The reason why families headed by a mother are more likely to be poor is because

• A. Women average only 72% of what men earn.
• B. Women have fewer opportunities.
• C. Men earn more overall.
• D. Higher taxes on single-parent families.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is the gender wage gap and how it lowers income for households headed by a mother. On average, women earn less than men—about 0.72 for every dollar—so when a family is led by a mother, the total income tends to be lower than in similar households with a male earner. That reduced income makes it more likely for the family to fall into poverty, since essential expenses like housing, childcare, and food must be covered with fewer dollars. While unequal opportunities and discrimination can contribute to lower earnings, the direct link to poverty in mother-headed families is the earnings gap itself. The idea that taxes are higher for single-parent families isn’t a universal or primary mechanism driving the higher poverty risk.