Wage Gap Among Black Women in America

ENG 102

J. Snyder

12/08/2021

Wage Gap Among Black Women in America

Black women are pushed into low-wage occupations due to the professions historically open to African American women. Under the system of slavery and its aftermath, the U.S. is creating lasting disparities in health, education, safety, and opportunity. Furthermore, our nation's story is full of discrimination, consequences, and cultural limitations on women's ability to earn money. The exploitation of and theft from women of color fueled America's economic growth, and those crimes continue to reverberate in women's lives today.

White men hold private sector executive positions at 9.2 times the rate of Black women. The inclusion tax, Melaku explained, is the constant need to withstand subtle racism and work out whether or not to address it, which becomes an unrelenting negotiation with oneself. The women she interviewed for her book talked about how colleagues didn't think they were qualified, even after being hired based on qualifications, or didn't fully trust them, even when they demonstrated good work. Some, she said, talked about getting racialized comments on aspects of their appearance.

While policy proposals to address the double gap were outside the primary scope of this paper, the results of this research suggest that during salary and promotion negotiations, Black women should regularly ask for higher compensation than they assume or that their labor is worth. The issue of reparations for African Americans has recently regained traction in American political discourse. If not addressed and remedied, the double gap could arguably form the substance of calls for reparations for Black women in the future. The gender wage gap measures just how far our nation still has to go to ensure that women of color can participate fully and equally in our economy.

Among women who hold full-time, year-round jobs in the United States, white, non-Hispanic women paid 79 cents. Black women paid 63 cents. Women tend to have lower-paying positions, work in lower-paying industries, and spend less time in the formal workforce. These trends result from pervasive stereotypes and social norms about gender And a lack of workplace support for family caregiving, gender, racial discrimination, and the devaluation of work when women primarily do it. "In a moment when race and racism are at the forefront of all conversations...being called upon to not only lead those conversations but navigate the learning experience for your White colleagues is taxing," Malaku.

In 2019, men made a median of $57,456, while women earned $47,299, a wage gap of 18%. Compared to white, non-Hispanic men, the pay gap for Black women was 38% and 46% for Latinas. Moreover, these numbers are a measure of inequality before the pandemic hit. This pay gap means women have less to spend on food, housing, or child care, if safe child care is even available. Tsedale Melaku, a sociologist and postdoctoral research fellow at the City University of New York who was not involved with the study, researched racial inequity in the workplace for her 2019 book "You Don't Look Like a Lawyer." She found that when Black women and other marginalized people are hired into a predominantly White workplace, they have additional stressors from the work environment.

Unemployment for women, especially mothers and women of color, is skyrocketing. Persistent and ongoing pay inequality means women, particularly women of color, have less money and fewer resources, resulting in devastating consequences for our families. This research compares qualified African American female and white non-Latinx male workers within major occupational categories. Based on the three quantitative methodologies employed in this research. The aggregate double gap in wages by African American women was estimated to be approximately $50 billion in 2019.

The issue of reparations for black women has begun to gain attention in America within the last few years. The point of the wage gap with black women in America compared to the non-Hispanic white man is an issue that wage gap issue can't sweep under the rug. And a new study finds that a lack of leadership opportunities for Black women may contribute.

Works Cited

Make sure to keep the focus on the African American woman. This reference suddenly points to a generic race for women in America, which is not what your report is about.


What about the comparison for Black men? Don't forget, there are 2 races that are keeping the African American women from executive positions even if they are qualified. The black and white men should factor evenly in the discussion and comparison points to create a strong foundational basis for your discussion.


What is the wage gap between African American men and African American women? Remember, the balance of discussion is important. There is also a gender discrimination in relation to wages and office positions within the African American community.