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Report

Equity on the Line: The Dangerous Cost of Cutting Support for Black Women

Why Access to Health Care, Child Care, Food, and Housing is a Racial Justice Issue

May 2025 | By Kellie Todd Griffin, Hannah Orbach-Mandel, and Nishi Nair

Portrait of mother shopping in supermarket with little daughter and buying vegetables

key takeaway

Black women have helped propel California into becoming the fourth-largest economy in the world, yet Congressional proposals to cut essential programs like health coverage and nutrition assistance would disproportionately harm them. These cuts compound the systemic racism, economic inequality, and generational trauma Black women in California already face.

Access to affordable health care, child care, housing, and nutritious food is necessary for all Californians to thrive. However, right now, Congressional members, including some California representatives, are actively pushing for federal budget and policy proposals that would pave the way for deep and harmful cuts to programs that provide health coverage, nutrition assistance, and other essentials in part to fund huge tax giveaways for the wealthy. These cuts would be harmful for millions of vulnerable Californians who are already struggling to secure basic needs. Still, these proposals would be especially devastating for Black women in California who continuously face significant disparities in areas such as health, poverty, and unemployment due to historic and ongoing racism and sexism.

About This Report

This report was co-authored with the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute. The Institute is dedicated to uplifting Black women and girls; CABWCEI fosters strategic partnerships, amplifies voices, and drives systemic change to eliminate barriers and advance social and economic equity across California.

As the anchor organization for the California Black Women’s Think Tank at CSU Dominguez Hills, CABWCEI works to strengthen representation, mobilize collective influence, and advocate for policies that secure social and economic safety nets.

Black Women Are Crucial for California, But Have Endured Centuries of Racism

Black women are vital in lifting up their communities and creating a strong California. They have been at the forefront in fighting for their rights and the rights of all marginalized communities. Black women have helped propel California forward and into becoming the fourth-largest economy in the world. With Black women serving as the primary breadwinner in 80% of Black households, when Black women thrive, their communities thrive.

However, Black women have also been subjected to centuries of exploitation, racism, sexism, and systemic injustices in California. Between 1909 and 1979, the state implemented a eugenics program that led to the sterilization of over 20,000 individuals, disproportionately affecting women of color, and leaving lasting impacts on affected communities. Systemic discrimination also continues to affect Black women in the state, with a recent report by the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute finding that, as recently as 2024, over half of Black women experienced racism or discrimination at work.

Proposed federal funding cuts would continue to harm Black women. These cuts would force Black women to face impossible choices between working in order to support themselves and their families, being unpaid caregivers for their families and children, paying rent, and putting food on the table. For many Black women, programs like Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and federal housing assistance are the only way to access basic needs like health care, nutritious food, and safe housing.  Cutting funding to these programs would worsen racial inequities and further increase the systemic barriers Black women and their families face that harm their ability to achieve economic security.

Key Terms

What Programs Are At Risk for Black Women in California?

Republican Congressional members are proposing cuts to vital programs that millions of Californians, including Black women, rely on. Black women have consistently been subjected to systems that undervalue them and create structural inequalities. These vital programs that are under threat are critical for supporting Black women and closing the disparities they face in all aspects of their lives, from health insurance to food assistance and education to child care.

Many critical safety net programs are facing potentially devastating cuts that would severely limit the ability of Black women to access crucial benefits. Instead of helping vulnerable families access basic needs, Congressional leaders prioritize spending that benefits profitable corporations and the wealthy.

Federal Threats to Medi-Cal Would Deepen Existing Health Inequities for Black Women

Millions of Black Californians rely on Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, to stay healthy and access vital health services like primary care and mental health support.

Reliable and affordable health care is critical for Black women and children’s ability to take care of themselves and their families, and to thrive in California. Medi-Cal should be strengthened to better meet the needs of Black women, not cut.

Black Women Could Lose Access to Critical Nutrition and Income Assistance Programs

Many critical safety net programs are facing potentially devastating cuts that would severely limit the ability of Black women to access crucial benefits. CalFresh (or SNAP):

  • Supports 47.3% of Black women in receiving food assistance; but
  • Is at risk of losing $300 billion of federal funding and is vulnerable to proposals to offload the cost of this program onto the state.

