Native Women’s Wage Gap: A Crisis Impacting Generations
An Indigenous entrepreneur takes notes during a business and marketing essentials class.
For every dollar a non-Hispanic white man makes, Native American women working full-time, year-round bring home just 58 cents. Include part-time and seasonal work, and that number drops to 52 cents. This glaring wage gap doesn’t just limit opportunities; it traps Native communities in cycles of poverty and economic instability that ripple through generations.
Many Native women are not only the backbone of their families—they’re also economic drivers for their communities. As primary breadwinners, they raise children, support households, and keep local economies alive. Yet, earning only half of what white men earn leaves Native women struggling to meet basic needs, let alone invest in education, healthcare, or safe housing. The effects are deeply felt:
Generational Poverty: Lower earnings for Native women mean their families inherit financial disadvantages, limiting access to things like quality education and healthcare.
Barrier to Safety: Native women facing domestic violence or financial abuse often lack the economic means to escape these situations, as low wages and minimal job protections keep them trapped.
Increased Unemployment and Violence: The wage gap feeds into other systemic inequities, fueling high rates of unemployment and violence against Native communities. Each lost dollar deepens these injustices.
On November 21, 2024—Native Women’s Equal Pay Day—we’re calling on policymakers, businesses, and allies to stand with Native women in demanding equal pay and economic justice. This isn’t just about closing a wage gap; it’s about protecting the future of Native families and communities. Support key legislation like the Paycheck Fairness Act, BE HEARD Act, Healthy Families Act, and FAMILY Act—so Native women and their families don’t just survive; they thrive!
Together, let’s break the cycle of inequity and create a future where Native Women earn, grow, and lead with the respect and equality they deserve.
#NativeWomensEqualPay, #EquityForNativeWomen, #NativeWomenLead #Thefutureisindiwgnouswomen