Educational Resources and Opportunities
Looking for ways to get involved in the fight for gender and racial equity? Are you looking for educational resources to learn more about gender, race and the intersections of each? We’ve got you covered. It is crucial to stay updated and learn about the root causes of systemic racial and gender inequity in efforts of moving the needle forward to ensure all women and girls thrive. To begin, we’ve created a glossary of important terms and concepts that are related to advancing gender and racial equity. We’ve also compiled links to various resources below to help you get started.
Educational Opportunities
Closing the Gender Wealth Gap Series
Strengthening the Early Childhood Education Sector
On October 14th 2020, WOMEN’S WAY launched a new series of virtual education events by hosting the Closing the Gender Wealth Gap Forum: Saving the Early Childhood Education Sector. Featuring panelists Carol Austin, Shannon Rudisill, and Sophia Ezomoghene, these leaders came together for a timely discussion addressing the urgent needs of the early childhood education sector and the drivers of the gender wealth gap. Want to take action? View a full list of resources here!
Investing in Women Owned Businesses
On January 6, 2021, WOMEN’S WAY held the “Closing the Gender Wealth Gap Forum: Investing In Women Owned Businesses.” Moderated by Geri Aglipay, Director of the Small Business Majority, panelists Kersy Azocar, Tanya T. Morris, Essma Bengabsia, and Kimberly McGlonn Ph.D came together to address the urgent needs of women owned businesses and key issues that drive the gender wealth gap.
Black Women and Healthcare
On February 17th WOMEN’S WAY held the Closing the Gender Wealth Gap Forum: Black Women and Healthcare. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Sarita Sonalkar, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania and featured industry leaders addressing racial and gender disparities in healthcare from policy, practitioner, provider and lived experience perspectives. View resources here.
Increasing Access to Affordable Housing
On April 28th 2021, WOMEN’S WAY hosted the Closing the Gender Wealth Gap Forum: Increasing Access to Affordable Housing. The panel discussion was moderated by Anne Fadullon, Director of Planning & Development, City of Philadelphia and featured industry leaders coming together to address the affordable housing crisis from policy, practitioner and lived experience perspectives.
Strengthening the Financial Capability of Women
On June 23rd, WOMEN’S WAY hosted the Closing the Gender Wealth Gap Forum: Strengthening the Financial Capability of Women. The panel was moderated by Markita Morris-Louis, Esq, Chief Strategy Officer for Compass Working Capital, and featured industry leaders coming together to discuss ways to strengthen the financial capability of women and drivers of the gender wealth gap.
To view the full Closing the Gender Wealth Gap video archive, click HERE.
Educational Resources
Reproductive Rights and Justice Resources
Abortion is Essential Healthcare, a new publication by the Center for Reproductive Rights and Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, explains why abortion access is imperative during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABORTION LAW DATABASE: An online tool by the Abortion Law Project, the Center and other organizations with data about each U.S. state’s abortion restrictions.
Additional information on abortion
Contraceptive Pearl: Contraception During COVID-19: E-Visit Contraceptive Template
Race, Poverty, and Reproductive Rights
Reproductive Justice Program: Indigenous Women’s Reproductive Justice and Pro-Choice
The Color of Choice: White Supremacy and Reproductive Justice
THE WORLD’S ABORTION LAWS MAP: An interactive tool showing the legal status of abortion in countries across the globe.
WHAT IF ROE FELL? An interactive tool showing how abortion rights could be affected in each U.S. state if Roe v. Wade were weakened or overturned.
To Be Pro-Choice, You Must Have the Privilege of Having Choices
Safety (Gender Based Violence)
Abusive Red Flags Everyone Should Know
Barriers to Leaving: Law professor and DV survivor says there are at least 50 reasons a survivor may not be able to leave an abuser
College Women Among Highest at Risk for Partner Violence: Domestic violence widespread on college campuses
Domestic Violence & Education: This section contains information on the symptoms and impact of Domestic Violence.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN PHILADELPHIA: Domestic violence is a delimitating public health epidemic in Philadelphia.
Steps That Women Can Take If They are a Victim of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
The Language We Use : Words are powerful, so the language we use throughout this site was chosen with intention.