WIC allows women and children to access a multitude of health, nutrition, and supportive services. In California:

  • 47% of Black women participate in WIC; 
  • Only 66.5% of Black women receive adequate prenatal care; and
  • WIC helps to ensure children are healthy, which is especially important given the percentage of Black women receiving adequate prenatal care is much lower than the state average of 73.4%.

In addition to food assistance programs, income assistance programs also provide Black women with crucial support in meeting their basic needs. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program primarily serves Californians with disabilities and adults 65 or older to ensure they have the income necessary to afford necessities. The SSI program:

  • Supports over one quarter of Black women in California;
  • Is critical for aging Black women in California, who face disproportionate health disparities, including frequent experiences of racism in healthcare settings and inadequate treatment for pain; and
  • Also supports aging Black women who experience high rates of “kinlessness,” increasing vulnerability to social isolation and accelerated aging due to chronic exposure to systemic stressors.

SSI is critical to ensuring aging Black women can afford the care they need when they need it the most.

Another income assistance program is CalWORKs (or TANF), which provides crucial cash assistance to Black women across the state and is funded by federal and state dollars.

  • Almost 20% of Black women in California receive CalWORKs benefits, demonstrating the importance of federal funding in supporting Black women who continuously face economic barriers due to decades of racial and gender discrimination.

Access to Low Cost Child Care is Crucial for Black Families

Child care is crucial for both parents and children in California so that children can grow and learn and parents can stay employed or continue their education to support themselves and their families. However, the high cost of this care threatens to push families, especially those headed by Black single moms, deeper into poverty.

A Black mother of three in South Los Angeles describes: “My youngest will start TK in the fall, marking her first time in school. Unlike my son and middle daughter, who both attended preschool, she didn’t because I couldn’t afford it this time around. Preschool costs increased from $600 for my son to nearly $800 for my daughter, and by the time my youngest arrived, it was close to $1,000 a month — something we just couldn’t manage.”

  • Black single moms in California with an infant and school-age child spend over two thirds, or 67%, of their income on child care without access to a state subsidized program or Head Start. 
  • In California, the CalWORKs Stage 1 child care program provides subsidized child care to CalWORKs participants to help ease some of these high costs. In 2023, Stage 1 CalWORKs helped 9,509 Black children receive child care to support their growth and development. 
  • CalWORKs Stage 1 is funded (in part) through the federal TANF program, and threats to TANF at the federal level put Stage 1 child care funding at risk, which would have severe negative impacts on thousands of Black children and their families. 
  • Black children are disproportionately eligible for subsidized child care; therefore, when the supply of affordable child care is reduced (which may happen through cuts to TANF), Black families are more likely to be burdened.

Federal Programs That Allow More Black Women to Afford College Are Under Threat

All Black women in California pursuing higher education and career pathways should have access to an affordable education and the ability to achieve economic security. However, structural barriers in college readiness, access to college, and college completion for Black students have resulted in fewer Black women with at least a Bachelor’s degree than the state average. Almost 70% of Black women do not have a Bachelor’s degree, and for the 31% of Black women who do have one, federal support is key in being able to afford the high cost of higher education. However, the Trump administration’s active dismantling of the Department of Education threatens critical programs that make college possible for Black women in California.

One of the programs under threat is Pell Grants, which:

  • Support approximately 32,000 Black women across the University of California, California State University, and California Community College systems. 
  • Provide on average an award of about $4,500 per year, which means that with tuition at a California State University institution currently at $6,084 per year, Pell Grants cover almost three-quarters of the cost of tuition. 
  • Are awarded mainly to families with an annual income of less than $20,000, meaning they provide significant aid in helping students attend college.

Without this federal support, going to college could become impossible for tens of thousands of Black women in the state, further entrenching disparities in the education system.

Black Women Disproportionately Face Housing Cost Burdens

Federal housing programs support 920,437 people across the state, but are still unable to meet the growing demand from Californians at risk of losing their homes. This means any cuts to federal housing programs would further jeopardize the stability of housing of Black women, who already face severe housing insecurity.

