In the 1980s and 1990s, there was a surge in the number of accessible and better-paying jobs for Black women, but now, this progress has stalled. And it’s seemingly affecting everyone.
The wage gap between Black and white women has increased dramatically since 2000. Black women are paid 38% less than white men and 21% less than white women. These harmful gaps are impacting every characteristic of Black life. Fifty-five percent of Black women live in rent-burdened homes, meaning that they spend over 30% of their income just on rent.
Reducing the earnings gap and investing in Black women could create over one million jobs in the U.S. and add about $450 billion to the economy.
However, systemic hurdles are keeping Black women 200 years behind white men in terms of income. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research conducted a study using their most recent data.
Their study found that racial equity in income makes a fairer and richer society for everyone, and the widening pay gap makes that equity harder to reach without changes in policy, structure, and employment.