Rural women share much in common regardless of income.

Rural women share similar challenges and joys, regardless of income. That's among the early findings of a study on welfare reform and rural women. For this project, University of Nebraska researchers are examining the lifestyles of 42 rural Nebraska women, said Kathleen Prochaska-Cue, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources family economist.

Nebraska's study includes women of all income levels while the regional study includes only women eligible to receive food stamps. Nebraska's more inclusive study lets researchers compare women in the same community to learn how income influences their lives.

Researchers are interviewing and surveying participants annually during the three-year study, which began in 2000. Prochaska-Cue and Susan Churchill, an IANR family scientist, ask participants about the availability of child care, transportation and medical services in their communities. Respondents provide information about their jobs, incomes, expenses and spending habits.

The availability of child care is a major concern, Prochaska-Cue said. Many women work nights so they can share child care responsibilities with a spouse or partner, or rely on family and friends for child care.

There's also a high need for quality transportation because many rural Nebraska women drive 20 miles or more for shopping or medical care, she said.

Most women are satisfied with their communities. Many believe small towns provide safe environments for children and foster strong family ties and friends. Several women cited the importance of their communities' churches.

"The women recognize they're giving up something economically to live in small towns but stay there because they enjoy the strong connections within their communities," Prochaska-Cue said.

She hopes policy-makers will consider the study's results when making welfare reform policies.

"Previous policies were written with urban areas in mind without thinking about how they would impact rural areas," she said.

– Ashely D. Anderson