As the cost-of-living crisis hits, young women across Australia are facing tough choices. Many are skipping meals and delaying medical care to make ends meet. A new study reveals just how far some women are going to manage rising costs, and it’s becoming clear that the financial strain is taking a serious toll on their health and well-being.
The Reality for Young Women
Ruby Neisler, a 23-year-old from Logan, Queensland, is one of many young women caught in this bind. Each week, she scours local discount supermarkets for bargains, carefully selecting only the items on special to stretch her limited budget. “I can afford to have a decent meal… I’m not sketching out on different ingredients,” she explains to ABC News. At Tribe of Judah, a church-backed supermarket offering deeply discounted products, she can afford a more balanced meal, but it’s clear that such compromises are becoming the norm.
Ruby is not alone in facing these tough choices. According to the study by Deakin University, 570 Australian women aged 18 to 40 participated, with many admitting to skipping meals or putting off medical appointments to save money. Nearly half of those surveyed hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and many are employed full-time. But despite these qualifications, the burden of high living costs, combined with systemic gender inequalities, has placed them in a precarious position.
Systemic Inequality and Financial Pressure
Dr. Simone McCarthy, who authored the report, explains that young women are particularly vulnerable due to the intersection of gender pay gaps and unpaid caregiving responsibilities. Women are often expected to carry the weight of caregiving for children or elderly family members while simultaneously grappling with financial insecurity. This creates a cycle of constant trade-offs where women are forced to make difficult decisions about their health and basic needs.
Dr. McCarthy highlights that many women are forced to live in unsafe or unstable housing, further compounding their vulnerabilities.
Delayed Health Care: A Dangerous Trade-Off
For Ruby, putting off medical appointments has become routine. She shares that it wasn’t until recently that she managed to go to the dentist after a year of avoiding the expense. “It’s a little embarrassing, It’s a little embarrassing, but I went to the dentist for the first time in over a year the other day. I was so scared of the cost ” she admits. Unfortunately, Ruby’s experience is all too common. Dr. Nick Yim, the president of AMA Queensland, has expressed concern over this growing trend.
He notes that delayed medical care, especially when it comes to essential screenings like mammograms or cervical tests, can lead to severe consequences in the future.
The Hidden Toll on Women’s Health
What’s concerning is that many women, like Ruby, are putting their own health on the backburner to prioritize the needs of others—whether that’s children, parents, or other family members. Dr. Yim points out that this behavior can sometimes lead to tragic outcomes, like undiagnosed illnesses or even death. The strain on young women is immense, and the cost-of-living crisis only magnifies these challenges.
