Poverty - Women

Poverty - Women in United States

United States

Poverty is associated with poor health outcomes. It influences environmental exposures and health-related behaviors, and is linked to an increased risk of mortality and chronic disease. In 2021, 35% of families living in poverty were female-headed households with children younger than 18. 

Women with incomes below the federal poverty level may struggle to consistently meet basic needs such as stable housing, food and health insurance coverage. The negative implications of poverty among women include:

• Reduced access to health care services.
• Higher rates of chronic diseases and death.
• Decreased access to healthy food.
• Increased risk of sexual exploitation and trafficking.
• Lower rates of physical activity.

The cost of poverty adds up over time and becomes an endless cycle; those with limited income spend a larger portion of their wages on basic necessities and are often taken advantage of by predatory lenders, forcing them deeper into debt.

The poverty rate is higher among American Indian/Alaska Native women ages 18-44 than women of all other racial and ethnic groups. Black women have the second highest rate, followed by women who identify their race as other. Asian women have the lowest poverty rate, followed by white women.

Addressing the gender wage gap by implementing universal basic income and adequate work-family policies could reduce poverty among women. Various government programs currently exist to provide assistance to women in poverty:

• The earned income tax credit (EITC) program provides a tax credit to low-income employed families and individuals living in poverty. The amount of the credit is based on income, marital status and number of children.
• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as food stamps, provides nutrition benefits to help households in need afford food.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides food and nutritional support specifically for pregnant and postpartum women and children. 
• Medicaid provides health care to low-income adults, pregnant women and children.

Healthy People 2030 tracks different measures of economic stability, including reducing the proportion of people living in poverty.

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Coalition on Human Needs. 2016. “The High Cost of Being Poor in the U.S.: Anti-Poverty Programs Help Alleviate Costs, But More Must Be Done to Reduce Burdens.” Washington, D.C.: Coalition on Human Needs. https://www.chn.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Final-CHN-Natl-Census-Poverty-Report-9.20.16.pdf.

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Khullar, Dhruv, and Dave A. Chokshi. 2018. “Health, Income, & Poverty: Where We Are & What Could Help.” Health Affairs Health Policy Brief. Bethesda, MD: Project HOPE. https://doi.org/10.1377/hpb20180817.901935.

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