The Economic Opportunity Institute has a new report showing that the Great Recession has disproportionately impacted women, as the weak economy has compounded inequities between men and women in wages, access to health insurance, paid leave, and retirement income. Moreover, inequality between men and women in Washington is worse than in many other states, with women earning on average $5 an hour less than men in every field and at every age and education level.

For comparison, in the US as a whole, that wage gap is $3 an hour.



Moreover, that gap increases as women get older and take time off work to take care of children---while a Washington State woman in her early 20s earns 77 percent of men's average monthly earnings, a woman in her mid-40s earns just 66 percent of the male average.

The report concludes, "The gender segregation of the labor force is remarkably similar to that of 20 years ago, with women dominating low-wage sectors that involve caregiving. Furthermore, employers continue to selectively provide benefits that favor workers who are already at greater economic advantage. ...Without new policies, women will continue to struggle during economic downturns and upswings alike."

Unfortunately, the EOI's proposed solutions---a living wage and guaranteed equal pay for equal work, statewide minimum paid sick day standards, expanded access to child care and early learning, and " Raising new state revenue to expand access to affordable, quality childcare and early learning programs, health care, and higher education"---are exactly the opposite of the direction the state legislature, which will have to come up with $2 billion in spending cuts or tax increases just to close the current budget gap, is currently headed.