Women make up 47 percent of the workforce and, according to a new Pew Research Center study, women are also the breadwinners in 40 percent of American households.

That number is up nearly 30 percent since 1960, showing a growing trend of women spending more time in the workplace.

About three-quarters of American adults say the increase in the number of working women has made it harder to raise children, according to Pew. Two-thirds of the households with breadwinning moms are also single parent households, which indicates that more women are shouldering the responsibilities of both parenting and working at the same time.

It’s more important than ever to support working parents. At Equal Rights Advocates, we’ve made the needs of working families a top priority, and have led a groundbreaking effort to end workplace discrimination against parents and caregivers. ERA is proud to co-sponsor California Senate Bill 404, which will add familial status to a list of protected characteristics under state employment and housing laws.

“The Pew study spotlights why ERA’s gender justice work is so critical for families. Equity in pay, fair opportunity for hire and advancement … these aren’t luxuries. We are talking about everyday survival,” said ERA Executive Director Noreen Farrell.

To support the growing group of women who are earning AND nurturing, click here and tell your state representative that you support SB 404. The families that rely on women breadwinners are also depending on their getting paid equally for equal work.  To find out how to join ERA’s Close the Gap campaign to fight pay discrimination, click here.

For more on the Pew study, including more information on increasing numbers of households run by single low-wage earners, click here.

Print PDF