For Black women in California:

Conclusion

The proposed federal budget cuts are not just financial decisions — they affect the daily lives of millions of vulnerable Californians who use these programs to access basic needs. With 2 out of 5 Black women just one paycheck away from instability, stripping away access to essential programs like Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, Pell Grants, and federal housing support would inflict disproportionate harm on Black women in California who are also already navigating the compounded weight of systemic racism, economic inequality, and generational trauma. When Black women — who are the backbone of their families and communities — lose access to health care, child care, housing, education, and food, the entire state suffers. To ensure a just and thriving California, we must protect and expand these lifeline programs, not dismantle them. The path to economic justice, racial equity, and community well-being begins with investing in Black women. Anything less is a betrayal of the values we claim to uphold.

Policy Recommendations for Black Women in California

Legislative Proposals:

Protect and Expand State-Funded Child Care for Working Black Mothers by prioritizing funding in the California Budget Act for the CalWORKs Stage 1 and Alternative Payment (AP) childcare programs, with an equity lens to ensure Black families at or near the poverty line are not waitlisted or displaced by funding cuts.

  • Justification: Black single mothers in California spend over 67% of income on child care without subsidies.
  • Budget-conscious solution: Reallocate existing child care infrastructure dollars and target enrollment protections for the most vulnerable families.
  • Equity tool: Direct the CA Department of Social Services to issue emergency guidance prioritizing Black households disproportionately affected by child care inaccessibility.

Codify a Racial Equity Impact Assessment Requirement for budget and safety net changes by introducing legislation requiring all proposed budget adjustments and program cuts to undergo a Racial and Gender Equity Impact Review — specifically assessing harm to Black women and families.

  • Justification: Cuts to Medi-Cal, TANF, and Pell Grants disproportionately impact Black women.
  • Feasibility: Modeled after existing equity assessment tools used in San Francisco, Oakland, and at the federal level.
  • Outcome: Creates transparency and accountability without significant cost — empowering legislative committees and budget staff with equity data before decisions are finalized.

Non-Legislative Proposal:

Launch a Public-Private Partnership to Sustain Food & Housing Security for Black Women. For instance, create a Black Women’s Stability Relief Fund in partnership with philanthropy and corporations (e.g., Kaiser Permanente, Wells Fargo Foundation) to support food, rental, and emergency cash aid for Black women-headed households impacted by federal cuts to CalFresh, WIC, and housing programs.

  • Justification: Nearly 47% of Black women rely on CalFresh; over 63% are rent-burdened.
  • Low-cost to state: State provides administrative infrastructure through existing county-level human services, with funding driven by philanthropic partners and local employer tax credits.
  • Model: Use Los Angeles County’s Guaranteed Income Pilot or United Way’s Rent Relief Fund as templates.

Kellie Todd Griffin is the founding president and CEO of the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute.

Federal Policy
Poverty & Inequality

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what is chosen family?

Chosen family refers to individuals who love and support each other like a family might, but do so by choice rather than based on biological or legal bonds.

All California workers should be able to care for their loved ones when they are ill without worrying about their next paycheck. However, many Californians have close relationships with extended or chosen family members who are not currently covered by the state’s paid family leave program. Although the program is funded entirely by worker contributions, some workers – especially those who are LGTBTQ+ and immigrants – are excluded from taking leave for their loved ones.

Policymakers can make the state’s paid family leave program more inclusive and accessible to all workers by expanding the definition of family to include a designated, or chosen, family member.

1. California’s Current Definition of Family Excludes Millions

Approximately 10% of Californians live with someone who isn’t currently included in California’s definition of family. Workers in California can currently take paid family leave to care for a sick family member if that family member is a: grandparent, grandchild, sibling, parent-in-law, parent, child, spouse, or registered domestic partner. However, around 3.5 million Californians, or 10% of the population, live in households with someone not included in this definition, such as an unmarried partner or other relative, meaning they are unable to take paid leave to care for these individuals because of the state’s definition of family. This is especially the case for immigrants, who make up 28% of the state population and are more likely to live in multigenerational households.

Additionally, there are about 2.7 million (or 1 in 10) LGBTQ+ individuals in California, which is the most in the US. Members of the LGBTQ+ community tend to rely on chosen family, or people outside of the traditional family definition, who are not currently covered by California’s paid family leave program to care for them when they are sick. That means these individuals’ chosen family, who pay a certain percentage of their paycheck every month into the state’s paid family leave fund, are not able to care for them in their time of need.

