Case Study
Gender & Racial Pay Inequities During COVID-19
Measuring and exploring gender and racial pay inequities during COVID-19 and the economic crisis.
The TIME’S UP Foundation insists upon a world where everyone is safe and respected at work. A world where women have an equal shot at success and security. A world where no one lives in fear of sexual harassment or assault.
In 2020, they commissioned us to conduct a national survey of adults ages 18 to 64 on experiences and perceptions related to pay inequities. The survey provides breadth and depth on the topic – from insights into past experiences to struggles during COVID-19 to fears and expectations for the future.
Key Results
White men are the most certain to think equal pay exists at their job, while having the least exposure to and experience with barriers. The data also suggests the coronavirus crisis is disproportionately affecting women’s mental and emotional health.

- 50% of Black and Latinx women ages 18 to 64 can’t afford to pay for basic needs right now – like food and housing
- 55% of Black women have less than $200 in savings right now – versus 27% of white men
- 60% of Latinx women have less than $200 in savings right now – versus 27% of white men
- 44% of women ages 18 to 64 are feeling “panic or severe anxiety” on a daily or weekly basis since the pandemic hit
- 44% of women say they’ve cried themselves to sleep at least once since COVID-19
- 58% of women have faced one or more gender or race-based obstacles in pay equity
Black and Latinx women struggle especially to buy food and build savings amid COVID-19.
Latinx women are:
- Most likely to report having lost a job, hours, or pay since COVID-19
- Least certain they’ll have a job that pays what they were making before COVID-19 (37% very sure)
- Most likely to have to leave home for work during the pandemic (61%)
- Most likely to say they were caring for a sick or elderly loved one prior to COVID-19 (29%)
- Most likely to be experiencing feelings of hopelessness or depression (53% once a week or more often)
Black women are:
- Among the most likely to have faced gender or race-based discrimination or obstacles to pay equity (55%)
- Most likely to say someone at work has implied they don’t work as hard as others because of their race, gender, or caregiving responsibilities (40%)
- Most likely to be in charge of unpaid labor at home and likely to be doing all or most of the work
- Most likely to have taken their current job because they had no other good choices (27%)
- Least certain their current employer pays men and women equally (17% very sure)
In the Press
The study was picked up by USA Today and Refinery29 where many of the stories and results were highlighted.