Double Tax.. How Women of Color Are Overcharged

Why is life so expensive for women in America? From a rising star in economics comes the first comprehensive look at the costs women face, and why the bill is particularly high for women of color—with an introduction by Chelsea Clinton. The “pink tax” has gained widespread recognition in recent years, but what happens when you look at the costs that define women's entire lives, especially across racial lines? In "Double Tax," Harvard researcher Anna Jefete Opoku-Agyeman summarizes the disparities women face as they navigate life's most important moments. The numbers reveal not only that women incur higher costs than men, but also that black and white women live very different lives, marked by significant gaps in employment opportunities, salaries, housing costs, access to child care, and inherited wealth. She calls this gap the “double tax,” the compounded cost of racism and sexism Through careful research and interviews with women from across the country, Opoku-Agyeman estimates the additional amounts of money, time, and effort that women are expected, and even forced, to pay at every stage of their lives. Although the evidence may be discouraging, Double Taxation offers practical solutions for how ordinary individuals, communities, and global leaders alike can help reduce these costs for women permanently. Only by understanding the inefficiencies and source of double taxation can we begin to level the playing field for all.