live paycheck to paycheck, while having
had hours and wages reduced. They worry about their pay in the future. Single moms want an
economic agenda that includes accountability and opportunity, as well as stability.
•
Quality jobs are especially important to single moms. Nearly all low-income women and single
moms strongly agree about prioritizing creating quality and good paying jobs.
•
When it comes to policy remedies, most low-income women and single moms say health care
that is more available and affordable, and that is not dependent on your job is personally
important to them. Any policies that have to do with affordability and money, including lowering
taxes resonates, especially with single moms.
Economic Impacts & Aspirations
Stability and security mark what Americans want in the
economy. It is a new dialogue. Living paycheck to
paycheck is a reality for majorities of low-income women
and single moms.
4
Strong majorities of Americans believe those at either end of the age
spectrum and unmarried women are most likely to have trouble making
ends meet. Majorities also believe that working and middle class
families have trouble making ends meet, but these views are less
intense.
From your perspective, how much trouble making ends meet do you think each of the following groups
faces: a lot of trouble, some, a little, or no trouble at all?*
Trouble Making Ends Meet
Young adults
56%
Senior citizens
53%
Unmarried women
53%
Blacks or African Ams
44%
Working families
43%
Middle-class families
85%
82%
76%
84%
41%
Latinos or Hispanics
37%
Women
36%
0%
10%
20%
A lot
5
85%
82%
71%
79%
30%
40%
50%
Some
2010: Wider Opportunities for Women Survey, May 20-27, 2010 (1,000 adults nationwide)
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Most Americans say the economic downturn has impacted their
family and community. Single moms are slightly more likely than
low-income women and the public overall to say the downturn
has had a great deal of impact on their families, though still over
a third of low-income women also describe the effects this way.
Impact of Economic Downturn on Your
Community
Low-Income
Women
Single Moms
-15%
38%
-14%
-40% -20%
Impact of Economic Downturn on Your Family
42%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
83%
Low-Income
Women
-20%
34%
84%
Single Moms
-16%
45%
100%
-40% -20%
0%
20%
80%
84%
40%
60%
No impact at all
A little impact
No impact at all
A little impact
A great deal of impact
Some impact
A great deal of impact
Some impact
80%
100%
Low-income women and single moms are most worried
about rising health care costs, jobs, and especially
everyday expenses. The cost of everyday expenses is
even more a concern for them than the public overall.
% First and Second Choice (% First
Choice)
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Low-Income
Women
Single Moms
Rising health care costs
39% (22%)
30% (16%)
Lack of jobs that pay a wage that allows you to support your family
22% (12%)
24% (16%)
Everyday expenses like food and gas
27% (14%)
34% (16%)
Federal budget deficit and national debt
14% ( 8%)
8% (3%)
Higher taxes
13% (5%)
15% (8%)
Losing your job
22% (13%)
24% (12%)
A secure retirement
12% (6%)
14% (7%)
Housing and mortgage costs
10% (4%)
12% (4%)
Expenses like child care or college tuition
10% (3%)
15% (7%)
CEOs bonuses and abuses on Wall Street
6% (2%)
3% (2%)
Credit card debt or other expenses
9% (3%)
7% (3%)
Decline of stock market and the financial crisis
4% (1%)
3% (1%)
Americans overall say that both economic security and
economic stability are more important to them than economic
opportunity. Economic security is particularly strong for lowincome women. For single moms, opportunity is also important.
Thinking about the economy, which is more important to you personally – economic
opportunity or economic security?
80%
69%
70%
62%
60%
55%
50%
40%
43%
35%
30%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Opportunity
Security
Total
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*split-sampled question
Opportunity
Security
Low-income women
Opportunity
Security
Single Moms
Stability is important for both single moms and lowincome women.
Thinking about the economy, which is more important to you personally – economic
opportunity or economic stability?
