Latinas earn much less than men, occupy fewer positions of power and tend to need more public help, says study
Historically, the female gender has been marginalized and mistreated; and despite efforts to stop the problem, women continue to experience serious obstacles to achieve personal and professional success.
The Inland Empire region, made up of the counties of San Bernardino and Riverside, is no exception since although almost half of its population is made up of women, the area has low representation at the state and municipal level of that gender.
According to the report 'State of the Woman of Inland Empire', prepared by the Center for Social Innovation of the University of California Riverside (UCR), women of color and the lesbian community experience adversities at higher levels compared to others .
On salary
"Economically, women continue to fight for equal pay and for positions at power tables and in corporate and nonprofit organizations," the study revealed.
In fact, in Inland Empire the female gender receives $ 0.68 for every dollar a man receives as salary.
This gap increases when race and ethnicity are taken into account. Native Americans receive $ 0.36 and Latinas $ 0.42, for every dollar a man receives, the report says.
He adds that this disparity has serious consequences in the economic sector since Latinas are the majority in the female population in the region (51%) —that is 2.32 million women.
This happens despite the fact that the woman has obtained educational achievements. When analyzing data on various periods of time, researchers found that several ethnic groups have closed the wage gap, except for Latinas.
In 2000, only in Riverside County, Latinas received $ 0.47 for every dollar the white man received; today that amount decreased to $ 0.39.
“The wage gap is due to multiple factors that include occupational options and the duration of the workforce; in addition to discrimination based on gender and race, ”said the study.
He stressed that the gap could be closed with legislation that addresses women's inequality and job insecurity.
In education
In California, women — compared to men — are more likely to live in poverty due to discrimination based on gender and race, and increasingly weak public support systems.
In Inland Empire, the overall poverty rate among women is 17%, the study notes.
Part of this problem is due to having higher studies, where Latinas continue to lag behind. Only 11% of women in that region have a bachelor's degree, the report says.
And he explains that women in this group are more likely to request public assistance, in relation to food, child care and medical care, among others.
Data from the Regional Market Rate Survey of the California Department of Education indicate that the average monthly cost in Riverside County for child care only, ages 0 to 5, is $ 861.32 (or 25% of monthly income average).
If this is added to expenses for food, clothing and others, the sum amounts to $ 1,159.78 per month – the figure is higher than the rent paid by adult women per month.
The researchers advised the state government to take measures to increase participation in public systems, reinvestment in service was reduced and enact policies that increase safe and affordable housing.
In the health
Inland Empire Latina women suffer from a silent disease, which affects them more than other groups: diabetes.
The study adds that Latinas and African Americans have more psychological, emotional and social welfare problems than men, and that in general they also suffer from higher rates of domestic violence.
To all these obstacles the immigration situation is added.
According to the results of a survey carried out in early autumn, 22% of Latinas said they had a huge concern that they or someone in their family would be deported, compared to 4% of Anglo-Saxons and 10% of African Americans with the same feeling.
Political representation
Although in 2018, more women were interested in running for political positions – the study indicates – the results were unfavorable since they often faced male holders with roots in their communities.
In Inland Empire, 41 out of every 100 local leaders are women.
The numbers could increase in the coming years thanks to the efforts of women like Ana Yeager Lee, owner and executive director of Women in Tandem — an organization that provides work spaces with the goal of women connecting to the workforce in the county of Riverside
Lee says he understands the obstacles women are going through because he has lived through them and continues to experience them often.
He narrated for La Opinion an anecdote in which a judge committed gave an unfavorable opinion due to his gender. He explained that when she represented a client, the judge ruled against him. However, at a future hearing he asked a male colleague to appear in court, and the results were in his favor.
Lee thinks private and government companies have made great strides in support of women, but more is needed. "Choosing them for management positions can close this gap," he said.
"More and more women in leadership provide additional awareness about the direct problems faced by those who have children," he said. "They can provide real job expectations and ways to measure job performance."
Lee, whose work helped re-elect Erin Edwards in the Riverside council and who supports Patricia Lock-Dawson's candidacy for mayor of the same city, said more programs are needed to empower women, increase their self-esteem and that gives them tools to navigate in different environments.
"We have shelters, response groups and an excellent support network for victims of domestic violence and trafficking in women but we also need resources aimed at prevention," he said.
"Preventive measures that include programs in which children are exposed to healthy relationships, to develop their self-esteem and to be trained to access resources when these difficult events occur."
Lee is convinced that the changes start from childhood.
Therefore, he advised girls and young people to be aware that obstacles will be present throughout their lives and must learn to overcome them.
For this they must have model people at hand so that they can receive healthy advice. They must also learn to identify fear and know who it comes from; In addition to learning to design your life in the future and not to step back, regardless of the problem you face.