Violence Against Women in the United States: Facts and Statistics
Women In Leadership
Committed to Breaking Glass for Decades: A List of Books, Resources, Reports and more by the Center for Creative Leadership
National Committee on Pay Equity
Shattering the Glass Ceiling: The Growth of Women in Leadership Positions
The Women’s Leadership Gap: Women’s Leadership by the Numbers
What’s The Next Trend In Leadership? Black Women: What’s The Next Trend In Leadership? Black Women
Women In Leadership: How To Move The Needle
Women in tech statistics: The hard truths of an uphill battle
Economic Security
NATIONAL SNAPSHOT: Poverty among Women and their families.
Poverty and Opportunity in Women: A Breakdown of Poverty, Education, Access to Healthcare, and Entrepreneurship.
State Fact Sheets: Economic Security for Women and Families. The following fact sheets provide an in-depth look at the status of women and their families in a given state
“The Basic Facts About Women in Poverty”
“Why the majority of the world’s poor are women”
“An Honest Look at the Personal Finance Crisis” Ted Talk by author, Elizabeth White, about the systemic factors that have caused a $7.7 trillion retirement income gap.
Saving and Planning for Retirement Community Resource: A comprehensive document with external links to information and resources compiled from panelists from Closing the Gender Wealth Gap Forum: We Need to Talk About Retirement – A Gender Justice Issue.
Racial Equity
A Detailed List of Anti-Racism Resources: Book, movie recommendations, and more.
A guide to starting anti-racist conversations with friends and family: To all non-Black people of color — it’s time to start speaking up against the anti-Blackness in our communities.
Advancing Racial Equity Resources: This list is full of articles, book and articles all compiled about anti- racism.
Black Women Economics: Investing in the Under Invested
Confronting Prejudice: How to Protect Yourself and Help Others
Racial Equity Glossary of Terms: To start speaking out against systemic racism and oppression, it is essential to learn the definition of related terms and concepts.
The Whiteness of Wealth: Recommended reading about how our tax system impoverishes Black Americans and solutions for how we can rethink America’s tax code.
White Allyship 101: Resources to Get to Work: The following documents may be used as tools to educate yourself, your peers, employees, committees, etc.
Ready to Take Action?
We all have a part to play in ensuring women and girls are treated equally and have equal access to opportunities, regardless of race or gender. Below you will find ways you can take action to fight against gender and racial inequity to create an equitable world that allows all women and girls to thrive.
Identify and prevent unconscious bias
In order to advance gender and racial equity, we first have to look inward. We all have unconscious biases that affect our language, actions and decisions without knowing. Pay particular attention to bias related to age, disability, gender, marriage, pregnancy, race, religion, gender and sexual orientation that could possibly be forms of discrimination. Learn more about unconscious bias here.
Understand your own privilege.
One of the major steps to advancing gender and racial inequity is to understand your own privilege. Race, gender, religion, sexuality, ability-status, socio-economic status, language, citizen status and the intersections of each all can affect your privilege. Using your privilege to take action against gender and racial inequity first requires introspection, education and acknowledgement of these implications. Learn more about the different forms of privilege here.
Pay (and Demand) Equal Pay for Equal Work
The gender and racial wage gap highlight the difference in earnings between women and men. Women consistently earn less than men, and the gap is wider for women of color. It is important to support companies that pay the same salary, benefits and bonuses to employees with equivalent positions and call out organizations that do not.
Reach out to your Elected Officials
There are multiple ways to reach out to your elected officials to advocate for change and to express your concerns. Whatever your political affiliations, contact with elected representatives — local, state and federal —is a great way to take action against laws and policies that violate gender and racial equity. Learn how to reach out to elected officials here.
Be Intentional About Your Spending
Women of color are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the country but receive far less in capital funding than their white counterparts. By redirecting economic resources, buyers and brands have the potential to address this wealth gap and better distribute dollars to create change. Learn about the power in your spending here.
Use Your Voice and Platforms
There is power in your voice and platforms. If you see any form of discrimination, bias, stereotyping, racism or any other oppressive actions or language, speak out against it. Whether it’s in the workplace, at school, the grocery store or online, using your voice to speak up has power. Social media is growing as a platform to speak out against injustices taking place worldwide as well. Utilize your social networking profiles to promote, share, post and acknowledge to advocate for gender and racial equity. Learn how to use your digital platform for activism here.
These resources are not exhaustive and will be updated regularly.
