Working-Class Women's Fight for Equality

This Friday, as we come together to celebrate International Women's Day, let’s take a moment to recognize the women who often go unnoticed—the working-class women. While fancy business magazines often feature high-profile executives and successful entrepreneurs, it is the hardworking women behind the scenes who truly make economies function and thrive.

Written by: Katy Rodriguez Botello

Working-class women are the backbone of economies, often found in the ‘5C’ jobs of caring, cleaning, catering, clerical work and cashiering. They are the ones who care for our children, the sick and the elderly. They clean our buildings, cook and serve our food, manage our agendas, and staff our shops. Their work is fundamental in our everyday lives, yet it is often undervalued and underpaid (1).?According to the International Labour Organization, women are disproportionately represented in informal employment, where they often lack social protection and are vulnerable to exploitation (2).

The challenges faced by working-class women

One of the main challenges faced by working-class women is balancing work and family responsibilities. Unlike middle-class women, they are likely to be primary caregivers, and more often in financially strained households where their male partners also work long hours in precarious jobs. This caregiving role not only leads to significant interruptions in women’s employment throughout their lives but also forces them to work shorter hours when in paid work in order to manage the ‘double shift’ (1).

This disparity is even more pronounced for women from marginalized communities, such as women of color, immigrant women, and LGBTQ+ women, who face intersecting forms of discrimination (2). According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report, at the current rate of progress, it will take over a century to close the gender pay gap.

Taking collective action: the power of solidarity

Let's recognize that our collective strength is greater than any individual effort. We can make a difference by taking collective action. Here are some steps you can take today:

Support policies that ensure pay transparency and accountability:

• Reach out to your HR department and inquire about your company’s pay equity policy.
• Ask your leaders what they’re doing to identify and rectify any gender pay gaps in your organization.
• Stay informed about pay equity issues and share relevant information in your social networks, with colleagues, and friends.

Support initiatives that provide opportunities for women from disadvantaged backgrounds:

• Volunteer or donate to organizations that offer scholarships and mentorship programs for working-class women.
• If you have the resources, consider offering mentorship or internship opportunities to women from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Advocate for policies that promote gender equality:

• Call or write emails to your local representatives expressing your support for policies such as affordable childcare, paid parental leave, and affordable healthcare.
• Join or support organizations and individuals that advocate for gender equality and work towards policy changes.

International Women’s Day should be a day to honor and amplify the voices for working-class women, address the challenges they still face and take collective action to ensure they are given the opportunities they deserve. Let's celebrate and support working-class women not just on this day, but every day. Together, we can!

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