For Democratic Leadership – Informed by Direct Testimony from Women in Ohio
Survey Overview
Commissioned by
Socratic Research
Timeline
March–April 2025
Location
Ohio (women respondents only)
Method
Facebook ad → Voice-based AI survey via "Sally," a friendly voice assistant
Topics Covered
Mental health, reproductive care, birth control, aging, stress, body image, access to care
Responses
9 individual survey responses
Mental Health Is a Daily Struggle—Support Is Scarce
Several women described living with chronic stress, anxiety, and mental health challenges, but without robust support systems.
"Every day." — Woman, age 22, when asked how often she experiences stress or anxiety
"I'm not sure that I really use any strategies. Like I talk to my parents and I just keep going, I guess."
"I have mild to moderate anxiety daily and moderate to severe anxiety probably two or three times a week." — Woman, age 45
"Yoga." — Woman, age unknown, describing her only tool for daily mental health
Takeaway: Women are coping, but not truly supported. There's a gap between need and access.
Widespread Skepticism and Gaps in Reproductive Health Care
Women reported limited use of birth control, and several cited barriers related to side effects, lack of trust, or poor information.
"I just don't need it." — Woman, age 22
"Blood clot risk." — Woman, age 44, explaining her concern with birth control
"I would say like non-hormonal if possible." — Woman, age 40
"No, I don't think so either." — Woman, age 40, when asked if she has enough information about birth control
"My gynecologist… never told me about any side effects… I asked directly." — Woman, age 30
Takeaway: Even women who use or have used birth control express concerns about safety and transparency—and feel let down by providers.
Healthcare Inequality and the Fear of Losing Rights
Older and younger women alike voiced fears about rights being taken away and about unequal treatment in the healthcare system.
Gender Inequality
"I would like to see women's health care services be placed on the same level as men's." — Woman, age 64
Rights Regression
"We should at least have the rights we had two years ago." — Woman, age 45
Future Access
"I worry about [birth control's] future availability for others." — Woman, age 45
Political Concerns
"Donald Trump." — Woman, age unknown, listing her biggest concern about birth control
Takeaway: Concerns about access, politicization, and gender bias in care are top of mind.
Preventative Care is Uneven and Often Confusing
Some women are fully compliant with annual checkups, but others admitted they don't know when to get important screenings or simply skip them.
Skipping Screenings
"I don't." — Woman, age 44, when asked if she attends recommended screenings
"When to get Pap smears? More information on Pap smears?" — Woman, age 44
Regular Attendance
"As recommended." — Woman, age 64
"Every year." — Woman, age 40
Takeaway: Even basic preventive care is inconsistent—often depending on a woman's own initiative or confusion about guidelines.
Aging, Pain, and Feeling Ignored
Older women shared stories about pain, mobility limitations, and a lack of belief from medical providers—even in serious situations.
Chronic Pain
"Chronic discomfort, muscle spasms, pain in my neck... Concern for possible surgery..." — Woman, age 64
Aging Concerns
"I'm 62 and I'm worried about aging well… Sometimes the pain in my feet or legs gets pretty painful."
Disbelief from Providers
"I just had a friend who died of ovarian cancer… she went undiagnosed for quite a long time because… there's not a lot of belief in women." — Woman, age 62
Takeaway: Older women feel their health issues are under-researched, undervalued, and sometimes fatally overlooked.
Platform-Specific Messaging Examples & Conclusion
Platform-Specific Messaging
These examples are directly grounded in the real voices of Ohio women and designed for use on various platforms to build emotional resonance, policy support, and political connection.
Facebook (narrative, trust-building)
"One Ohio woman shared that her friend died of ovarian cancer after doctors dismissed her symptoms for too long. 'There's not a lot of belief in women,' she said. That shouldn't happen. In Ohio, we must listen—and act—so every woman gets the care she deserves."
"A 22-year-old in our survey told us she deals with daily anxiety and said, 'I just keep going.' That's not a mental health plan—it's survival. We need to do better. And we will."
Instagram (quote-driven, image-caption combos)
"My gynecologist never told me about any side effects." — Ohio woman, age 30
No woman should be left in the dark about her own body.
"I'm 62 and I just want to age well—but some days the pain is too much."
Aging with dignity shouldn't depend on how loud you're willing to fight for care.
Twitter / X (sharp, quotable)
"We should at least have the rights we had two years ago."
An Ohio woman said this about birth control. We agree—and we'll make sure those rights don't slip further away.
"I don't even know when to get a Pap smear."
If care isn't clear, it isn't accessible. We're here to fix that.
TikTok (voiceover + video concepts)
🎙️ Voiceover: "I blamed my birth control for everything… my POTS, my ADHD… No one warned me." — Woman, age 30
📽️ Cut to candidate: "When doctors dismiss your pain, it's not just frustrating—it's dangerous. In Ohio, your voice matters. Your care matters."
🎙️ Voiceover: "Yoga. That's all I can afford right now." — Woman describing how she manages daily anxiety
📽️ Cut to candidate: "Mental health care shouldn't be a last resort. It should be affordable and available for everyone."
Conclusion: Policy and Political Implications
This survey doesn't speak in abstractions—it speaks in lived experience. Women in Ohio are:
- Managing mental health without adequate support
- Frustrated by confusing reproductive care
- Concerned about shrinking rights and unequal treatment
- Craving clarity, consistency, and real care
They don't want platitudes. They want respect, resources, and reform. Messaging that validates these realities and points to specific action—whether through improved care access, mental health parity, or reproductive rights protections—will resonate.
Ohio Women's Health Survey Report – April 2025