Reading Between the Lines: Women and Poverty in the United States in 2010

If you are being watched, leave now!

Date: 

September 1, 2011

The Census Bureau 2010 poverty data released in September 2011 show the largest number of poor people in the 52 years that poverty has been measured, 46.2 million, and the highest overall poverty rate, 15.1%, since 1993. The poverty rate for single mother families increased to 40.7%, the highest rate since 1997.

The large gender poverty gap that has persisted since poverty measurement began continued in 2010. Adult women were twenty nine percent more likely to be poor than adult men in 2010, with a poverty rate of 14.5% compared to the 11.2% rate for men. 17.2 million adult women were poor, compared to 12.6 million adult men.

Previous years demonstrate a similar trend: 2009; 2008; 2007; 2006; 2005; 2004; 2003; 2001.

  • Workplace Equality and Economic Empowerment

Author(s): 

Tim Casey

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