FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2024
Contact: William Lutz 202-785-5100
For Black Women, Pay Equity Remains More than Two Centuries Away
Washington, DC — Black women earned 66 cents for every dollar earned by White men in 2022, according to data released by IWPR on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day on July 9, 2024. The same data show that Black women were paid substantially less than White men in every state, ranging from 41.8 cents on the dollar in Utah to 75.3 cents on the dollar in Hawaii. Disparities were seen among full-time workers and all workers with earnings. At current rates, the pay gap for Black women will not fully close for more than two centuries.
You can read IWPR’s complete fact sheet on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day here.
“We have come to another year and yet another reminder of the disgraceful gender and race-based gap that Black women suffer with when it comes to work and earnings,” said IWPR President and CEO Dr. Jamila K. Taylor. “Black women earned just 66 cents for every dollar a White man earned in 2022, jeopardizing their ability to provide for their children and the overall financial security of their families. The disparity in pay when compared to White men is an injustice that all women have had to endure year after year.”
Research shows that ongoing discrimination, the maternal health and child care crises, lack of access to key supporting programs, and the concentration of Black women in low-wage and undervalued jobs all contribute to pay inequity for Black women.
“Equal pay for equal work is a very simple equation,” said Dr. Taylor. “And we know that when women, and especially Black women, are paid equally, the positive impact is widespread as families, communities, and our broader economy all thrive. Pay equity for women is a win-win situation, so what are we waiting for?”
Among the policies IWPR recommends to address Black women’s pay inequity are greater access to higher-paying jobs where Black women are currently underrepresented, stronger rights to organize through unions, and more enforcement to prevent harassment and discrimination in the workplace. And, as with all women, greater access to paid leave and earned sick time, as well as investments in affordable and quality child, adult, and elder care, are also crucial steps needed to advance pay equity.
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research strives to win economic equity for all women and eliminate barriers to their full participation in society. As a leading national think tank, IWPR builds evidence to shape policies that grow women’s power and influence, close inequality gaps, and improve the economic well-being of families. Learn more at IWPR.org and follow us on Twitter.
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