Survey: Hamilton County women say healthcare, community and fair pay are top concerns
Wed, July 22, 2026 at 11:37 AM
File photo: Getty Images.
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. —Affordable healthcare, stronger community connections and fair pay are the issues weighing most heavily on women in Hamilton County, according to a new report released by the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga
The nonprofit surveyed more than 500 people and held focus groups with more than 40 women and girls during a community input campaign conducted in 2025. Every Hamilton County ZIP code was represented in the survey
Read the full survey at the end of this story
Across all respondents, affordable and accessible healthcare ranked as the top concern, followed by building community and fair pay and employment opportunities. Those three issues were identified by 67% of respondents as their highest priorities. Healthcare was the top concern across every age group surveyed
“We are so excited to share this report with the community,” Executive Director Melody Shekari said. “Across all groups of respondents, it’s clear that affordable healthcare, building community, and fair pay are the top concerns of women in our community. Two things we know are clear: women are eager to see systemic change and there is much work to be done.”
Within the report’s three focus areas, respondents identified their top concerns as:
Safety
- Domestic abuse and intimate partner violence
- Rape and sexual assault investigation reform
- LGBTQ+ rights
Economic opportunity
- Wage equality and fair pay
- Childcare affordability and availability
- Worker rights
Health
- Reproductive rights, including access to birth control, IVF and abortion
- Public health access and funding
- Women’s health outcomes, including physical and mental health
Participants also described challenges finding affordable healthcare, long waits for primary care appointments, a shortage of mental health providers and concerns about access to reproductive healthcare. Many also pointed to loneliness and social isolation, saying they wanted stronger community connections
The report also found concerns about affordable housing, rising grocery costs, childcare, workplace discrimination and the widening wage gap. One statistic cited in the report says only six of Chattanooga’s 77 major employers with at least 100 employees are led by women
Survey respondents ranked equity, the right to vote and justice as the personal values most important to them
Shekari said the findings will guide the Women’s Fund’s advocacy efforts in the years ahead
“The report findings give us insight into what women in our community are really experiencing and, in turn, that gives us the opportunity to do more research for policy and advocacy solutions that will help fulfill our mission to improve the lives of women and girls in Tennessee.”
Read the full survey below:
Click here to view the PDF file
Depend on us to keep you posted
