Title
To Commend the Columbus Women’s Commission on their Advocacy for Black Women’s Pay Equity
Body
WHEREAS, it is estimated that on average Black women make $0.58 for every $1.00 earned by White men, with this discrepancy costing Black women upwards of $900,000 in lost earnings over the course of a 40-year career; and
WHEREAS, Black women are faced with a unique burden: they are impacted by both a pervasive racial income gap and gender-based pay disparities; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 impacted many families, including financially, but Black women have shouldered a disproportionate share of the burden. In 2020, the unemployment rate for Black women peaked at 16.6%, and in August 2022, that rate decreased to 5.9%, 2.8 percentage points higher than their White male counterparts; and
WHEREAS, this pay inequality has a multitude of secondary effects, including food insecurity, the perpetuation of the racial and gender wealth gap, financial precarity, and housing insecurity; and
WHEREAS, recent estimates have shown that single Black women own $200 in wealth for every $28,900 single White men own, a staggering disparity that is due in part because of pay inequality; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Women’s Commission is hosting a “Black Women’s Equal Pay Signing Event” to secure commitments from business leaders and organizations across the city to work towards eliminating pay disparities among their workers; and,
WHEREAS, the Columbus Women’s Commission has been a tireless advocate of advancing gender and racial pay equity, launching the Columbus Commitment: Achieving Pay Equity campaign; and,
WHEREAS under the leadership of First Lady Shannon Ginther, the Commission has played a critical role in the progress the City has had as it relates to gender equality within the areas of housing, workforce development, equity in the workplace, and health; Now, therefore, be it: and,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council commends the Columb...
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