Economic Status of Black Women: An Exploratory Investigation

摘要

The report compares the labor market outcomes (e.g., wages, occupations, laborforce participation rates, and unemployment rates) of black women with those of white women with similar background characteristics (e.g., education, age, work experience, region of residence, marital status, and number of children). The results of these comparisons offer information about whether and to what extent black women have worse labor market outcomes than white women with similar background characteristics and provide insight into the possible effects of racial discrimination in the labor market on black women's economic status. Thus, the study is limited to uncovering the effects of current racial discrimination in the labor market on black women's economic status. In addition to racial discrimination, black women also face gender discrimination. Moreover, many black women continue to experience discrimination that occurs outside of the labor market. Although the report provides essential information on one important aspect of discrimination against black women, racial discrimination in today's labor market, it does not constitute a comprehensive evaluation of all forms of discrimination against black women.