This resolution formally recognizes the significant and systemic pay disparity faced by disabled women compared to both disabled and non-disabled men, reaffirming a commitment to achieving equal pay.
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Representative
FL-20
This resolution officially recognizes the significant and systemic pay disparities faced by disabled women compared to both disabled and non-disabled men. It highlights stark statistics showing disabled women earn substantially less across various racial and ethnic groups. While not enacting new law, the resolution reaffirms Congress's commitment to addressing the underlying barriers that perpetuate this unfair wage gap.
New Resolution Puts the Spotlight on Disabled Women Earning Just 56 Cents on the Dollar
This Congressional Resolution isn't creating new law, but it’s doing something crucial: formally recognizing the massive economic hurdles facing disabled women workers. It lays out the raw numbers, showing that disabled women, on average, earn only about 56 cents for every dollar a nondisabled man makes. Even when looking only at full-time, year-round workers, that number only creeps up to 68 cents. This is Congress officially saying, “We see the problem,” and affirming their commitment to fixing the systemic issues behind this deep pay disparity.
The Data Drop: Breaking Down the Pay Gap
When we talk about the pay gap, it’s rarely just one number. This resolution uses hard data to show how the intersection of disability, gender, and race hits paychecks. For example, disabled Latinas working full-time pull in only 57 cents for every dollar earned by a nondisabled, non-Hispanic White man. Disabled Black women fare slightly better at 60 cents, while disabled White women earn 64 cents. The worst gap cited is for disabled American Indian and Alaska Native women, who make just 54 cents on the dollar. This isn't just a slight difference; it’s a systemic barrier that affects rent, childcare, and basic financial stability for working families.
The Double Whammy: Disabled Women vs. Disabled Men
It’s not just a gap compared to nondisabled men; disabled women also earn less than disabled men, making 81 cents for every dollar a disabled man earns. The resolution highlights that some groups are hit particularly hard: disabled women who need help living independently make a shocking 36 cents compared to nondisabled men. Even a college degree doesn't close the gap; a disabled woman with a degree typically earns about $55,000 annually, which is less than what a nondisabled man with only some college typically makes. This shows that education and effort aren't enough to overcome these deeply rooted economic barriers.
Systemic Roadblocks and the Policy Commitment
The resolution doesn't just present the stats; it points fingers at the causes. It cites systemic issues like disabled women being shunted into lower-paying jobs (think healthcare and clerical work), the existence of the subminimum wage for disabled employees, and public benefit rules that actually discourage work by penalizing earned income. It also mentions a lack of adequate vocational rehabilitation services. Because this is a resolution, it doesn't immediately change any of these laws—it’s not a bill that allocates funding or mandates a new program. Instead, it serves as a formal declaration by the House of Representatives, acknowledging the severity of the economic inequality and reaffirming Congress’s commitment to supporting future efforts to achieve equal pay and dismantle the systemic barriers that keep disabled women from earning a fair, livable wage.