When asked to think about the impacts of poverty, people rarely think about the reality of diaper need, but diapers are essential to ensuring the health and well-being of children and families. In this brief, you’ll find an overview of our latest research into the complex and nuanced patterns of thinking that many Americans share when it comes to these issues—from blaming individuals for their own experiences of diaper need and thinking that poverty is inevitable, to relying on racist and sexist stereotypes about people experiencing poverty. In order to increase support for systemic solutions that address diaper need and poverty more broadly, this pervasive individualism, stigma, and fatalism will need to be overcome.

This strategic brief identifies challenges and opportunities posed by how the public currently thinks about diaper need and poverty. Based on descriptive research mapping the gaps between what stakeholders and advocates want to communicate about diaper need and poverty and how the public currently thinks about these issues, we offer some initial recommendations to help navigate these challenges and leverage the opportunities.

For information on our research methods, click here.