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HISPANIC NETWORK MAGAZINE www.hnmagazine.com
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
percent vs 53 percent of Latino men) and being a victim of violence or a hate crime (65 percent). Concern about harassment extends online, where 55 percent of Latinas worry about being criticized or harassed on social media compared to just 33 percent of Latino men. Women of color are more likely than men to say race is important to their identity - including over half of Latinas (53 percent) who say it is extremely important. This salience of race and ethnicity as a core factor of their identity makes the sting of discrimination more strongly with a plurality of Latinas reporting they feel discriminated against because of their race or ethnicity (44 percent frequently/sometimes). These responses are an important reminder of the intersectionality of race, eth- nicity and gender and how our communities experience discrimination, violence and harassment. Discrimination does not happen in a vacuum nor does it just impact someones personal life, their mental health and personal safety - which alone should deeply concern us all. It also manifests itself in deeply damaging social realities, such as the wage gap for women, which is the largest for Latinas who earned only 54 cents for every dol- lar earned by a White man in 2019. It plays out in Latinas being the least represented in corporate leadership and being severely underrepresented in elective office. To confront the distinct challenges Latinas face in recovering from the pandemic and tackle some of the root causes of these inequities, decision-makers should focus their efforts in high-impact areas includ- ing bolstering Latina microbusinesses, ensuring accessible child-care and removing discriminatory practices in the workplace. 89 percent of Latina-owned small businesses are microbusinesses with no employees, earning $50,000 annually or less. Business activ- ity fell disproportionality among Latino-owned businesses during the pandemic (32 percent compared to 22 percent overall) undercutting the vast employment and wealth-generating potential of these enterprises. The Small Business Administration and other agencies must ensure Latina microbusiness are part of stimulus packages and recovery plans. Another central piece to ensuring Latinas can return to the workforce and regain lost footing is making child-care more readily accessible to all women. Lastly, we must advance Latinas into leadership positions where their experiences can help shape corporate or government policy. We can do this by removing discriminatory barriers in the workplace, passing leg- islation that requires women of color are represented on publicly traded company boards and statewide commissions, and by investing in pro- grams that develop Latina leaders. As we continue to work on creating a more perfect union, we must center the intersectional nature of these issues, and apply a gendered lens to the solutions we pose. Its time the voices and experiences of Latinas, who are 9 percent of the American people, are heard and valued as we recover from the pandemic.
Thrive together
Diversity and Inclusion are the principles that bind us together. At Alight we are committed to building a culture where; diversity is visible, valued and sustained, we drive awareness, accountability and community. This commitment extends to building upon the inclusivity and diversity of our suppliers whose business values are aligned with ours. We are actively pursuing diverse suppliers to ensure our suppliers provide competitively high-quality products and services. To learn more go to alight.com/supplier-diversity
Alight unlocks enterprise growth for the world's most influential companies with future ready human capital and business solutions. Learn more at alight.com .
Helen Iris Torres is the CEO of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), where she leads one of the nation's most influential Latina organiza- tions. Through her leadership she has grown HOPE from a regional organization to a national nonprofit focused on the political and economic advancement of Latinas. HOPE is a well-respected resource for information on how Latinas are faring economically and politically.
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