Expanding Paid Leave Means Recognizing All Families

Dannie is a transgender person in California whose biological family did not support him coming out as transgender. He found a chosen mom in Yvette at a critical time in his life. He shared the impact on him when Yvette was not able to take paid leave to care for him:

“I was not okay and I did not have anyone there for me. If Yvette had been able to take time off from the very beginning, she never would have allowed it to get as bad as it did where I was admitted to the hospital for a week. I should be able to say ‘Yvette I need you. Yvette I am really scared.’ Yvette couldn’t be there because she couldn’t take time off work because I am not blood family. This is a really big gap that needs to be filled in order for our community to not only live a healthy life, but to live a long-lasting life.” – Dannie

Policymakers should expand paid family leave in California so that people like Dannie can rely on their chosen family when they need to.

2. There is National Precedent for Expanding the Definition of Family

Seven states have more inclusive family definitions than California. While California was the first state in the country to enact a paid family leave program in 2004, other states have since established their own programs that are more inclusive. Washington, New Jersey, Oregon, Connecticut, Colorado, Minnesota, and Maine all include people who are related to the worker by blood or affinity (chosen family) in their definition of a family member.

3. Making Paid Family Leave More Inclusive Maintains Program Stability

There is minimal impact on states’ paid family leave disbursement funds. Washington expanded their definition of a family member in 2021 to include chosen family members. In that time, only 0.22% of claims filed for paid family leave have been used for a chosen family member. Colorado started their paid family leave program for chosen family members in 2024, and Connecticut’s program began in 2022. Since Colorado’s program expanded to include chosen family members, 495 people have taken paid family leave for a chosen family member, which represents just 2.5% of total caregiving claims. In Connecticut, 926 people, or 2.4% of total caregiving claims, have used the state’s paid leave program for a chosen family member. Although an expanded family definition has an immense and meaningful impact on the lives of those individuals who do not fit under the traditional family definition, the actual impact on a state’s paid family leave disbursement fund is very small.

4. Including a Designated Family Member Does Not Strain State Funds

When Washington expanded their definition of a family member to include a chosen family member, language was included in the policy that if over 500 individuals filed claims for expanded family members, a reimbursement from the state’s General Fund would be triggered. This was to ensure that the paid family leave fund would remain solvent even with the anticipated increase in the number of claims filed. However, that number was not met in 2021 or 2022 (a total of 686 claims were filed from July 25, 2021 to March 30, 2023), so $0 have been needed to reimburse the fund from the General Fund, further suggesting that adding a chosen family member will not strain a state’s disability insurance fund.

5. Current Contribution Rates Support Expanded Definition of Family Leave

Currently, workers in California pay 1.2% of their wages to the State Disability Insurance fund to pay for the state’s paid family leave and disability insurance programs. Data from Washington point to expanded family member claims having no impact on payroll contribution rates in the years after expansion. The Washington example suggests that expanding the definition of family to include a chosen family member would have a negligible, or zero, impact on current contribution rates in California.

California workers provide 100% of the funding for the state’s disability insurance fund, which provides payments for paid family leave benefits. However, many workers are blocked from accessing paid family leave for their family because they do not fit the strict definition of family used in the state — this is especially true for LGBTQ+ Californians and immigrant communities. California can ensure equitable access to paid family leave and catch up to other states’ more inclusive policies by expanding their family definition to include a designated chosen family member.

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key takeaway

Federal funding cuts to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) threaten essential services for survivors of domestic violence, creating instability for service providers who rely on these funds. To ensure survivors receive the support they need, state and federal policymakers must prioritize stable, ongoing funding and prevent further cuts to VOCA.

Every Californian deserves to live in a world free from violence. However, this is not the reality for millions of Californians — especially women, people of color, transgender, and non-binary Californians — who experience domestic and sexual violence every year. Programs that provide essential services to survivors are critical tools in protecting survivors’ safety and helping them heal and recover. However, federal cuts have resulted in large funding gaps for these programs, and ongoing threats by Congressional Republicans and the Trump administration, including a federal funding freeze or additional budget cuts, would harm the ability of service providers to support survivors. Ongoing funding at the state and federal level is needed to ensure that survivors are provided with the crucial services they need.

