Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
When Women Succeed, Boston Succeeds
Megan Costello
Executive Director
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
1
Women in the City of Boston in 2016
Data courtesy of Boston Redevelopment Authority/Research Division, April 2014
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
2
Women make up the majority of Boston’s population
•
•
•
Boston is home to 321,643 women and girls
Women make up 52.1% of Boston’s population
Boston women are highly educated: 38.6% have a Bachelor’s degree or higher
(compared to the national average of 28.2%)
35% of Boston’s female population is between
the ages of 20 and 34
54% of Boston women are non-white
The racial distribution is similar to that of the City
of Boston overall
Comparatively, only 19.8% of females in the U.S. are
in this age group
Age of Boston’s Female Population
12%
21%
9%
Boston’s Women by Race and Ethnicity
4
9% %
0-19
20-34
46%
17%
35-54
55-64
23%
35%
Black
Hispanic
Asian
65+
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
White
24%
3
Other
Women are disproportionately affected by poverty in Boston
•
•
•
•
The poverty rate for women in Boston is 23.0% compared with the national
average of 16.1%
70.9% of family households in poverty in Boston are female-headed households
without another partner present
55.8% of public benefits* recipients in Boston are female
40.2% of women in poverty are in the labor force (median income $6,400)
Children and young adults
comprise almost half (48%) of
Boston’s female poor population
Age of Women in Poverty in
Boston
11%
0-17
8%
18-24
20%
25-34
9%
35-44
45-54
28%
10%
55-64
15%
65+
61% of females in poverty have a
high school education or less
70% of females in poverty are
non-white
Educational Attainment of Women
in Poverty, Age 25+

19%
32%
20%


29%

Race and Ethnicity of Women in
Poverty
3%
Less Than High
White
School
12%
Black
30%
High School
Diploma/GED
Hispanic
27%
Some
Asian
College/Associate’s
28%
Bachelor’s Degree
Other
or Higher
Public benefits for individuals consist of public assistance income, social security income, supplemental security income, Medicare and Medicaid.
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
4
Women participate actively in Boston’s labor force, but still make
only 83 cents to a man’s dollar
•
•
•
Boston’s women and men (aged 16 and above) participate in the labor force at
similar rates: 65.9% (women) and 69.8% (men)
The most female-dominated industries are educational services, healthcare and
social assistance (68.0% women) and other services (60.3%)
Construction (8.3%) and transportation (25.7%) are the industries with the least
women in Boston
Women in Boston’s labor force earn 83% of
what men earn in terms of median income
The national average is 79% in terms of
median income
Women
Men
Ratio
Median Income
$31,000
$37,000
0.83
Mean Income
$42,811
$55,776
0.77
Women’s Median Income
Men’s Median Income
Rati
o
White
$41,100
$50,000
0.83
Black
$27,400
$27,500
1.00
Hispanic/Latin
o
$19,000
$23,000
0.83
Asian
$20,800
$30,000
0.69
Other
$25,000
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
$28,000
5
0.89
Men of all races make more
than women of the same race
The pay gap by education is
greater than by race: women
with professional degrees make
64% of what men earn
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
6
The Office of Women’s Advancement coordinates the Mayor’s efforts
to improve gender equality in Boston
•
•
•
•
Mayor Marty Walsh understands that women succeeding is not only socially just,
but also economically important to Boston’s vitality
In June 2014, the Mayor officially established a new department within city
government, the Office of Women’s Advancement, to promote equity for women
– This department was formerly known as the Women’s Commission
– The new Boston Women’s Commission will be an appointed advisory body to
assist and advise the Mayor and the Office of Women’s Advancement
The Office has a clear vision and is focused on policy rather than programs
The Office’s work is structured around three priority areas:
1. Data and research
2. Women’s economic equity
3. Women’s health and safety
How can policy and political leadership
change culture?
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
7
The Office oversees the Mayor’s women’s advancement initiatives as
well as two advisory bodies comprised of community leaders
Mayoral Office
Mayor’s Office of
Women’s Advancement
Advisory Body
Issue Priorities
Boston Women’s
Commission
Boston Women’s
Workforce Council
19 members
16 members
Networks
Resources
Policy Expertise
Data & Research
Policy
Legislation
Communication
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
Pay Equity
Economic Equity
Pay Equity
Networking & Training
Women on Main/In Business
Childcare
8
Health & Safety
Sexual Violence
Violence Against Women
Women in Poverty
Access to Education & Healthcare
You Can ALWAYS Get What You Want, It’s Just a Matter of HOW
Every issue is a woman’s issues so how do you prioritize?
How can policy and political leadership change culture?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Understand what the needs are: do an assessment of what the needs are and
what is possible
Political leadership and buy in is critical: start here
Allies within your organization, especially non-traditional allies
Where is there funding? What partnerships can be formed?
What are the “small” things you can accomplish to lead by example?
Go beyond legislation
Compromise- the world needs more of it
“When women succeed, Boston succeeds”
Mayor Marty Walsh
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
9
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement Accomplishments
Through our accomplishments we are changing policy AND culture
– Paid Parental Leave for exempt City of Boston Employees
– Launch of Women Entrepreneurs Boston (WeBos) to support and
increase the number of women owned businesses in Boston,
especially to help them scale and grow
– Unique multi-pronged approach to closing the gender wage gap:
 Supporting Equal Pay Legislation
 Working with Employers to sign the Voluntary 100% talent compact
 Offering free salary negotiation workshops in partnership with AAUW to
Individual Women
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
10
GET INVOLVED
•
Come to a workshop
– www.Boston.gov/women
•
•
•
•
Sign the 100% talent compact
Tweet: @BostonWomen
Facebook – Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement – Boston
Run for office!
“When women succeed, Boston succeeds”
Mayor Marty Walsh
Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement
11