70%
66%
63%
64%
60%
50%
40%
35%
34%
33%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Opportunity
Stability
Total
9
*split-sampled question
Opportunity
Stability
Low-income women
Opportunity
Stability
Single Moms
Half of single moms associate job security with economic
security. Stability is associated with health care costs
stabilizing and no longer living paycheck to paycheck.
SINGLE MOMS
What Needs to be in Place to Have
Economic Stability/Security
Stability
Security
Health care costs stabilize
52%
46%
I am no longer living paycheck to paycheck
49%
39%
I have job security
43%
51%
My taxes go down
42%
43%
My retirement savings stabilize and increase
41%
43%
I get a pay raise or a cost of living increase to my salary
40%
34%
Opportunities to learn new skills through education and training
30%
30%
Family members have job security
28%
33%
Unemployment decreases
22%
32%
Work supports like child care are in place for more workers
21%
21%
*split-sampled questions
Like the public, low-income women associate stabilized health
care costs and retirement savings with both economic stability
and economic security. They are even more focused than the
public on no longer having to live paycheck to paycheck.
LOW-INCOME WOMEN
What Needs to be in Place to Have
Economic Stability/Security
Stability
Security
Health care costs stabilize
41%
41%
My retirement savings stabilize and increase
40%
39%
I am no longer living paycheck to paycheck
39%
35%
I have job security
39%
34%
I get a pay raise or a cost of living increase to my salary
36%
32%
Family members have job security
34%
34%
My taxes go down
34%
33%
Opportunities to learn new skills through education and training
28%
26%
Unemployment decreases
21%
27%
Work supports like child care are in place for more workers
18%
19%
*split-sampled questions
While Americans are hopeful for the future, most do not think
they have significant control over their own economic situation,
with about one in five saying they feel like they have no control
at all. Women are less likely to say they have control, though
only about a quarter of men say they have a great deal or a lot
of control.
Level of Control over Current Economic Situation
Total
Men
Women
-60%
-41%
-40%
10%
-21%
-40%
-20%
9%
0%
A little
23%
12%
-22%
-42%
No control at all
12
-21%
Some
control
A great deal
26%
20%
20%
36%
34%
38%
40%
A lot
Low-income women and single moms are even less likely
than the public as a whole to say they have a great deal
or a lot of control over their personal situation. Most say
they have only a little or no control at all.
Level of Control over Current Economic Situation
Some control
Low-Income Women
-53%
-28%
Single Moms
-52%
-27%
-60%
-40%
No control at all
-20%
A little
5%
8%
0%
A great deal
33%
14%
19%
20%
A lot
29%
40%
Three in ten low-income women and single moms have
no money in savings.
Rainy Day Savings
Low-Income Women
Single Moms
10%
9%
More than $10,000
$5,000-$10,000
4%
6%
$2,500-$5,000
7%
8%
$1,000-$2,500
7%
8%
$500-$1,000
8%
$100-$500
8%
7%
Less than $100
8%
12%
10%
30%
Zero
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
32%
35%
40%
Four in ten Americans report living paycheck to
paycheck at least most of the time, with this being more
common among women than men.
Frequency of Living Paycheck to Paycheck*
-54%
Total
Men
-15%
-15%
-58%
Women
-65%
Never
-20%
-24%
-15%
-51%
-45%
Once in a while
-25%
24%
44%
19%
-16%
-5%
Some of the time
40%
30%
15%
All of the time
47%
35%
55%
Most of the time
-- One third of African-American women (34%) and Latinas (32%) report living paycheck to paycheck all of the time.
15
*split-sampled question
Half of single moms and over a third of low-income
women say they live paycheck to paycheck all of the
time, the most of any group.
Frequency of Living Paycheck to Paycheck
Low-Income Women
-39%
Single Moms
-65%
Never
*split-sampled question
-12% -10%
-11% -10%
-29%
-45%
Once in a while
36%
-25%
-5%
Some of the time
60%
71%
52%
15%
35%
All of the time
55%
75%
Most of the time
Single moms are also more likely than Americans overall
to say they worry that they will not have enough to cover
their expenses and bills. The majority of low-income
women also worry about this most or all of the time.
