*Notice how considering Asians to be model minorities could also play against them in policies to enhance diversity.
These poverty comparisons by race are also susceptible to poverty cycles and the racial divide that is still prevalent throughout America. Alleviating poverty is done by empowering women, but that is much harder when racial minorities are harder to empower. The fact is that:
Women of color make around 64 cents to every dollar of a white, non-hispanic male.
And when we talk about that 77 cents on the national level, that is heavily carried by white women receiving over 80 cents to the dollar. The solution we need to solve our wage gap is not going to be done by the traditional strategies. There needs to be more innovation and openness to race-directed policies that consider the differences in women's experience.
One thing that is talked about most of the time is the structure of the family. Especially with black and hispanic women, politicians want to push more marriage and healthy relationships. The problem is, healthy relationships may only be attainable (in aggregate) with more financial stability and economic opportunity for minorities. The numbers show:
Two-thirds of black children live in single-parent home, 53% for American Indian, and 42% for Hispanic
For white children, that number is 25%
So, one problem that is much more disproportionate on women of color is the use of unpaid care labor. Taking care of children is being substituted for other potential economically empowering activities. To fix this, it may be time to consider a government-run or government-subsidized care work market. Eliminate the economic incentive to keep women home and give them time to better themselves.
Certainly that is just one tactic of many that should be considered. There are gaps within every profession and at every level, that differ for every race. Its time we start to notice them.