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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRegardless of Our Own Success, Nearly Half of American Women Fear Becoming Bag Ladies
Regardless of Our Own Success, Nearly Half of American Women Fear Becoming Bag Ladies
Madeleine Davies
Regardless of Our Own Success, Nearly Half of American Women Fear Becoming Bag LadiesYou! High-powered woman! When you consider your biggest fears, what gets top billing? Death? Small spaces? Losing everything except a whole bunch of bags and becoming a bag lady? According to a recent survey, the chances of you responding "Oh, god the bag lady one. Definitely the bag lady one" are much higher than you would think.
http://jezebel.com/5992724/regardless-of-our-own-success-nearly-half-of-american-women-fear-becoming-bag-ladies
Duer 157099
(17,742 posts)I don't fear terrorists anywhere near as much as I fear homelessness and poverty.
enlightenment
(8,830 posts)and determined that nearly half of American women feared winding up homeless and destitute. I wonder what the percentage would have been if they had lowered that "minimum household income" to $20,000 - or less.
I wonder why they used the $30,000 cut-off?
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)$30,000 per year is not affluent by any measure, but I think the gist is that even those people making more money are afraid of homelessness
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Since I support myself and make my own mortgage payments if something were to happen like losing my job I would end up homeless. I have no doubt about that. As a matter of fact it was the biggest reason why I purchased my Honda outright. So I could have a place to lock so I could feel somewhat protected and sleep. I figured if I lost my house at least I would have my car.
I actually planned ahead for just that eventuality.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)male or female, that isn't afraid of becoming homeless.
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)I think the women angle is b/c we live longer, get less in monthly benefits (generally) and we know it...but yes - anybody making/possessing little $ is terrified.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)particularly scary. I would hate like hell to be wandering around out there by myself.
It's worrisome how thin a thread people are hanging on by these days.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)And I have a nice secure life now, but as friends and relatives die off and there are fewer and fewer people I can ask for help or trust, I am terrified of losing it and not being able to take care of myself and having no one care about me.
Sissyk
(12,665 posts)hollysmom
(5,946 posts)as long as I have the internet, there will always be nice people.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)I also don't know who still uses "bag lady"...Is this nineteen hundred and goddamned eighty-seven?
frazzled
(18,402 posts)"Bag lady" is a condition. You could live in a mansion and still, honestly, fear becoming a bag lady. It refers in our minds to becoming one of those senile, crazy-old ladies who have lost their judgment and wander around saying crazy stuff, wearing weird hats, and carrying around tote bags full of strange things. It could happen to anyone (at least in our fertile imaginations).
I think "bag lady" is sometimes synonymous with dementia.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)Dementia doesn't discriminate against anybody.
Evoman
(8,040 posts)Most of us are a couple of paychecks from sleeping on the street. In my case, I got cancer and am completely unable to work. If it wasn't for my fiancee and family, I'd be dying on the streets right now.
Skittles
(152,967 posts)yes indeed
Sissyk
(12,665 posts)fleur-de-lisa
(14,616 posts)Poverty, homelessness, and becoming that crazy old cat lady. Actually, although I'm not old yet, I am already the crazy cat lady of my neighborhood. And I would forego feeding myself in order to feed my cats.
But despite obtaining a college education, years of paying into my 401(k) - which was devastated by the banksters in 2008-2009, and buying my own home, poverty and homelessness are still very big concerns.
And now they want to mess with social security . . .
There is no security anymore for the middle class. Good job, republican assholes!
Skittles
(152,967 posts)unless you're hoarding cats and subjecting them to abuse, you're simply a person who recognizes the uniqueness of cats
Tikki
(14,539 posts)I have never been there...but, a few years ago we came close to losing our property, well, I thought it
was closer than it actually was but it put a fear in me.
Tikki
Sissyk
(12,665 posts)that responded that way were single or widowed; but my biggest fear would be the loss of my husband or son. I didn't read the choices they had though.
Being homeless is a concern of us all at one point or another. I see it quite a bit with the people that have just recently been fortunate enough to get back on their feet and are back at the homeless shelter to help others.
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)if they work the program, the group helps them find host families and go to school, outpatient recovery programs, etc.
one of our girls was kicked out when she came out - Coming out is a common theme for kids in recovery, btw
IF I'M OLD AND POOR I ENVISION A COMMUNAL LIVING ARRANGEMENT. oops caps, sorry! Bunch of broads laughing, reading, cooking, etc. in a cheap house or whatever.
Sissyk
(12,665 posts)That's horrible.
Hey, the communal living sounds great for old age. We can all get one of those new tent houses? The itty bitty ones.
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)which is why she's homeless.
Sissyk
(12,665 posts)Yes, I see that quite a bit unfortunately. It's very sad.