Women of the Future: Powerful, Stressed

Women are gaining economic clout, but they’re also feeling overburdened, a survey of 12,000 women in 21 countries finds. Women spend some 70% of consumer dollars globally and are set to produce 70% of household income growth in the next 5 years—meaning entrepreneurs who can help them deal with stress stand to reap huge profits, the Christian Science Monitor reports.

Women’s stress isn’t just tied to the current recession, as pointed out by a study released in May that discusses “the paradox of declining female happiness.” While quality of life has improved through the years for both sexes, women say they’re feeling less happy. It could be because better job opportunities have translated into greater economic responsibility—while domestic expectations remain high.