COVID-19 and Recovery Response
As the pandemic enters its third year and the nation turns to recovery, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research is committed to amplifying and addressing the challenges women face. IWPR’s new research provides insights and recommendations for policymakers to help meet the urgent and long-term needs of women, their families, and their communities.
Women Bearing Brunt of COVID-19 Economic Pain
IWPR President and CEO C. Nicole Mason addresses women and the child care crisis during an interview with CNN’s First Move with Julia Chatterley.
Widespread Decline in Household Income During COVID-19 Pandemic Contributes to Food Insufficiency Among Families
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the economic security and well-being of families. In addition to finding and sustaining employment, many families are struggling with food insufficiency, a direct consequence of lost earnings. Nationally, more than 37 million Americans, including more than 11 million children are food insecure.
Coronavirus forces rethinking of safety net for working women
The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for working women, but one prominent women's policy expert says it could provide a new opportunity to create the kinds of social supports they should have had all along. Driving the news: In an interview with "Axios on HBO," Nicole Mason, president and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, said the pandemic has created a "she-cession" — a loss of jobs that has disproportionately affected women and highlighted the gaps in the safety [...]
Supporting Student Parent Families in a Time of Crisis
As colleges, service providers, policymakers, and advocates prepare relief and recovery measures, the unique needs of students with children must be considered to ensure they are supported now and in the coming months and years, as student parent enrollment in higher education is likely to increase in response to the economic recession.
July Jobs Report Shows Unemployment Fell Slightly for Women, but Remains Historically High
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug 10, 2020 Contact: Keri Potts | 202-785-5100 | potts@iwpr.org Washington, D.C.—New jobs figures from July show much less job growth than in the previous month, and while women were the majority of those who gained jobs, they continue to face a higher jobs deficit than men. In addition, concerning disparities continue by race, ethnicity, and age: Women’s payroll jobs are 6.9 million (9 percent) below pre-COVID levels; men’s are 6 million (7.8 percent) lower. The unemployment [...]
Paid Leave Victory for DC Families
Believe it or not, there is some light in the COVID-19 darkness for working families trying to hang on to their jobs while caring for themselves or family members in a pandemic. As of July 1, 2020, DC Paid Family Leave provides workers employed by private employers in the District with benefits lasting up to eight weeks per year to bond with a new child, six weeks per year to care for a family member with a serious health [...]