Join us for IWPR’s 2026 Power+ Summit, The Power Grid: Driving Gender Equity Forward, taking place September 28–29 in Detroit, MI.
Together, we will spark bold ideas, share breakthroughs, and shape the future of gender equity.
By Abby Haglage
Based on current research from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), women earn less than men in nearly every industry, even when doing equivalent work. This “wage gap,” as it’s come to be known, manifests as women bringing home (on average) 78.3 cents for every dollar that a white man (the highest paid individuals) makes. The number gets even worse when divided up by race. While white women earn roughly 83 centers for every dollar a white man makes, black women take in just 66 cents for every dollar, and hispanic women only 60.