Economic Security

By Liz Wing on 03/26/2010 @ 01:00 PM

Last week Leecia Eve and I attended a very informative panel discussion on the Economic Security of Unmarried Women, hosted by Center for American Progress (CAP). This panel discussion was held in light of the most resent report by CAP and Women Voices, Women Vote on the Economic Security of Unmarried Women.

For more information and to download the full report, click here.

Speakers were: Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) Page Gardner, Founder and President, Women’s Voices. Women Vote. Avis Jones-DeWeever, Director, Research, Public Policy, and Information Center for African-American Women, National Council of Negro Women It was moderated by Heather Boushey, Senior Economist, Center for American Progress

Rosa DeLauro, a long-time champion for equal pay, shared some alarming statistics. DeLauro has championed the Paycheck Fairness Act for 13 years; it has passed the House twice, and is waiting for Senate action.

Unmarried women earn 56 cents to the married man’s dollar Of unmarried women: 63% are unemployed 60% do not have health insurance 75% live in poverty We all know that women make less than men on average, and that works out to $700,000 to $2 million over a lifetime. 70% of older adults in poverty are women

Page Gardner spoke to how the pay discrimination affects our children: More than half of all children living in poverty are children of single women. We are short-changing America’s future. Over all, women own less, make less and have less.

Avis Jones-DeWeever spoke to the point that pay equity is goof for all Americans: Improvements that we advocate for aren’t just good for women; they are good for all Americans. Policies like equal pay, family leave, health care, protection from predatory lending companies and unemployment benefits are in the interest of all Americans.

For a more in-depth look at Paycheck Fairness, click here.

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