CPA News Releases, Advisories, and Editorials

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 1, 2000 – Women are entering this election season with surprising ambivalence and pessimism, finds the Center for Policy Alternatives’ and Lifetime Television’s Women’s Voices 2000 research project. Focus group research from across the country released today at the Republican National Convention (2pm EST, Philadelphia Marriott) has shown that women believe the current economic structure isn’t solving the problems they face: making ends meet, health care, the time crunch, safe communities, and education for the future of their families. Women want education for themselves and their children, jobs that pay a living wage, and a better balance of family and work. Women talk about taking charge of their future by starting their own businesses. They also want control over their lives and see other women as part of the solution – women leading companies, starting their own businesses, and in elected office.

Women’s Voices 2000 is the most comprehensive polling project of women in this election cycle, led by women about women, with recent focus groups held to inform a national poll to be released in October 2000. “Women’s voices set the tone for the 21st century of politics. Candidates that sit up, take notice and respond to them can win their valuable support,” says Linda Tarr-Whelan, President of the Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA). Women’s Voices was first conducted in 1992 and is the only comprehensive initiative of women’s views that has been done in subsequent Presidential elections, this being the third. The research team includes a bi-partisan, multicultural set of public opinion experts: Celinda Lake of Lake Snell Perry & Associates, Democratic pollster; Linda Divall, a top Republican pollster of American View Point; 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.

“This polling project is an important part of Lifetime’s ‘Every Woman Counts’ campaign created to give women a voice and to ensure that that their voices are heard in the presidential election,” said Meredith Wagner, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Lifetime Television. “It is critical to amplify the message found in these focus groups, that women are greatly concerned about their economic futures and their families’ long-term well-being.”

Copies of the focus group summary can be found at www.stateaction.org or by calling CPA at (202) 387-6030. Key Findings from the Focus Group reveal:

• The promise of the strong economy has not yet delivered for many women and their families.
• The time crunch and struggle to balance family and work is getting worse for women juggling jobs, home life, raising children, and taking care of elderly parents.
• Many women would like to start their own businesses and they see positive changes as of result of women-led businesses.
• Women are concerned about health care for their families and all children.
• Women are hopeful — but not optimistic – that the lives of the next generation of girls will be better and worry about their future.
• African American women are particularly concerned about their children’s safety.
• Women are proud of the work they do. However, they still face male-domination in the work world and say they must work harder to make the same gains.
• Technology is a double-edged sword. Many women believe the new economy and technology are opening doors for women in the work force and say the Internet provides new opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Although initially meant to ease the time crunch, technology has placed new demands on women, forcing them to be accessible at all times and requiring them to respond faster and faster.
• Women have a hard time envisioning a role for themselves in the global economy.
• Women believe community activism is an important part of reform.

Focus groups were held in June 2000. The purpose of the research was to explore women’s daily lives and concerns. Areas of inquiry included women in the workplace, values, the economy, and civic and political participation. This research consisted of seven racially and economically diverse groups of women in California, Connecticut and Georgia.

CPA is one of America’s leading nonpartisan public policy and leadership development centers working across the 50 states. LIFETIME Television is dedicated to providing the highest quality entertainment and informational programming for women. LIFETIME is available on more than 11,000 cable systems and alternative delivery systems nationwide, serving over 76 million households. The Lifetime Movie Network is a 24-hour service launched in July 1998. Lifetime Online (www. lifetimetv.com) features deep informational resources and interactive entertainment. LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie Network and Lifetime Online are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of the Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

Women’s Voices 2000 is made possible by the generous support of Lifetime Television, Ford Foundation, BellSouth Corporation, Ms. Foundation, Hunt Alternatives Fund, Nokomis, Brico Fund, Merle Chambers Family Fund, the Colorado Women’s Agenda, Atlanta Women’s Foundation, and Connecticut Permanent Commission on the Status of Women.