Frequency of Worrying Total Family Income Will Not be Enough to Meet Expenses and Bills
Low-Income Women
44%
-13% -11%
Single Moms
-46%
-14% -10%
-70%
Never
*split-sampled question
-50%
Once in a while
-30%
-10%
Some of the time
35%
55%
54%
40%
10%
“I can spend whole
nights…I haven’t
done it in the last
few weeks, but I
have spent whole
nights laying
awake at night
worrying about
money.” – Lowincome White
Woman (Portland,
Maine)
30%
All of the time
50%
70%
Most of the time
More than half of Latinas report that they or someone in their household
lost a job in the past year, significantly higher than the public overall
and African American women. Single moms and low-income women
are also somewhat more likely to have experienced job loss, either
themselves or a member of their household, than the public as a whole,
though not nearly as high as Latinas.
You or Someone in Your Household Has Lost a Job in Past Year
80%
68%
70%
63%
60%
50%
44%
40%
37%
40%
30%
60%
56%
31%
20%
10%
0%
African American Women
Yes
*split-sampled question
Latinas
Low-Income Women
Single Moms
No
The majority of women of color say they or someone in their household
has had their wages, hours or tips reduced in the past year. More than
half of low-income women and single moms report that they or
someone in their household has had their wages, hours or tips reduced
during the past year – the highest of any of our subgroups.
You or Someone in Your Household Has Had Wages, Hours or Tips Reduced in Past Year
70%
60%
60%
50%
50%
56%
53%
48%
45%
43%
40%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
African American Women
Yes
19
*split-sampled question
Latinas
Low-Income Women
Single Moms
No
About half of single moms say they are very concerned
that they or someone in their household will be out of a
job in the next 12 months. The majority of low-income
women share this concern, though intensity is 13 points
lower.
Concerned You or Someone in Your Household Will be Out of a Job in the Next 12 Months
Low-Income Women
Single Moms
-75%
Not at all concerned
*split-sampled question
-34%
-48%
-42%
-55%
-25%
-35%
A little concerned
-15%
52%
36%
49%
5%
25%
Very concerned
58%
45%
65%
Somewhat concerned
Potential Policy Remedies
Most low-income women and single moms say health care
that is more available and affordable, and that is not
dependent on your job is personally important to them. Any
policies that have to do with affordability and money,
including lowering taxes resonates, especially with single
moms.
21
Lower taxes are the most important policy proposal for single moms,
followed by affordable health care and more jobs with decent wages
and benefits for low-income families. The latter two policies, along with
equal pay and benefits, resonate the most with low-income women.
% Personally Important (% One of the Most Important)
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Total
Low-Income
Women
Single Moms
Lower taxes
71% (38%)
73% (35%)
81% (58%)
Equal pay and benefits for men and women
74% (37%)
82% (46%)
77% (48%)
Health care that is more available and affordable, and
that is not dependent on your job
72% (36%)
81% (48%)
83% (50%)
More jobs with decent wages and benefits for lowincome families
73% (32%)
84% (46%)
89% (52%)
More affordable education and training opportunities
69% (32%)
74% (35%)
81% (46%)
End discrimination based on race, gender and age
63% (27%)
72% (38%)
79% (47%)
Providing some income to workers when they take
family and medical leave to care for a new baby, a sick
child or an aging parent
61% (23%)
62% (24%)
67% (32%)
Flexible and alternative work schedules
47% (17%)
48% (19%)
66% (31%)
Available and affordable child care
51% (16%)
55% (22%)
61% (27%)
*split-sampled questions
Framing & Language
“Building economic security” stands out as a good description of
government programs and policies that help lower and middle-class
Americans make ends meet. “Family economic security” is also
strong.
23
Confirming our focus group findings, descriptions that
focus on “economic security” are well received while
“standards” is more problematic.
