CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A new report shows women in Chicago were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report, "Creating a More Equitable Recovery: Addressing the Economic Barriers COVID-19 Exacerbated for Women in Chicago", found that women, particularly women of color, experienced disproportionate negative economic impacts over the course of the pandemic.
Further, the pandemic was not the cause of the negative impacts. Instead, COVID-19 revealed pain points in the economy and social safety net systems or lack thereof.
"Women, and particularly women of color, have borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic while being paid less than men simply because of their gender," said Mayor Lori Lightfoot in a statement.
"This report demonstrates that there is more work to do to address inequities in our economy."
Several women's organizations collaborated to publish the report and many of them called for "advancing legislation and policy, changing employer practices, and creating pathways to better careers that pay living wages."
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