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elehhhhna

(32,076 posts)
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 03:44 PM Mar 2013

Regardless 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

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Regardless of Our Own Success, Nearly Half of American Women Fear Becoming Bag Ladies (Original Post) elehhhhna Mar 2013 OP
Sure enough Duer 157099 Mar 2013 #1
So, enlightenment Mar 2013 #2
I think even the non poor (I hesitate to say affluent) are afraid of being homeless... angstlessk Mar 2013 #9
That's my #1 fear lunatica Mar 2013 #3
I don't know anybody, HappyMe Mar 2013 #4
excellent point, thank you elehhhhna Mar 2013 #5
For single women, it may be HappyMe Mar 2013 #8
It didn't used to be so scary, I thought I could always have a job hollysmom Mar 2013 #14
I just want to give you a hug. Sissyk Mar 2013 #18
you are so sweet. hollysmom Mar 2013 #24
+ a million Blue_Tires Mar 2013 #6
Fearing being a bag lady is not wholly congruent with fear of homelessness frazzled Mar 2013 #11
Good point. HappyMe Mar 2013 #13
I'm sure the number isn't much lower in men. It's terrifying. Evoman Mar 2013 #7
we are here for you too, Evoman Skittles Mar 2013 #16
What Skittles said! Sissyk Mar 2013 #19
Yep, that's true alright . . . fleur-de-lisa Mar 2013 #10
that 'cat lady' thing is a way to put down women who like cats Skittles Mar 2013 #17
I think about this often.... Tikki Mar 2013 #12
I noticed the majority Sissyk Mar 2013 #15
we have a teen in recovery and sometimes have homeless teens in the group elehhhhna Mar 2013 #20
Kicked out of the recovery group? Sissyk Mar 2013 #21
no - kicked out by her family -- elehhhhna Mar 2013 #22
Sorry I misunderstood. Sissyk Mar 2013 #23

enlightenment

(8,830 posts)
2. So,
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 03:49 PM
Mar 2013
"The survey polled over 2,200 women between the ages 25 and 75 who had a minimum household income of $30,000 a year"


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)
9. I think even the non poor (I hesitate to say affluent) are afraid of being homeless...
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 04:04 PM
Mar 2013

$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)
3. That's my #1 fear
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 03:49 PM
Mar 2013

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.

 

elehhhhna

(32,076 posts)
5. excellent point, thank you
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 03:54 PM
Mar 2013

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)
8. For single women, it may be
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 04:02 PM
Mar 2013

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)
14. It didn't used to be so scary, I thought I could always have a job
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 05:13 PM
Mar 2013

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.

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
6. + a million
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 03:57 PM
Mar 2013

I also don't know who still uses "bag lady"...Is this nineteen hundred and goddamned eighty-seven?

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
11. Fearing being a bag lady is not wholly congruent with fear of homelessness
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 04:16 PM
Mar 2013

"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.

Evoman

(8,040 posts)
7. I'm sure the number isn't much lower in men. It's terrifying.
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 03:57 PM
Mar 2013

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.

fleur-de-lisa

(14,616 posts)
10. Yep, that's true alright . . .
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 04:06 PM
Mar 2013

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)
17. that 'cat lady' thing is a way to put down women who like cats
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 05:40 PM
Mar 2013

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)
12. I think about this often....
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 04:19 PM
Mar 2013

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)
15. I noticed the majority
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 05:28 PM
Mar 2013

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)
20. we have a teen in recovery and sometimes have homeless teens in the group
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 06:52 PM
Mar 2013

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)
21. Kicked out of the recovery group?
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 06:59 PM
Mar 2013

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.

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