How are Programs Supporting Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence Funded?

California receives federal dollars through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) that help fund programs that provide survivors with services like emergency shelter, counseling, and financial assistance. However, anticipated cuts, a priority of Congressional Republicans, to VOCA at the federal level would result in a roughly 45% cut to state grants for organizations that support survivors of crime, decimating the funding of many of these organizations who rely entirely on VOCA dollars to provide these critical services. Additionally, the Trump administration has already proposed actions that would threaten the ability of VOCA and other related funding to reach service providers.

Where Do the Victims of Crime Act Funds Come From?

The Victims of Crime Act was a bipartisan effort passed in 1984 with the purpose to help survivors of crime with the associated costs like medical bills and lost wages. The passage of VOCA established the Crime Victims’ Fund, which is what holds the dollars to support survivors. The money in the fund is collected by the federal government and comes from criminal fines, penalties, forfeited bail bonds, and special assessments paid by people or corporations convicted of federal crimes.

Those dollars do not directly go to states. Congress authorizes the release of a set amount of money, or cap, each year from the fund. As shown in the following diagram, the process of distributing the funds involves multiple steps and allocates funds to several purposes, before ultimately reaching the states to support crime victim services.

Once the funds have gone through every step in the above chart, the very last step is awarding 47.5% of the remaining balance in grants to states. This is not the only way these dollars can go to states to support victim services — shelters also get funding through other federal agencies and grants — but the dollars awarded through the victim assistance formula grants are the most direct and most flexible. In California, the money goes to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, who administers the funding to eligible organizations that provide direct services to survivors.

Federal Funding Levels are Inconsistent, Causing Challenges for Survivor Service Providers

Unfortunately, while this funding is necessary to provide crucial support to survivors, it is currently insufficient due to federal funding cuts. Since 2019, funding has fallen far short of levels needed to maintain the services local organizations provide to more than 816,000 victims of crime in California. While the state stepped in and provided $103 million in one-time funding to backfill federal VOCA funding gaps in 2024, no funding was provided in the governor’s 2025-26 proposed budget even though cuts are expected at the federal level again. At the current funding level, programs will have experienced a 67% cut in funding since 2019.

Due to changes in the amount Congress decides to allocate each year to be released from the fund and large fluctuations in the amount collected in federal fines and fees, funding for survivors is precarious. As shown in the chart below, there have been large swings in the amount in the Crime Victims Fund, such as in 2017 when there was a $4.3 billion settlement from Volkswagen that led to a massive increase in the amount of funding sent to California the following year. These swings in funding levels have largely been due to unexpectedly large criminal fines and settlements, which can change drastically from year to year and create instability so programs cannot count on consistent funding to provide the critical services necessary for survivors.

What Are the Current Threats to This Funding?

While the dollars in the Crime Victims Fund come from criminal fines and fees, they are unfortunately still under threat by the proposed unconstitutional federal funding freeze by President Trump. The funding freeze is currently on pause and facing legal challenges, but if it were to go forward, the administration could pursue several potential actions that would harm survivors and service providers by:

  • Putting new grant conditions on the funds programs receive to limit who can be served or what services are prioritized;
  • Working with Congress to reduce or zero out how much is released from the fund each year; or
  • Using VOCA funding release to fund programs that do not support survivors or victims of crime.

How can state and federal policymakers better support survivors?

Programs that support survivors can be better resourced in two ways:

  1. State-Level: The state can help fill the gaps left by the federal government cutting VOCA funding to ensure that every Californian can feel safe. Ongoing, stable funding is crucial for service providers to be able to best support survivors.
  2. Federal-Level: Ensure that the funding freeze does not resume and do not continue to make cuts to VOCA funding. Proposed and planned federal budget cuts threaten the ability of domestic and sexual violence service providers to care for survivors, which puts the health and well-being of millions of Californians at risk in favor of tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. Instead, Congress should appropriate adequate funding to be released each year from the fund in order for service providers to maintain and grow their critical programs.

