Women, Poverty, and Economic Insecurity in Wisconsin and the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis MSA

Since the beginning of the recession in 2007, with its high unemployment and rising poverty rates, more families than
ever are struggling to make ends meet. This briefing paper analyzes the impact of the recession on Wisconsin’s families.
It finds that nearly two-thirds of all households in poverty in Wisconsin are headed by single women and, across-theboard,
women are more likely than men to be poor. Families headed by single mothers and families depending on
women’s wages have been the hardest hit.