Economic Fallout from COVID-19 Pandemic Disproportionately Affected Women Across the Country

Strategic Insights -

The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women across the country, exacerbating the existing pay gap between men and women. According to Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), women in the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey make on average around $20,000 less than men per year, with the gap being even wider for women of color. The pandemic has led to higher rates of layoffs, increased childcare burdens, and higher risks of frontline work for women, particularly those of color.

Key Takeaways:

  • Women in the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey make on average around $20,000 less than men per year, a wage gap that is even wider for women of color.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has led to higher rates of layoffs for women, with 62% of workers who quit their jobs citing a need to care for family members as the reason.
  • Women, particularly those of color, have shouldered a disproportionate burden of childcare responsibilities during the pandemic, with 71% of mothers with school-age children reporting that their child's school or childcare provider was closed.
  • The pandemic has also amplified the importance of equal pay, with Representative Sherrill stating that "equal pay is not just a women's issue, it's an economic issue, a family issue, and an equity issue."
  • The Equal Pay Day Resolution, sponsored by Representative Sherrill, outlines the legal provisions in place to prevent pay discrimination and highlights the disparities between men and women of color.
  • The Equal Rights Amendment, which ensures that women have protection under the Constitution to combat pay discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and sexual and domestic violence, has had bipartisan support for decades and is backed by an overwhelming majority of American voters.

Statistics:

  • The wage gap between men and women in the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey is around $20,000 per year.
  • 62% of workers who quit their jobs during the pandemic cited a need to care for family members as the reason.
  • 71% of mothers with school-age children reported that their child's school or childcare provider was closed during the pandemic.
  • 79% of Americans support the Equal Rights Amendment, including 92% of younger voters.

Sources:

  • Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) statement on Equal Pay Day (via United States House of Representatives)
  • United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary (2021)
  • Pew Research Center (2020)
  • United States Census Bureau (2020)
  • National Women's Law Center (2021)