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Recent Report Highlights Economic Disparities for Black Women

By

SACRAMENTO, CA — A new report from the California Budget & Policy Center (Budget Center) highlights the persistent wage gap affecting Black women and Black single mothers in California. The report, authored by Hannah Orbach-Mandel, Laura Pryor, and Nishi Nair in collaboration with Kellie Todd Griffin from California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, highlights how … Continued

Women in California deserve the opportunity to thrive and access the same economic opportunities as their male counterparts. When women thrive, their families and communities prosper. However, women in California continuously encounter structural barriers that prevent them from doing so. Black women and Black single mothers in California, in particular, regularly confront policies rooted in racism and sexism that block them from accessing state funded programs and even stifle their earnings.

According to the latest Women’s Well-Being Index, Black women’s average wages are lower than white and Asian women and significantly lower than white men’s. This wage gap is persistent and closing at such a slow rate that wage equality will not be achieved in the lifetime of the youngest Californians. Additionally, in California, 67% of Black households are headed by single mothers. Consequently, Black single mothers face the additional financial burden of being the sole earners of their household and working while supporting their families, resulting in an even larger wage gap. While there has been progress in closing the wage gap, the state can implement policies that do much more to address the barriers to economic prosperity for Black women and Black single mothers in California.

About This Report

This report was co-authored with the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute. The Institute is dedicated to uplifting Black women and girls; CABWCEI fosters strategic partnerships, amplifies voices, and drives systemic change to eliminate barriers and advance social and economic equity across California.

As the anchor organization for the California Black Women’s Think Tank at CSU Dominguez Hills, CABWCEI works to strengthen representation, mobilize collective influence, and advocate for policies that secure social and economic safety nets.

What is the Gap in Earnings Between Black Women and White Men?

In California, Black women — and especially Black single mothers — are paid far less than white men both in earnings from their job and total income. Approximately 67% of Black households are headed by Black single mothers, and systemic inequalities and economic disparities present these women with a unique set of challenges. It is crucial to not only examine earnings (wages) for Black women overall, but also to focus specifically on the total income of Black single mothers. As shown in the proceeding chart, in 2022:

  • Black women were paid $54,000 in earnings and Black single moms were paid $50,000, compared to the nearly $90,000 white men earned.
  • Similarly, Black women made $60,000 in total income and Black single moms made $53,000, while white men made in total just over $90,000.

These findings mean that for every $1 a white man made in the state in 2022, a Black woman was paid only $0.60 and Black single moms were paid only $0.56. This gap suggests that given the cost of living in California, one job is not enough to make ends meet. As a result, many Black women are forced to work second jobs to try to make ends meet, and even then, they still face a large earnings gap to white men. This is even worse for Black single moms who are the primary breadwinners of their families.

The consequences of this systemic wage gap ripple far beyond paychecks. When a mother struggles to make enough, her entire family feels it. It means tougher choices about paying rent, putting food on the table, or saving for the future. It means limited access to safe housing, quality healthcare, and educational opportunities — not just for her, but for her children too. This kind of financial stress isn’t just a challenge for today; it’s a challenge for generations.

What Could Black Women Afford if They Were Paid Equally?

The wage and income gaps Black women face place heavy burdens on their ability to meet even their basic needs. If Black women were paid equal to white men, they would be better resourced to thrive. Consider a single Black working mom in California. She must manage her children’s drop-off and pick-up at both child care and elementary school, while working two jobs to try to make ends meet. If she had been paid what white men in the state were in 2022, as the following chart shows, she would be able to afford:

  • An additional 8 years of groceries;
  • An entire year of rent; or 
  • Two years of child care.

If Black women were paid equal to white men, they could significantly improve their quality of life, generate more opportunities for their families, and better afford basic needs like housing, groceries, and diapers. Unfortunately, without proactive public policies, this will not be a reality for most women in the state today.

This is important because the wage and earnings gaps that Black women and single Black mothers face aren’t just numbers on a chart — they represent real struggles, real sacrifices, and real missed opportunities for Californians. These gaps place a heavy burden on their ability to meet even the most basic needs. This is about moms working long hours, stretching every dollar, and still being forced to make impossible choices about what they can afford for their families.

If The Status Quo Remains, How Long Will It Take To Close the Wage Gap?