Now I am going to read you a list of words and phrases some people use to describe government programs
and policies in existence to help lower and middle-class Americans make ends meet. For each, please tell me
on a scale that goes from 0 to 10, where 0 means it is not at all a good description of the programs and policies
in place to help lower and middle-class Americans make ends meet and 10 means it is a very good description.
Building economic
security*
19%
Family economic security*
32%
35%
15%
Family economic stability*
13%
29%
Financial safety net*
13%
29%
Safety net*
23%
11%
Economic Security
Standards*
24%
10%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
"10"
*split-sampled questions
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2010: Wider Opportunities for Women Survey, May 20-27, 2010 (1,000 adults nationwide)
25%
"8-9"
30%
35%
40%
Appendix
Over six in ten adults say they are worse off economically than
compared to four years ago. However, as is typical of
Americans, they prove optimistic about the future, with similar
numbers expecting to be better off four years from now.
Family Better/Worse Off
Four Years From Now*
Four Years Ago*
-80%
-24%
-63%
-60%
-23%
-40%
Much worse
*split-sampled questions
64%
-7% 15%
-20%
29%
0%
Somewhat worse
20%
Much better
40%
60%
Somewhat better
80%
Though most low-income women and single moms say they are
worse off now than four years ago, they prove optimistic about
the next four years. Almost one in four single moms says she
expects to be much better off four years from now. Single moms
are some of the most pessimistic about the past and most
optimistic about the future.
Family Better/Worse Off
Low-Income Women: Four Years
Ago
-69%
-29%
Low-Income Women: Four Years
From Now
Single Moms: Four Years Ago
-27%
-80%
62%
12%
-68%
-37%
Single Moms: Four Years From
Now
-22%
-60%
Much worse
*split-sampled questions
23%
-40%
-20%
Somewhat worse
25%
-10%
24%
0%
69%
20%
Much better
40%
60%
Somewhat better
80%
Community Voices for the Economy: Survey Methodology
Lake Research Partners designed and administered this survey which was conducted by professional
interviewers. The survey reached a total of 1,004 adults nationwide, with oversamples of 100 African
American women, 100 Latinas, 100 single mothers, and 200 low-income women. Relevant cases in the
base were folded into the oversamples. The survey was conducted January 19 to February 3, 2010.
Telephone numbers for the base, African American women, and Latina samples were drawn from
random digit dialing (RDD) sample. Telephone numbers for the low income-women and single mother
oversamples were drawn randomly from listed files based on gender for both samples and age for the
single mother oversample. The base sample was stratified by gender and geographically to reflect the
population. Data in the base sample was weighted slightly by gender, age, region, party
identification, marital status, parental status, education, and race to reflect the attributes of this
universe. Data in the African American women and Latina oversamples were weighted slightly by
age. Data in the single mother and low-income women oversamples were weighted slightly by race.
The margin of error for the base survey is +/- 3.1%. The margin of error for the African American women
and Latina oversamples is +/- 7.6%. The margin of error for the single mother oversample is +/- 8.1%.
The margin of error for the low-income women oversample is +/- 5.1%
28
WOW Research Methodology
Focus Groups: 10 focus groups, held in March 2010
Philadelphia:
–
White seniors, HHI under $50,000
–
Women aged 18-25
Berkeley, CA:
–
White women, under 200% FPL, without college degrees
–
Latinas ages 36-65, HHI under $50,000.
Atlanta, GA:
–
Seniors, HHI under $18,000
–
African-American women, HHI under $50,000
Chicago, IL:
–
Seniors, racial minorities, HHI under $50,000
–
White non-college educated women, HHI under $100,000
Denver, CO:
–
Women aged 26-39 (mixed race)
–
White, non-college educated men, HHI under $100,000.
National Telephone Survey:
–
–
–
–
29
RDD survey of 1,000 adults, 18+
Oversamples: 100 African-Americans, 100 Latinos, & 100 adults annual incomes $10,00015,000
May 20th to 27th, 2010
Margin of sampling error +/- 3.1 percentage points