Workingwomen Speak Out

Survey Report

Executive Summary

Background

As the United States approaches what may be among the closest Presidential elections, workingwomen are a key voting population.  Understanding their attitudes and concerns sheds light on their likely voting behavior.

There are just over 68 million workingwomen in the United States, 60% of American women over age 16 (U.S. Department of Labor, 2003).

BPW/USA ® ’s Survey of Workingwomen

Between fall 2003 and spring 2004, Business and Professional Women’s Foundation ® conducted a survey of American workingwomen about their workplace, security and quality of life concerns.  The nearly 7,300 respondents are a broad cross-section of workingwoman from every region of the United States, every income level and every demographic.

 Workingwomen as voters

For political candidates who want to know “What do workingwomen want?” this survey provides clear answers.

Overwhelmingly, domestic issues take precedence over terrorism and international issues.  When asked “which issues will influence your vote the most,” fully 79% choose “domestic issues such as joblessness and education” and only 21% choose “international issues such as terrorism and trade.” 

 Workplace concerns        

Health care emerges as the most important concern to workingwomen both as a political issue and as a workplace issue.  As a political issue, an astonishing 98% say health care costs are of major (86%) or moderate (12%) importance, with only 2% saying it is of minor or no importance.  As an employer benefit, health insurance ranks first with 86% saying it is of major importance and an additional 10% ranking it as moderate in importance and only 4% choosing minor importance or no importance.

The widespread concern about health care costs reflects the American reality that nearly one in five workers has no health insurance, while many others have inadequate coverage.  Of all American women who lack any health insurance at all, 58% work full-time (35%) or part-time (23%).  Even for workingwomen with coverage, cost is a major concern: the average annual employee contribution for employer-sponsored family health insurance is $2,412 plus co-payments and deductibles.

 The women’s movement

Support for the women’s movement is overwhelmingly mainstream among American workingwomen.  More than three out of four workingwomen (77%) report that the women’s movement has helped their own career growth.  And 92% approve of Title IX, the “federal law that prohibits high schools and colleges that receive federal funds from discrimination on the basis of gender . . . to ensure equal opportunities for girls and women in high school and college athletics.”