Harris Poll Reveals Women More Pessimistic Than Men on Inflation and Economic Anxiety

Gendered Anxiety in the American Economy: What the Latest Poll Reveals About Inflation, Policy, and Household Realities

The American economy, viewed through the prism of public sentiment, is rarely just a ledger of numbers or a parade of market indices. It is a lived experience, shaped by the daily routines, anxieties, and aspirations of millions. The latest Harris Poll commissioned for The Guardian pulls back the curtain on these realities, revealing a profound gender divide in economic outlook—one that cannot be explained by statistics alone.

Inflation’s Uneven Burden: Women at the Economic Frontline

The poll’s headline finding—that 62% of women, compared to 47% of men, harbor pessimism about the economy and inflation under the Trump administration—speaks to more than political affiliation or abstract economic theory. It is a reflection of who shoulders the day-to-day management of household expenses, and who feels the squeeze when prices at the checkout counter rise.

Women, often the primary shoppers and caretakers, report deep anxiety over the cost of groceries and childcare. This is not a theoretical discomfort, but a lived, anticipatory financial distress. It is the quiet calculation at the register, the mental tallying of rising bills, and the persistent worry that tomorrow’s prices will climb higher still. The poll’s results reveal that inflation is not a distant macroeconomic phenomenon; it is a daily adversary for those managing family budgets.

Policy Disconnects: When Economic Growth Leaves Households Behind

While sectors such as the stock market may flash green, signaling prosperity to investors, these gains remain largely inaccessible to those whose financial lives revolve around essentials. The divergence between asset appreciation and consumer price inflation exposes a troubling policy gap. Robust stock performance means little when the cost of living outpaces wage growth, especially for women who, as the poll suggests, are more likely to feel the brunt of these price hikes.

Trade policies, including the administration’s tariffs, have contributed to this dynamic. Intended to protect domestic industries, such measures often ripple through supply chains, landing with force on household budgets. The poll’s findings are a clarion call: economic strategies that tout growth while overlooking their uneven impact risk deepening the very anxieties they seek to alleviate.

Structural Inequities: Confidence, Careers, and the Gender Gap

Beneath the numbers lies a story of structural inequity. Women in the survey reported not only greater financial anxiety but also lower confidence in their ability to change jobs or secure their financial futures. This hesitancy is rooted in longstanding disparities—lower wage growth, patchier job security, and persistent barriers to advancement. The poll thus functions as an implicit indictment of employment policies that have failed to keep pace with the realities of a modern, dual-income workforce.

The economic anxiety captured here is not merely a response to market volatility, but a symptom of deeper systemic issues. Addressing them requires more than short-term stimulus or rhetorical reassurance; it demands a reevaluation of workplace regulations, wage policies, and support structures that can empower women to weather economic storms and seize new opportunities.

The Global Context: Domestic Anxiety, International Repercussions

America’s economic mood does not exist in a vacuum. The skepticism voiced—especially by women—reverberates beyond borders, intersecting with global trade tensions, shifting alliances, and the uncertain aftermath of the pandemic. Domestic policies that fail to address household-level anxieties risk undermining not only consumer confidence but also America’s standing in an interconnected world.

For policymakers, the message is clear: economic governance must be grounded in the realities of those who feel its effects most acutely. A gendered perspective is not a niche concern, but a necessary lens for crafting policy that is both empathetic and effective. As the U.S. navigates inflation, supply chain disruptions, and global competition, the path to resilience lies in recognizing—and responding to—the lived experience of its people. That, more than any market rally or policy pronouncement, will define the true health of the American economy.