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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2024
Contact: William Lutz 202-785-5100
Native Women Face Nearly 200-Year Wait for Equal Pay, New IWPR Report Exposes Inequality Across States
Washington, DC — As Native Women’s Equal Pay Day approaches on November 21, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) has released a new fact sheet highlighting the severe wage equity disparities faced by Native women and the far-reaching economic impact of the gender pay gap nationally and state-by-state.
The sobering analysis shows that Native women won’t reach pay equity with White men until the year 2202—almost 200 years from now. Worse still, the gap between the earnings of a Native woman and a White man has only widened between 2022 and 2023, growing from 54.7 to 52.4 cents on the dollar.
Key findings from the fact sheet include:
- Wage Deficit for Native Women: In 2023, American Indian and Alaskan Native women earned just 52.4 cents for every dollar paid to White men. This translates to an average of $28,144 less annually for Native women to support their families, save for emergencies, or invest in retirement.
- Persistent Disparity Among Full-Time Workers: Even among Native women working full-time year-round, the gap is striking across the board. These women earned only 58.3 cents for every dollar paid to White men, creating a 41.7 percent wage gap.
- Centuries to Wage Equity: Based on trends since 2002, projections indicate it will take until 2202—nearly two centuries— for Native women with earnings to achieve pay equity with White men. This is an increase in the amount of time it will take for the wage gap to converge from last year’s estimation of 2144 to reach pay parity.
- Pay Gap Widespread Across All States: In every state with sufficient data, Native women earned less than White men. New Jersey had the largest gap, with Native women earning just 41.9 percent of what White men made, while Missouri had the smallest gap at 73.7 percent.
- Full-Time Earnings Gaps State-by-State: In Louisiana, Native women working full-time, year-round experience the starkest wage gap, earning just 51.6 percent of what White men were paid, while Arkansas had the highest earnings ratio for Native women in this category at 84.7 percent.
Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, president and CEO of IWPR, emphasized the significance of these findings:
“Sadly, there is no end to this inequity in sight,” said Dr. Taylor. “The wage gap for American Indian and Alaskan Native women is a product of centuries of violence, and systemic discrimination, rooted in exclusion based on gender, race, and ethnicity. From lower earnings to fewer full-time job opportunities and higher exposure to violence Native women are denied economic mobility at every turn. Before we can even begin to develop solutions that address these challenges, we must first prioritize improved data collection and Native control over the research to ensure policies accurately reflect the real lived experiences of Native women workers.”
For more information on the fact sheet and IWPR’s ongoing work to promote economic equity, please visit IWPR.org.
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.