Women in the Economy: An Underleveraged Powerhouse

Ana Kent
Senior Researcher at the Institute for Economic Equity
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Women’s importance to the economy has grown over the past several decades. Yet, women in the workforce are not as well supported in the U.S. as they are in other countries. This is especially the case with childcare, which is unaffordable and unavailable for many working mothers. Furthermore, gender gaps in income and wealth are exacerbated by parental status, with mothers earning significantly less than fathers and having significantly less wealth, despite being more likely to take on child care and household work. Research shows that supporting women benefits the broader economy, businesses and families. Gains from racial and gender equity in Missouri are estimated at $32 billion per year.

Agenda:

11:00 am – 12:15 pm – Networking, Welcome, and Lunch
12:15 pm – 1:00 pm – Presentation and Final Announcements

Key Take-A-Ways:

1. Women’s importance to the economy has grown over the past several decades.
2. Yet, large financial gaps in income, wealth and financial security persist between men and women.
3. Including and supporting women more fully could result in widespread economic gains.

More about Ana:

Ana Hernández Kent is a senior researcher for the Institute for Economic Equity (IEE) at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. She conducts research, performs data analysis and advises on issues of economic equity. Her primary research interests include:

• Examining economic disparities and opportunities through a demographic lens
• Exploring wealth outcomes and wealth inequality
• Highlighting the role of systemic biases and historical factors in facilitating or blocking wealth accumulation

Kent received a Ph.D. in experimental psychology with concentrations in social psychology and quantitative methods in behavioral sciences from Saint Louis University (SLU). She earned a master’s degree in experimental psychology from SLU and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame.

Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Bloomberg, The Atlantic, The Financial Times, Daily Mail, The New Yorker and CNN, among other outlets.