After the introduction defined poverty and the feminization of poverty, this paper cited U.S. Census data that includes earnings, family status, and education attained which were posited as major factors for the economic condition of women. The first section on earnings presented female-dominated occupations, such as secretaries, teachers, waitresses, and registered nurses, that characteristically had low salaries along with the salary distributions of white and minority women. The family status of women included divorced, widowed, separated, and single female heads of households, and the U.S. Bureau of Census statistics indicated that these households were rapidly increasing in black and hispanic households. In the final section, education attained, education and ethnicity, poverty level, and unemployment data are presented. Tables and a 25-item bibliography are included. (DJC)