By Gavrielle Gemma
In New Orleans, tourists can hop between fancy restaurants, concerts, conventions and giant drinks in the French Quarter. Rarely do they ever see that women here and throughout the state are suffering.
According to a report on the “Status of Women in the States” issued by Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Louisiana’s score for employment & earnings and health & well-being was ‘F’. Poverty, reproductive rights and elected representation earned ‘D-‘.
Black women earn only 49% of white men’s earnings. It’s 68% for white women and 52% for Latinas. Black women are only 28% of managerial or professional jobs, yet have the highest percentage of women working.
Infant mortality and women’s mortality rate during childbirth are about the worst in the country. Louisiana ranks 49 out of 50 states for women’s health and well-being and 46th for reproductive rights.
Neither the state nor New Orleans has any laws giving workers paid sick leave or vacation. Most women have no pensions. Only one women was elected to a state executive office and women had no seats in Congress.
The good news is that women in unions earn $252 a week more than those who have no union.
Women in the city and state have potential power that has not yet been organized or exerted. We make up a large percentage of the work force and the bosses make billions in profits from our labor. We will soon make our power known.