Ending Poverty Will Take More Women at the Table

 It’s no secret: when it comes to poverty, women are on the front lines — and too often left to clean up after political inaction.

Single mothers in the U.S. face a poverty rate nearly five times higher than married couples. Across the country, women — particularly women of color — raise children without sufficient income, affordable childcare, or housing.

So let’s ask: Where is the urgency from most male leaders?
Too often, it’s missing. Poverty becomes a debate, while real families suffer.

Meanwhile, women leaders — across the political spectrum — often lead differently. Their leadership style is not just welcome; it may be essential to building a poverty alleviation system that works.

How Women Lead Differently — and Why It Matters

1. Urgency and Moral Clarity

Women bring moral clarity and urgency — grounded in the realities of families in poverty.

Dorothy Day, Catholic social activist and co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, lived among the poor, creating housing and advocating for justice.

Abby McCloskey, Republican economist and former advisor to GOP campaigns, says: “We need a GOP that listens to women and particularly mothers — not just for any political party, but for the country.”
Her call for better childcare and paid leave highlights poverty-fighting priorities that too often get sidelined.

2. Coalition Building and Relational Leadership

Women excel at building coalitions — a critical skill in poverty work.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, reminds us: “Leadership is about inclusion, empathy, and listening.”

Martha McSally, former Republican U.S. Senator from Arizona, led bipartisan efforts to support women in the workforce and expand childcare tax credits — recognizing that economic mobility must be built on a strong foundation for families.

3. Grounded in the Lives of Families

As caregivers, women understand the real-world impact of poverty — and what families truly need: better wages, childcare, housing, and healthcare.

Pramila Jayapal, Democratic U.S. Congresswoman and chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, says it plainly: “Women bear the brunt of poverty... they must be at the center of crafting solutions.”
Yet too often, they are not.

4. A Different Kind of Strength

Poverty reduction demands:

• Patience with complexity
  
• Emotional intelligence
  
• Centering lived experience
  
• Humility to build collective action
  
  

Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, puts it well: “I refuse to believe you cannot be both compassionate and strong.”

Where Are the Men?

Too many male political leaders still prioritize culture wars and soundbites over real solutions—leaving families to navigate serious challenges on their own.

But men shouldn’t be sidelined — they can and must be powerful allies to women leaders.

3 Ways Men Can Be Allies

1. Listen More, Speak Less
   Attend meetings, listen deeply to women leaders, and resist dominating the conversation.
   
   
2. Use Political and Financial Capital to Amplify Women’s Voices
   Support women-led initiatives in government, philanthropy, and business — and help remove structural barriers.
   
   
3. Model New Leadership Values
   Demonstrate that relational, collaborative leadership is not “soft” — it’s the strength we need to end poverty.
   
   

Conclusion: Follow and Support the Women

As Dorothy Day said: “Our problems stem from our acceptance of this filthy, rotten system.”

Building something better will take courageous, collaborative leadership — qualities women bring in abundance.

If we want to truly end poverty in America, we need more women at the table — and more men helping them do it

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