- Background: The Florida Commission on the Status of Women is a nonpartisan board established by statute in 1991. The Commission’s mandate is to study and report findings to the Governor, Cabinet, and Legislature on issues affecting women.
- The Commission oversees the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame, which was created by Florida Statute in 1982 to honor women who, through their lives and efforts, made significant contributions to the improvement of life for women and all Florida citizens. This year, Belle Bear, who topped the 2025 Power List, will be inducted on Sept. 30.
Healthcare and Economic Pressures
The survey of 1,208 Florida women reveals that both healthcare and economic security issues impact 55% of respondents—an increase from 48% in 2022.
- Within healthcare challenges, access to quality, affordable care topped the list at 35%, while affordable health insurance availability came second at 21%. More Florida women have challenges navigating the state’s complex healthcare landscape.
Economic pressures are equally pressing. Among women citing economic security as a primary challenge, saving money for the future emerged as the top concern at 19%, closely followed by paying rent or mortgage (18%) and finding affordable housing (17%).
- The survey reveals a striking generational divide: while older women worry most about housing costs and saving for retirement, younger women aged 18-24 are significantly more concerned about finding well-paying jobs—27% compared to just 7% of older respondents.
Political Landscape
Political issues and policies affecting women saw the most significant increase among top challenges, jumping nine percentage points to 34% in 2025. When asked to specify their political concerns, reproductive rights remained the overwhelming top issue, consistent with 2022 findings, but now accompanied by increased concern about current political leadership and economic policies like cost of living and tariffs.
- The generational gap appears here as well: 40% of women aged 18-24 cited reproductive rights as their primary political concern, compared to 22% of women 25 and older—suggesting younger women feel particularly impacted by recent policy changes.
Only 44% of respondents now view their local government as somewhat or very responsive to women’s needs, down from 53% in 2022. State government fares even worse, with just 41% perceiving responsiveness—a 10-percentage-point drop from 51% in 2022.
- When asked about changes that would create the greatest positive personal impact, women prioritized practical, immediate needs: cost of living and housing solutions (24%), healthcare and mental health improvements (10%), and employment and economic opportunities (7%).
Young Women Face Distinct Challenges
The survey’s special focus on 18-24-year-olds reveals unique pressures facing younger women. Beyond their heightened concerns about reproductive rights and job availability, they report significantly higher rates of experiencing violence against women (35% vs. 21% for older women) and greater workplace challenges. These findings suggest that Florida’s youngest adult women are navigating a particularly complex landscape of economic, social, and safety challenges.
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