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Every third woman in Austria is at risk of falling into poverty! The bitter reality.
Alarming statistics show that one in three women in Austria is at risk of poverty. A story by Ina R. sheds light on this crisis.
Every third woman in Austria is at risk of falling into poverty! The bitter reality.
The current figures from Statistics Austria show a worrying development in Austria: one in three women in the country is at risk of poverty in old age, and the trend shows a worrying increase. According to Krone, what is particularly striking is that this reality is often the result of life decisions and economic conditions that are challenging for many women.
An example of this alarming development is the story of Ina R. from Vienna. The 62-year-old minimum pensioner has raised five children and worked all her life, but the financial burden of old age is becoming more and more pressing. Ina reports that she hasn't been to a restaurant in two years, in fact only for her 60th birthday, which illustrates the drastic impact of her financial situation. She currently only has 100 euros available and is worried about her ability to survive the month financially.
Risk of poverty among women
The risk of poverty is not only an individual fate, but also points to systematic injustice. Women in particular are disadvantaged in this respect. According to Statistics Austria, the dimensions of the risk of poverty are diverse. They range from income poverty, which concerns household income compared to the median of the population, to material and social deprivation, which represents absolute poverty that does not meet the European minimum standard of living.
Furthermore, there are differences in employment participation between the genders. The financial situation of women in households with one adult is often more difficult to analyze because all income in the household is added together. These practices often obscure the inequalities that exist in terms of poverty risks between women and men, particularly in single-parent or one-person households.
Urgent need for action
The alarming situation of women like Ina R. shows that there is an urgent need for action. Political decision-makers are called upon to review and improve social safety nets in order to guarantee older women a living quality of life. The statistics paint a picture of a plight that threatens many women in Austria, and it is time to counteract this trend and offer support to those affected.
Given that the multitude of challenges women face are often under-acknowledged, it is imperative that we pay more attention to these issues. Krone and other initiatives are helping to give these issues more visibility and push for an urgent solution.