Women’s Voices 2000 Focus Group Research Shows Need for Stronger Work and Family Policies CPA and Lifetime Television Joint Report Finds that Women Across the Country Believe the Promise of the New Economy Has Not Yet Delivered for Women and Their Families Women are entering this election season with surprising ambivalence and pessimism, according to the Women’s Voices 2000 research project. Focus group research, released at both the Republican & Democratic conventions to policymakers and the media, showed that women believe the current economic structure isn’t solving the problems they face: making ends meet, meeting health care expenses, making their communities safer, advancing their education to ensure a better future, and allowing them more time for themselves and their family. Women’s Voices 2000 is a comprehensive survey research project of women’s priorities in this election cycle. (Results of the national poll of 800 women and 400 men will be released September 27, 2000.) “Women’s voices set the tone for leading edge policies for the 21st Century. Candidates that sit up, take notice and respond to them can win valuable support,” observes Linda Tarr-Whelan, President of CPA. Women’s Voices was first conducted in 1992 and is the only comprehensive initiative of women’s views over the past three Presidential election cycles, this being the third. The research team includes a bi-partisan, multicultural set of public opinion experts: Democratic pollster, Celinda Lake of Lake Snell Perry and Associates; Republican pollster, Linda DiVall, of American Viewpoint; Linda Williams, a nationally renowned political scientist and expert on race and gender from the University of Maryland; and Ana Rivera, a leading pollster on Hispanic issues with Insight Research, Inc. in California. Lifetime Television and CPA hosted “Listening to Women’s Voices 2000: Issues Driving American Women to the Polls,” a forum at the Democratic National Convention. The forum featured leading state and national women officials responding to the issues heard from women in focus groups across the country. Linda Tarr-Whelan is pictured in the Democracy Live Studio talking with U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (LA) and Executive Vice President of Prudential Michele Darling. Additional panelists included Rosa DeLauro (CT) and Carolyn Maloney (NY); President of the White House Project Marie Wilson, President of the League of Women Voters Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins, President of the National Council of Women’s Organizations Martha Burk; and Lifetime’s Team2000 member Sara Furrer. Women’s View of the Economy, the Workforce and the “Time Crunch” – Despite high economic growth and low unemployment, women are less positive today about the economy than they were in 1996 during the last Women’s Voices polling. As one focus group participant stated, “I just feel like things are going to get so expensive and out of reach for a lot of people. My father just had a major operation, and I am not sure that everything is going to be covered.” While women acknowledge the current economic boom, only some say they and their families are profiting from the strong economy. They are distressed about the growing divide between rich and poor, and many say their own families are just getting by. – Women say it is impossible to earn a living wage from most jobs and believe they are still not paid equally compared to men. – Women would like better and more affordable health care and would prefer a health plan they could transfer from job to job. Women also strongly support expanding prescription drug benefits. – Women still see education as the key to success in the workplace. Women remain very committed to education for themselves and their children. They know it is critical to succeeding in today’s economy, especially technology skills. They see education as a way to get ahead in the workplace, and they believe businesses should offer more on-the-job training.  – The struggle to balance family and work is getting worse for women juggling jobs, raising children and taking care of elderly parents. – Sixty-three percent of women with children under the age of six work, and 78 percent of women with children ages 6-17 are in the workforce (AFL-CIO, Bargaining for Child Care, 1999). – For today’s caregivers, 73 percent of whom are women, studies show that caregiving, in addition to their work responsibilities is taking its toll. Seventeen percent must take a leave of absence or give up work entirely (National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP, 1996). Women’s Voices State Partners CPA has partnered with organizations in three states to conduct state polls in conjunction with the national poll. For information on state Women’s Voices partners or other state activities, contact: Connecticut Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, Leslie Brett, 860-240-8300 Atlanta Women’s Foundation, Stephanie Davis, 404-577-5000 Colorado Women’s Agenda, Karen Amidon, 303-863-7336 Policy Solutions to Improve the lives of Women and Their Families – Expanding Family Leave would allow working women and men across the economic spectrum to take care of themselves and their families, without the threat of losing their jobs. As one focus group participant said, “I have to take a day off to take my Dad to the doctor, but I can’t afford to take the day off because I need the money to pay for the doctor.” Policies such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) have been a good step towards easing the burden on working families, but almost two-thirds of employees who needed, but did not take, family or medical leave said they simply could not afford to go without the pay (Bi-partisan Commission to Study FMLA). – Raise the minimum wage to a level that will enable families to earn their way out of poverty. – Enforce fair pay laws so women and families do not continue to lose out on economic security. – Establish a living wage that allows all people to gain economic security. – Provide tax credits for low-income families (EITC) and define what it takes for working adults to meet their basic needs. – Design portable health benefits and pensions through public-private partnerships. – Increase access to prescription drugs through lower prices and increased coverage. Focus groups consisted of seven racially and economically diverse groups of women in California, Connecticut and Georgia in June 2000. Alternatives SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2000 Focus Group Summary and Poll Results Available Click here for the Women’s Voices section of our website, to see full focus group executive summary and national poll results. Or call Nora O’Connell, Manager of CPA’s Women and the Economy Program, at (202) 956-5126.