Unfortunately, this wage gap is far from being closed. Specifically, it will take until the year 2121 — or nearly 100 years — for this gap to close. At this rate, equal pay will not be a reality for the majority of Black women in the state in their lifetimes.

Why Do Black Women in California Continue to Face a Wage Gap?

The wage gap for Black women and more specifically, Black single mothers, reflects decades of systemic racism and sexism. These injustices not only highlight the exploitation and implicit bias Black women experience, but also shed light on how policies have not done enough to support closing the wage gap. While multiple factors underscore the wage  gap for Black women, the following are salient contributors.

Policy Recommendations for Black Women and Single Black Mothers in California: Closing the Economic Gap

To address the pay gap and improve the economic well-being of Black women and single Black mothers in California, the state can implement targeted, localized policies to address systemic barriers and create equitable opportunities. Here are key California-specific policy recommendations:

Strengthen Pay Transparency and Equity Laws

  • What It Does: Enhance existing California Transparency Pay Act requirements that mandate employers to disclose salary ranges in all job postings and ensure transparency in promotions. This could be done by reducing the business size threshold so the requirements apply to all businesses with at least five employees instead of the current 15-employee threshold.
  • Why It Matters: This would reduce wage discrimination for Black women and single Black mothers and empower them to negotiate fair and just compensation in the state’s competitive job market.

Increase Access to Affordable Child Care Programs

  • What It Does: Expand California’s subsidized child care program and simplify eligibility requirements for single mothers. Boost funding to support higher wages for child care providers to address workforce shortages.
  • Why It Matters: High child care costs are a major burden for single Black mothers in California, and affordable child care would free up resources for other essentials.

Support Workforce Development for High-Growth and Non-Traditional Industries

  • What It Does: Expand California’s workforce development programs to include targeted support for Black women and single Black mothers in public, nontraditional and emerging and high-demand industries like tech, health care, and green energy.
  • Why It Matters: Equipping single Black mothers with the skills needed for better-paying jobs would help close the income gap and provide long-term economic stability.

Promote Leadership Development for Black Women

  • What It Does: Fund leadership programs that equip Black women with skills and mentorship opportunities for advancement in corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors.
  • Why It Matters: Leadership development addresses underrepresentation of Black women in executive, people-leading, and decision-making roles — opening doors to higher earnings and influence.

Invest in Affordable Housing Initiatives

  • What It Does: Increase funding for programs like CalHome to create products (i.e. down payment grants, mortgage forbearance programs, and Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) construction grants) that help mitigate the issues that single-income earners face. Provide rental assistance programs specifically for single mothers.
  • Why It Matters: The cost of housing in California is among the highest in the nation. Affordable housing would alleviate one of the largest financial burdens Black women and single Black mothers face.

Implement a Family Choice-Centered Approach to Universal Pre-K and Early Education Supports

  • What It Does: Ensure the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) is accessible and meets the needs of all low-income families, including single Black mothers, and expand funding to maximize family choice across all early learning and care programs.
  • Why It Matters: Early education allows single mothers to pursue work or education while providing their children with a strong academic foundation at an early learning setting preferred by them.

Increase Minimum Wage to Reflect Regional Costs of Living

  • What It Does: Introduce region-specific minimum wages that account for the cost of living in high-cost areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego.
  • Why It Matters: Black women and single Black mothers working minimum-wage jobs in California’s urban centers often struggle to cover basic expenses due to the high cost of living.

Promote Equity in Hiring and Advancement

  • What It Does: Require California employers to establish belonging and representation plans that focus on hiring and promoting Black women into leadership roles. Provide state tax incentives for companies that meet belonging and representation goals.
  • Why It Matters: Addressing systemic discrimination in hiring and promotions would open pathways to higher-paying positions for women and people of color.

Strengthen Protections Against Workplace Discrimination

  • What It Does: Enhance enforcement of California’s anti-discrimination laws with specific measures to address racial and gender bias. Include protections against discrimination in hiring, pay, and promotions. Establish guidelines for the enforcement of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act.
  • Why It Matters: Discrimination limits Black women’s access to fair pay and opportunities for advancement. Robust protections create more equitable workplaces.

what is the crown act?

A law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination, defined as the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or protective hairstyles. 

