We're one year into COVID, and women are continuing to absorb the shocks of the pandemic |
Nearly a year ago, our world changed drastically. The structures that dictate our everyday lives—family, school, work, friendships, even trips to the grocery store—were re-written by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the shock to these systems was felt by everyone, women—and predominantly women of color—have absorbed a disproportionate share of this shock.
Women dominate both the jobs most vulnerable to coronavirus-related closures and the jobs at the frontlines of the pandemic—all while bearing an outsized care burden at home. Between January and December 2020, nearly 2.1 million women left the labor force, including 564,000 Black women and 317,000 Latinas. This development, while exacerbated by the pandemic, is emblematic of already existing inequities fueled by sexism, racism, antiquated workplace standards, the lack of a robust social safety net, and an undervalued and underfunded care economy.
Women and families need bold, structural policies that prioritize their economic security. As an organization whose mission is to improve the economic status of women and remove barriers to economic equity, WE are committed to ensuring an equitable recovery that centers Black and brown women.
Earlier this month, WE convened with leaders from Chicago Cook Workforce Alliance, Chicago Foundation for Women, The Chicago Network, and Mission Propelle—four Chicago organizations working in different arenas to put women on sound economic footing—for a virtual panel event, Rising Above the Shecession: Concrete Steps to Ensure Women Emerge Stronger. The event was moderated by Heidi Stevens from the Chicago Tribune. Our conversation was rooted in what needs to be done to ensure women—and especially women of color—can not only recover, but emerge from this “shecession” stronger than before.
|
The panelists also penned an op-ed for Crain’s Chicago Business on what we must do to ensure an equitable “shecession” recovery. Read it here!
|
|
Urge Congress to Pass the Raise the Wage Act |
After more than a decade with no increase in the federal minimum wage—the longest period in U.S. history—millions of our nation’s workers are working full-time jobs but still struggling to make ends meet.
The Raise the Wage Act will give 32 million workers (60% of whom are women) a long-overdue raise and phase out the subminimum wage for tipped workers.
|
$5 from every bag sold will support our mission to improve the economic status of women. Make sure to choose Women Employed at check out!
|
Looking for a way to virtually connect with your friends and family? Invite them to a virtual Conversation for Change over coffee to discuss what it will take for women to reach true equity in the workplace and beyond.
|
|
Women Employed in the News |
|
As a leader in gender equity at work and women’s economic empowerment, we have been an expert voice in recent coverage on the ‘shecession.’
Check out some of the stories we’ve been featured in:
|
|
Every job at Women Employed helps make the world better for working women. Please share the following job postings with friends or colleagues interested in joining our team: |
|
Every Monday this month, in celebration of Black History Month, WE are featuring Black women who are making history NOW. Check out our most recent post uplifting Brave Space Alliance Founder and Executive Director, LaSaia Wade:
|
|
Ari Afsar, known for her performances as Eliza in the Chicago run of Hamilton and her 2019 album "Somewhere I Thought I’d Be," wrote a short song on the disproportionate number of women leaving the labor force. AND she gave a shout out to Women Employed! Check it out!
|
|
WE LOVE connecting with you on social. Please join our community of friends and followers! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
