The Gender Wage Gap: 2009
The fact sheet, released by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, finds that the gender wage gap narrowed slightly in 2009. However, progress in closing the gap has slowed considerably since the early 1990s. Families are increasingly relying on women’s earnings, yet women continue to face stricter education and work requirements in order to earn the same as men.
While the weekly gender wage gap narrowed slightly in 2009, it is still above its lowest point of 19 percent in 2005. In 2009, median weekly earnings for female full-time workers were $657, compared to $819 for men. These figures resulted in a female-to-male-earnings ratio of 80.2 percent, or a weekly gender wage gap of 19.8 percent.
The gender wage gap typically narrows during recessions because bonus and overtime payments -- which account for a larger share of male than female earnings -- are often reduced. On average, African American and Latina women only make 68.9 and 60.2 cents, respectively, for every weekly dollar earned by a white male.
The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women, promote public dialogue and strengthen families, communities and societies.
