Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and the Economy
IWPR’s Program on Race, Ethnicity, Gender and the Economy conducts original research and policy analysis using intersectional and racial equity frameworks to better understand the experiences of women of color, their families and communities in the economy and society.
The Unfinished Fight for Equal Pay: How Women Fared in 2024
November 21 was Native Women’s Equal Pay Day, marking the end of this year’s series of events highlighting the gender wage gap faced by women in various groups. Looking back at IWPR’s research on this critical issue, the data show that, almost across the board, wage gaps worsened for women, marking the first time the gender wage gap has widened significantly in 20 years. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) women marked their Equal Pay Day on April 3. While AANHPI women had the lowest wage gap and the highest earnings of the racial/ethnic groups, they still [...]
Unequal Burden: Challenges Facing Black Women Social Workers
Social workers provide a myriad of services to individuals, families, and communities, including counseling and psychotherapy, social and health services, case management, advocacy, and other support and resources. Like most caring professions, social work is undervalued, resulting in social workers often earning low wages, experiencing poor working conditions, and incurring a high student debt burden due to the high costs of education. This research brief highlights the workplace challenges, barriers to licensure, financial difficulties, and high rates of burnout that Black women social workers experience. READ MORE
Supreme Court Undercuts Higher Education Access for Communities of Color
For Immediate Release June 29, 2023 Contact: William Lutz 202-785-5100 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court today turned its back on 50 years of precedent and gutted programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina that enabled students from communities of color to overcome systemic barriers to higher education, increasing campus diversity across the country. The decision could affect thousands of admissions programs across the country, creating challenging new barriers for students of color to navigate, potentially affecting millions of college-bound students. Statement of IWPR Interim President and CEO Daisy Chin-Lor “Every student deserves equal opportunity to [...]
Black History Month and the Importance of Black Women’s Experiences
As a leading think-tank focusing on gender equity issues, intersectionality is a core value of IWPR. Intersectionality applies a lens to how systems of inequality based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, class, and other forms of discrimination intertwine to create unique dynamics and experiences. In our research and policy work, IWPR uses the tool of intersectionality to observe and analyze inequities. In honor of Black History Month, IWPR recognizes the importance of lifting up Black women's experiences. Since women's experiences are not a monolith; it is important to explore the experiences of Black women while [...]
