Black History Month provides this country the opportunity to shine light on ignored history and neglected truths, as well as to inspire us throughout the year to fight for progress. We draw that inspiration from the acts of great Americans who fought for noble ideas and the most basic right of human dignity. The struggle is constant and we all have a part to play.
As a leading think tank in the United States addressing policy through an intersectional and gendered lens, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) marshals social science research and brings it to bear on the inequalities women face every day. Since IWPR’s founding, our research has explored the differences experienced by women across different races and ethnicities. Black women in the workforce face greater pay inequality than their White counterparts, but are the fastest growing group starting their own businesses. They vote at higher rates than any other group, but have the lowest representation in elected office.
The Pacific West is the most broadly diverse region in the country, according to a new measure of regional demographic diversity developed by IWPR. The new measure scores each region based on the number of women from each racial and ethnic group, rather than on the concentration of the non-White population as a whole.
As The Atlantic’s CityLab notes in its coverage of the findings, “Only when lawmakers gain a detailed understanding of who the most vulnerable women are and what specific problems they face can they create an environment where all women thrive.”
IWPR President Heidi Hartmann told CityLab:
“We need to understand that diversity is a nuanced concept, with tremendous variation, so that we can target policy solutions and make sure no group slips through the cracks.”
Consider making a donation to IWPR today to help us continue to produce quality research from all backgrounds. Our research is used daily by the media, policy makers, and the general public to draw attention to the needs of women and craft solutions.
108 years is too long to wait for pay equality – Donate now.
