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Report: Indigenous women in the U.S. earn 60 cents on the dollar

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In 19 of the 32 states with sufficient data, Native women are paid at least $20K less per year than white men

By: Special to the Capital-Star, Photo Source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research

By Shaun Griswold

Historic inequality for Native American women is still present in economic earnings, according to a report released this week by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. 

Native American women are not receiving their worth from employers for their work. And it’s historically bad. “During the last decade, the gender earnings gap for Native women and white men has not improved,” researchers concluded.

Nationally, Native American women receive 60 cents for every dollar a white man makes. New Mexico was highlighted by the report for being the worst in the nation for income inequality for Native American women. White men in the state make $58,153 on a median scale. By the same metric, Native American women make $30,000, That’s a 51.6 percent gap.

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What would happen in NM if Roe was weakened or overturned?

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In just over two months, the Center for Reproductive Rights will stand before the U.S. Supreme Court to defend abortion rights. Again.

The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, challenges Mississippi’s law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

But this is more than Mississippi’s law. The Supreme Court allowed Texas’s law S.B. 8, an extreme ban on abortion, to stand. Most Texas women seeking abortion will have to go out of state. New Mexico abortion healthcare providers have already seen an increase in patients.

If Roe is weakened or overturned, what will happen in New Mexico?

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, “Abortion will remain accessible in New Mexico, but without legal protection. New Mexico courts have not determined whether the state constitution protects a right to abortion.”

The Southwest Women’s Law Center helped to repeal New Mexico’s pre-Roe ban during the 2021 legislative session. SWLC will continue to fight to protect reproductive rights for New Mexican women.

What can you do?

Attend a Women’s March this Saturday, October 2 – virtually or in person – enter your zip code to find a location near you. Some of the New Mexico events include (make sure to check the event site for the most up-to-date information):

Albuquerque

NMWM’s March for Our Rights

Tiguex Park, 1800 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104

Saturday, October 2, 2:00 p.m.

Santa Fe

Rally to Protect Women’s Reproductive Rights

New Mexico State Capitol, 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Saturday, October 2, 11:00 a.m.

Taos

Taos Rally for Reproductive Rights

Intersection in front of the World Cup Coffee Shop, 102 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM 87571

Saturday, October 2, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Las Cruces

Stand Against S.B. 8

Las Cruces City Hall, 700 N Main St, Las Cruces, NM 88001

Saturday, October 2, 10:00 a.m.

Cloudcroft

Women’s March

Zenith Park, James Canyon Hwy, Cloudcroft, NM 88317

Saturday, October 2, 1:00 p.m.

Silver City

Women’s March & Rally for Abortion Justice

Visitor’s Center to Gough Park, 201 N. Hudson Street, Silver City, NM

Saturday, October 2, 2:00 p.m.

  • Support one of the many wonderful organizations working to protect women’s access to safe and legal abortion
  • Support us in our work today to keep abortion safe and legal and defend a woman’s right to choose

Southwest Women’s Law Center

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Official Statement on Texas Senate Bill 8

The Southwest Women’s Law Center (SWLC) is outraged and saddened that women’s health, fundamental freedoms, and constitutional rights continue to be attacked in America. On September 1, 2021, Senate Bill 8 took effect in Texas. This bill is aimed at banning safe abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, usually around 6-weeks’ gestation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2018 more than 90% of abortions were performed around or before 13-weeks’ gestation. Most women seeking abortions do not know they are pregnant until after the 6 -week mark. Texas Senate Bill 8 doesn’t stop abortion. This bill only makes abortions harder to obtain and will endanger the lives of women in Texas.

This has been a consistent effort by lawmakers and anti-abortion zealots in Texas over the last several decades. In 2013, lawmakers attempted a similar abortion ban known as House Bill 2. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the ban was unconstitutional in 2017. But the damage was already done to abortion access in Texas. As a result, less than 20 abortion clinics exist today in Texas. Now, lawmakers in Texas have taken further action and have banned abortions after 6-weeks with the passing of Senate Bill 8.

