Racial and gender discrimination in the U.S. exists and coexist in both, the social and employment spheres. Sexism and racism are reflected in institutions, making inequality systematic. Several studies show the wage gap between people of different ethnicities in relation to their gender. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data, women ‘s annual earnings were 82.3% of men’ s, and the gap is even wider for many women of color. Compared to every dollar earned by white men in the U.S. white women earn 79 cents, black women 63 cents, Native American women 60 cents and Latinas 55 cents, making them one of the most disunited ethnic groups in the country. They earn 30% less than white women and 50% less than the average man. This wage gap has remained about the same for 30 years, in 1982 they earned 52 cents for every dollar men earned. For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 71 Latinas were promoted in the same ratio.
Latinas account for close to $1trillion in US buying power and a high percentage of the population, yet the differences between them will continue to exist if nothing is done. At the rate we are going, the wage gap for Latinas will close in 200 years.But if this gap is improved, members of this community will have more access to health insurance, educational payments and child care.
One phenomenon we notice is that the majority of Latinas are leaving the workplace due to work conditions. Minority women are leaving the workplace to start their own businesses because they feel segregated while participating in corporate America. It is important to mention that around 19% of Hispanic entrepreneur mothers are the sole providers of their household, another obstacle minority women suffer.There are many reasons why Latinas are the lowest paid group in the workforce. On the social side, are cultural nuances that may prevent Latinas from performing in a sexist environment. Another reason for the wage gap is that Latinas are not being given the same opportunities to apply to train, and are being promoted at the same rate.
The COVID19 pandemic has affected both health and financial systems. Women have been particularly negatively affected. Childcare and homeschooling responsibilities, mental health, and burnout are among the main obstacles for this community. This phenomenon is causing many women to change careers or quit their jobs. Lack of flexibility at work; feeling like they need to be available to work at all hours; housework and caregiving burdens due to Covid19; the worry that their performance is being negatively judged because of caregiving responsibilities during the pandemic; discomfort sharing the challenges they are facing with teammates or managers; feeling blindsided by decisions that affect their day-to-day work; feeling unable to bring their whole self to work are among the challenges these women face. Approximately one out of every nine Latinas is unemployed, but this number is increasing due to the thousands of women who quit their jobs due to the effects of the Pandemic.
A perfect example of this is the state of California. The state has some of the strongest pay laws in the country, including a law signed by Governor Newsom in 2020 to promote compliance with state equal pay and anti-discrimination laws through mandated statewide pay data reporting for employers with 100 or more employees. But Despite continued progress since the enactment of the California Equal Pay Act of 1949, studies estimate that California women continue to lose a combined $87 billion a year due to the wage gap, with Latina, Black and Native American women experiencing the widest gaps.
The wage gap is one of the biggest problems in American society. In order to achieve a more balanced scheme, the U.S. has to increase transparency around wages, expand access to paid leave and child care, disrupt occupational segregation and form more good union jobs. Latina women mean a great deal to both the community and the national economy. The importance of national policies and economic security options to improve working conditions is imminent. Let us support models of labor inclusion for all ethnicities and genders to achieve a harmonious and effective egalitarian expansion.