Letters to the Editor
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Oh no, there's no sexism in this campaign. Check out the top story on CNN right now
Wanted: Single women voters in Pennsylvania
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/21/unmarried.voters/index.html
Um, okay, this is a good start?...
Maria Wing is a lawyer in Philadelphia -- 28 years old, single and in debt. Until recently, single women like her were largely ignored by candidates and disengaged from the political process. But she and thousands of others could prove key in Tuesday's Democratic Pennsylvania primary and again in November.
28, single and in debt. Wait, is this a crisis somehow? What's the crisis? She's not a single mom. Her debt is law school debt, and her mortgage (both "good debt"). What's the problem?
Research by WVWV shows unmarried women with an average income of $30,000 or less, are the ultimate economy voters. They care about real-life economic needs such as healthcare, childcare, raising the minimum wage and equal pay.
Oh women, they only care about women's issues. And this has nothing to do with Maria Wing, a lawyer.
"We are on our own; [its] not like I have a husband or someone to augment my income should something happen with my job. I certainly can't ask my parents for anything," she said.
Wing is a first-time homeowner, with a very different take on the economy than many of her married girlfriends.
"My friends who are working and have their husbands, they're like, 'Oh, you know it'll shake out.' They worry about their 401k's, whether or not stocks are going up," said Wing. "I'm like, 'Dude, I'm worried that if the market keeps slipping' ... I can't help but think, 'Oh God, what if I lost my job?' "
Single women don't have husbands to rely on. Sound the alarm!
In Pennsylvania, according to United States Census data, 44 percent of unmarried women struggle with a household income of less than $30,000, compared to 14 percent of their married counterparts. Moreover, while 87 percent of married Pennsylvania women have private health care coverage; the number drops to 66 percent for unmarried women. Additionally, unmarried women make 56 cents on the dollar compared to men. Married women earn 77 cents on the dollar.
Oh these unmarried women! Why don't they just get married?!