Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, the day of the year when Black women finally make as much as their non-Hispanic wh.ite male counterparts did at the end of 2023.
??“Based on ACS Census data, the 2024 wage gap for Black women compared to non-Hispanic white men is $0.69 (cents).â€
??This is not a day of celebration for Black women but a day for us all to contemplate why this pay gap exists and how it devalues Black women and take action.
Compared with other women in the United States, Black women have consistently had the highest levels of PAID labor market participation (this does not include centuries of unpaid labor due to enslavement) regardless of age, marital status, or presence of children at home. However, we are disproportionately represented in some of the most hazardous and lowest-wage occupations in healthcare such as CNAs and home health aides. (This is by design) The average wage across the top ten most common occupations for Black women was $30,200 compared to $80,500 for wh.ite, non-Hispanic men’s ten most common occupations. [source: National Partnership for Women and Families]
At the same time:
????3 of 4 Black mothers are breadwinners for their families (married or single)
??????Black women, one year after obtaining a bachelor's degree, have the highest average federal undergraduate student debt of $38,800 compared to other groups.
????♂?????♀?Year after year workplace studies by LeanIn and Mckinsey indicate that Black women are having some of the worst experiences in the workplace. From experiencing all-out racism, microaggressions, gaslighting, lack of promotion opportunities, and access to leadership roles which also impacts their ability to be paid equitably.
This is a problem and contemplation is no longer enough it is time for us to move from awareness to action.
??Organizations
Examine salary parity across gender AND race, make the data visible and work to close the gap
Post salary information in job descriptions
Remove stigma in sharing salaries
Advance Black women to leadership positions
Increase wages for caregiver and service-level roles
Provide opportunities for front-line staff and those in service-level roles to get the tools they need to move to different areas of the organization
Provide good insurance benefits, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave, child care subsidy
Ensure that your culture is psychologically safe for Black women
???????????????Allies
Share your salary with Black women in similar roles
Sponsor Black women
Urge members of Congress to swiftly pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, and co-sponsor the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act (Links w/more info in comments)
????♀?Black Women
Know your worth, ask for it! If you feel afraid, invest in the tools and resources you need to gain confidence asking.
Go where you are valued not tolerated.
Everybody
????Pay ????Black ????Women
#liftingasweclimb2024
#Blackwomensequalpayday2024
#hireblack
Equal Pay Today
