Early elections have started. Election Day, November 3, probably won’t have an enormous turnout. It isn’t a midterm or presidential year. But some issues will be decided by voters, and American citizens should take their right to vote seriously. As with most recent elections, the female vote will probably exceed the male vote, thus determining many things.
In presidential election years, the gender gap and the women’s vote are frequently discussed in the media. Candidates of both major parties vie to win their coveted vote and support, while trying not to alienate others. Women are a powerful political ally. However, they don’t have as much high-level, decision-making power as they should. More women need to seek office, win and make changes that are needed to improve our economy, government and country. Others need to continue to shatter the glass ceiling, run corporations and open their own businesses.
There is much speculation that if more women had been in top positions in financial institutions/Wall Street, things would have turned out differently. My guess is they are right and that we would be living in a much more staple economy right now.
Professional sports have a lot of appeal. In Dallas, the new Cowboy Stadium has garnered record crowds, including many women. NASCAR also performs well with women spectators. Many minor league or farm teams have a strong appeal because it is easier for families to attend them than major league games because of the cost of tickets, food and parking.
attract women to their facilities and convert them from casual spectators to avid fans? Don’t get me wrong, many women have already reached the zealous fan status. When I wrote my blog on Female Fantasy Football, it was apparent many women were devoted followers.
homemakers. That is, until they were needed to help out if factories during the war. Few products and services are developed or promoted to this audience. These women have experienced a world of technology and healthcare innovations in their lifetime. They are still viable consumers spending much more than marketers think, especially women born at the end of this era.
Women Baby Boomers were the first generation to receive a college education in large numbers. They became professionals such as doctors and lawyers, as well as corporate executives and business owners. They were not only a significant breadwinner, but the major spending for the family and often for the workplace. Divorce increased significantly and many became single parents. Boomer women changed the face of both the workplace and marketplace with their demands and spending clout. They believe in the buy now, pay later premise and credit card debt skyrocketed. Female boomers are rated as the most important demographic for many marketers and retailers today.
Generation X is much more skeptical than their parents, and with good cause. They have witnessed lying, corruption and massive layoffs. They were termed “latch-key kids” because both parents worked and mom wasn’t baking cookies when the kids got home from school. Women want much more balance in their lives than their mothers had. Many opt for flexible hours or staying home with the kids for a few years. Women in this generation haven’t had to fight many of the battles their predecessors did to achieve success in the workplace. They are able to make more demands of employers and work less than Boomers.
Millennials/Generation Y are the most-supervised and activity-programmed generation ever. Because of the multiple demands, many women in this group are superb multi-takers. Female Generation Ys are interested in the planet and “green” companies. They are active in social media and other internet activities, texting friends more often than calling them. They enjoy their careers, but it is not their lives. They have many interests.
As more women of color receive higher degrees, enter the workforce and seek managerial positions, the amount of dollars they have to spend is increasing as well. When marketing to different ethnic groups, it is important to consider the needs, traditions, culture and heritage of Hispanic, African American and Asian women, among others.
Their spending power is approximately $700 billion. They are often the primary decision maker in households with children. Higher education is fueling their ability to spend, with Black women receiving more master’s degrees than ever before. This spending is funded by the more than 8½ 