Poverty - Women in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

Poverty is associated with poor health outcomes. It influences environmental exposures and health-related behaviors, and is linked to increased risk of mortality and chronic disease. In 2022, 36% of female-headed households with children were living in poverty. 

Women with incomes below the federal poverty level may struggle to consistently afford basic needs such as stable housing, health insurance coverage and food. Additional negative implications of poverty among women include increased risk of sexual exploitation and trafficking and lower rates of physical activity.

The cost of poverty adds up over time and can become a cyclical. Those with limited income spend a larger portion of their wages on basic necessities, making it difficult to accrue wealth, and are often taken advantage of by predatory lenders, forcing them deeper into debt. 

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the poverty rate is higher among:

• American Indian/Alaska Native and Black women compared with Asian and white women.

Additional research has found that women with disabilities not only have higher rates of poverty than those without disabilities, but also experience higher rates than men with disabilities. LGBTQ women also experience higher rates of poverty than men and women who are straight and cisgender.

Addressing the gender wage gap and implementing universal basic income could reduce poverty among women. Various government programs are available to assist and support women in poverty:

• The earned income tax credit (EITC) program provides a tax break to low-income employed families and individuals living in poverty. The amount of 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 nutritious food.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides food and nutritional support for pregnant and postpartum women and children. 
• Medicaid provides health care coverage to low-income adults, pregnant women and children.

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

Bleiweis, Robin, Diana Boesch, and Alexandra Cawthorne Gaines. “The Basic Facts About Women in Poverty.” Center for American Progress, August 3, 2020. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/women/reports/2020/08/03/488536/basic-facts-women-poverty/.

Chetty, Raj, Michael Stepner, Sarah Abraham, Shelby Lin, Benjamin Scuderi, Nicholas Turner, Augustin Bergeron, and David Cutler. “The Association Between Income and Life Expectancy in the United States, 2001-2014.” JAMA 315, no. 16 (April 26, 2016): 1750. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.4226.

Doan, Tinh, Peng Yu, Lyndall Strazdins, Christine LaBond, and Cathy Gong. “Time for Physical Activity: Different, Unequal, Gendered.” Journal of Health and Social Behavior 63, no. 1 (March 3, 2022): 37–54. https://doi.org/10.1177/00221465211028910.

Franchino-Olsen, Hannabeth. “Vulnerabilities Relevant for Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children/Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: A Systematic Review of Risk Factors.” Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 22, no. 1 (January 2021): 99–111. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838018821956.

Khullar, Dhruv, and Dave A. Chokshi. “Health, Income, & Poverty: Where We Are & What Could Help.” Health Affairs Health Policy Brief. Bethesda, MD: Project HOPE, October 4, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1377/hpb20180817.901935.

Kraft, Pål, and Brage Kraft. “Explaining Socioeconomic Disparities in Health Behaviours: A Review of Biopsychological Pathways Involving Stress and Inflammation.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 127 (2021): 698–708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.05.019.

“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, September 20, 2016. https://www.chn.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Final-CHN-Natl-Census-Poverty-Report-9.20.16.pdf.