Accumulating Disadvantage: The Growth in the Black–White Wage Gap Among Women

Abstract

Between 1980 and 2002, the black-white wage gap among women tripled, climbing steadily despite improving economic conditions in the 1990s. Relative distribution analysis shows an increasingly dense accumulation of black women's wages in the lowest deciles of white women's wage distribution over time. Although the transition to an "office economy" rewarded both black and white women with wage gains, white women reaped greater benefits. During the 1990s, black managers and professionals lost ground relative to white women, but also relative to other black women workers. Regardless of the economic climate, then, black women accumulated disadvantage, suffering most in the chilly economic climate of the 1980s, and benefiting least during the economic expansion of the 1990s.

Social Determinants of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Black Women: Implications for Health Equity

“…However, a disproportionate number of college-educated black women may become trapped in dead-end, low-level, administrative jobs, limiting upward mobility. 38,39 In addition, pockets of poor black women continue to spiral downward in terms of social disadvantage; they experience poverty, lack of access to medical care, poor knowledge about HIV/AIDS, financial dependence on male partners, low self-esteem, and substance use. 40 Poor black women and many middle-class black women struggle with finding suitable life partners.…”

“…It is clear though, that over the past 30-40 years, despite economic gains for some educated black women, many poor and less well educated black women are left struggling to survive. 16,33,38,39 The sexual freedoms of the 1960s and 1970s have come with unanticipated consequences. 20…”

Single mother families and employment, race, and poverty in changing economic times

“…Women’s employment rates differ by race (Browne and Misra 2003; England, Garcia-Beaulieu, and Ross 2004; Reid 2002), as do women’s wages (Dozier 2010; Pettit and Ewert 2009). Although in the mid-20 th century, women of color were more likely to work than their white counterparts, this trend has reversed in recent decades (England et al 2004; Higginbotham and Romero 1997; Reid 2002).…”

“…First, employment patterns differ by race (Reid 2002) and education (Hamil-Luker 2005) and the race wage-gap is persistent (Dozier 2010; McCall 2001). This suggests that the relationship between employment and poverty may differ according to race, with minority women more likely to be working in jobs that pay below-poverty wages than white women, yet these relationships have been for the most part only indirectly explored (see Lichter and Crowley 2004 for a notable exception).…”

Male and female communication, leadership styles and the position of women in public relations

“…This particularly applies to the position of women in work where women are often underpaid, progression is harder, are treated less favourably, encounter barriers to enter the political process or progress in careers, or face the expectation to fulfil expected roles (see e.g. Labelle et al, 2015;Teasdale, 2013;Verboord, 2012;Alaez-Aller, 2011;Dozier, 2010;Eveline & Todd, 2009;Thorney & Thörnqvist, 2009;Torenly, 2006;Dozier et al, 2007;Van Zoonen, 2004;Katila & Meriläinen, 2002;Scharrer, 2002;Grunig et al, 2001;Eichenbaum & Orbach, 1999;Templin, 1999;Houchin-Winfield, 1997).…”