THE FEMINIZATION OF POVERTY IN THE UNITED-STATES - GENDER, RACE, ETHNICITY, AND FAMILY FACTORS

This article delineates the contribution of gender, race, ethnicity, m arital, and parental status to the feminization of poverty. Its analys is of recent published and unpublished census data suggests that gende r, race, and ethnicity strongly affect poverty rates. However, parenth ood interacts with gender in such a way as to affect only women and to affect White women more than Blacks and Hispanics. By examining these sources of poverty separately, the authors articulate more clearly th e forces that have generated rapid feminization of poverty. They also specify trends across White, Black Puerto Rican, Mexican American, and other Hispanic populations as well as preschool and school-age childr en in female-householder families. The analysis takes into account a r ange of factors that have contributed significantly to women's poverty . It also evaluates competing arguments regarding public policies that best alleviate the problem.