Under Senate Bill 8, seeking an abortion is not criminalized. However, those who assist the person or perform the abortion may face civil liability. Worse, this law actively encourages private citizens, with no standing, to act as bounty hunters by awarding them $10,000 if they successfully sue another person for providing abortion or assisting someone who gets an abortion after 6-weeks’ gestation.

This abortion ban is intentionally designed to overwhelm clinics in the state with lawsuits and legal bills and force them to shut down. Due to structural racism and inequities, laws like Texas’ abortion ban disproportionately harms people of color, people with low incomes, and those living in rural areas. This bill will effectively end safe abortion access in Texas. Unfortunately, these bans will not stop in Texas. Oklahoma passed a similar bill that is expected to go into effect on November 1, 2021. The Oklahoma bill makes performing an abortion a homicide. Florida is now also considering a bill like the abortion ban in Texas. Women in New Mexico are currently immune from the laws in other states. But this does not mean we should sit by and watch our sisters in other states suffer. We at the

Southwest Women’s Law Center is involved in efforts to support those seeking safe abortions and encourage others to help however they can. Organizations Below is a list of organizations currently engaged in the fight for Women’s access to safe and legal reproductive health services:

OrganizationWhat they are doingWebsite
ACLUPursing a lawsuit regarding the Texas safe abortion ban.aclu.org
Fund Texas
Choice		Provides travel and accommodation assistance to Texas residents.fundtexaschoice.org
Lilith FundProvides financial assistance and emotional supportlilithfund.org
Avow and Lilith
Fund		Provides location of clinics, funding information, free legal help for pregnant minors, counseling, and other help.needabortion.org
National Network of Abortion FundsProvides a list of organizations that can help fund abortion in all 50 states.abortionfunds.org/need-abortion

We encourage supporters to contact the organizations directly to provide monetary support.

Download PDF Statement

We are hiring: Staff Attorney

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The Southwest Women’s Law Center is looking for a Staff Attorney to extend and strengthen our work and to develop the Center’s capacity to engage in impactful litigation in collaboration with attorneys in the private bar.

The Staff Attorney will report to the Executive Director of the Center and is expected to be able to participate in the full range of the Center’s programs and planning as needed.

The Center engages in significant administrative advocacy with state and local government agencies and is seeking – through this position – to extend and strengthen that work and to develop the Center’s capacity to engage in impact litigation in collaboration with attorneys in the private bar. The Staff Attorney will be responsible for the Center’s Title IX advocacy, civil legal services work on behalf of low-income women in NM, including public benefits and housing work impacting survivors of domestic violence, women’s health and reproductive rights advocacy, and other areas as assigned.

View Details and Apply

We are hiring!

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The Southwest Women’s Law Center is looking for a Development Specialist to help us build our fundraising capacity from the ground up.

Established in 2005, the Southwest Women’s Law Center (SWLC) works on issues that impact women and girls around reproductive rights, economic security, and gender discrimination in New Mexico.

We are looking for a donor relations/fundraising professional who has a passion for our mission and vision and is excited to share it with the community.

As a small nonprofit, the SWLC relies heavily on grants to allow us to do our work and we are looking to expand our operations

View Details and Apply

Virtual Screening: ZERO WEEKS

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Free Virtual Screening and Panel Discussion

Virtual Screening & Panel Discussion
July 13th, 2021 at 6:00pm

Join us for a special screening of ZERO WEEKS, a feature-length documentary that explores America’s paid leave crisis and the cost of doing nothing.

After the film, there will be a panel discussion about the film and the effort to bring PaidFamily & Medical Leave (PFML) to New Mexico. This is an opportunity to learn moreabout PFML, hear from experts in the state, and begin taking action from the comfort ofyour own home.

Register Here
Preview Trailer