Create a Statewide Task Force for Black Women’s Economic Equity

  • What It Does: Establish a task force under the California Department of Business and Economic Development to focus on developing recommendations to close the pay gap, wealth gap, support entrepreneurship, and advance workforce equity for Black women.
  • Why It Matters: A dedicated task force would ensure ongoing focus, data collection, and accountability on issues impacting Black women’s economic well-being.

When Black women are paid fairly, they don’t just lift themselves up. They lift up their families, their communities, and our entire state. California can’t afford to leave anyone behind, especially the women who are working hard to build better futures for all of us. It’s time to close these discriminatory pay gaps and ensure every woman — every mom — gets the respect, the resources, and the pay she deserves.

Kellie Todd Griffin is the founding president and CEO of the California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute.

Support for this piece was provided by the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

Federal Policy
Poverty & Inequality

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key takeaway

The wage gap for Latinas in California remains alarmingly wide. Systemic barriers in education, employment, and caregiving responsibilities contribute to persistent inequality.

When women thrive, their families and communities prosper. Despite decades of progress in job opportunities and earnings, working families still struggle to afford basic needs. This challenge is significantly worse for women, and specifically, Latinas. Systemic racism and gender inequities have contributed to California being the state in the nation with the worst wage gap between Latinas and white men.

In California, Latinas make 44 cents to every dollar that a white man earns. This wage gap is pervasive and persistent, with Latinas being paid less than white men in every state. If the current California wage gap trend continues, Latinas will not reach the same wages as white men within the lifetime of the state’s youngest children. While California has made progress toward creating the conditions for removing the structural barriers resulting in this wage gap, state leaders can do far more to ensure that Latinas no longer face this staggering inequity.

How Long Will it Take for Latinas to Close the Wage Gap — A Staggering 130 Years?

The data show that the wage gap will persist for generations to come, specifically:

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The California Women’s Well-Being Index

When women thrive, communities flourish. The Women's Well-Being Index reveals the challenges women — especially women of color — face in economic security, health care, safety, and political representation. It calls on all of us to act for a more inclusive California.

Explore how women’s well-being impacts us all and discover the steps we can take to create lasting change.

Learn More

Why Does this Inequality Continue to Persist for Latinas?

The wage gap for Latinas is influenced by many factors stemming from racial and gender discrimination. Key points include:

What Can Policymakers Do to Address the Wage Gap for California’s Latinas?

In recent years, California’s policymakers have passed legislation that helps to identify and address the disparities in wages between Latinas and white men. This legislation includes:

  • California Equal Pay Act. Passed in 2016, this policy requires equal pay for employees who perform similar work.
  • California Pay Data Reporting Law. Passed in 2020, this policy requires private employers to submit annual reports of employees’ gender, race, ethnicity, pay, and hours worked to the California Civil Rights Department.
  • California Pay Transparency Act. Passed in 2022, this policy expands pay data reporting requirements to better identify gender and race-based pay disparities.

While these policies have promoted fairer conditions for pay equity, they have not been enough to meaningfully close the wage gap in California between Latinas and white men. The reasons behind this wage gap in California stem from a variety of structural barriers related to access to well-paying jobs, access to education, and racial and gender discrimination. Pay transparency and reporting requirements alone will not meaningfully address this issue. Policymakers must therefore take a multifaceted approach to addressing systemic barriers by fighting against persistent inequities in pay and benefits and strengthening supports such as:

  • Continuing to raise wages in occupations where Latinas are disproportionately represented;
  • Creating a more comprehensive and accessible safety net, including enhanced unemployment insurance, paid family leave, CalWORKs (cash assistance), and CalFresh (food assistance);
  • Widening access to flexible and affordable child care to aid in alleviating poverty;
  • Increasing workers’ collective bargaining power;
  • Investing in community-based programs supporting Latinas; and
  • Promoting programs that improve the leadership pipeline for Latinas.

Focused efforts to address the wage gap can reverse current trends to ensure that Latinas reach pay equity well within a lifetime and have the resources they need to thrive in California.

Support for this piece was provided by the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.
Federal Policy
Poverty & Inequality

You may also be interested in the following resources:

Stay in the know.

Join our email list!