Eliminate Gender Disparities and Advancing Gender Equity

WHEREAS, Black, Latino, Native/Indigenous and/or Asian women, also frequently grouped together as "women of color," make up a growing population of the United States; and 

WHEREAS, women of color - Latino, Black, Southeast Asian and Native/Indigenous women in particular, continue to earn far below their white male counterparts for the same, similar or substantially similar work; and 

WHEREAS, a 2014 report authored by the Center for American Progress, Women of Color A Growing Force in the American Electorate, documented demographic trends in 2008, 2012 and 2013 election cycles where women of color made a critical difference in victories for progressive candidates, establishing that, "While not a monolithic group, women of color comprise an important demographic that can, when acting in concert on issues of common concern, have a profound impact not just on elections but on public policy as well; and 

WHEREAS, even when controlling for all other factors, Black women experience disproportionately negative outcomes, particularly in the areas of maternal health and morbidity, the highest HIV diagnoses when compared with other women and mortality from breast cancer, among numerous other racially disproportionate health outcomes; and 

WHEREAS, Black women and girls live at the intersection of sexism and racism compounding the discrimination that contributes to the racial and gender wealth gaps which limits black women's access to educational opportunities, and negatively impacts their career advancement; and 

WHEREAS, according to Institute for Women's Policy Research 2017 report, The Status of Black Women in the United States Black women are more likely to work in lower-paying service occupations than any other industry and less likely to work in the higher-paying engineering and tech fields or managerial positions and that the percentage of Black women who are full-time minimum-wage workers is higher than that of any other racial group; and 

WHEREAS, 80 percent of Black women are the sole or primary breadwinners for their households and the pay and wealth disparities among Black women have an effect on their entire families and a fair salary can create stability and support for a family. 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP stands in favor of policy priorities that seek to advance gender equity with attention to the particular disparities faced by women of color. 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP will urge all of its Units to work to identify key local issues that seek to close gender disparities in our communities.