The “double tax” refers to the compounded costs Black women face in the workplace and society due to both racism and sexism. Since the pandemic, more than half a million Black women have left the U.S. labor force—an exodus with serious economic and social consequences. As gender economist Katica Roy put it, “When Black women are pushed out of the labor force, we all lose.” Harvard economist Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman explores this issue in her new book The Double Tax, highlighting how these overlapping barriers result in fewer opportunities, higher costs, and greater sacrifices for Black women compared to their peers.
The Economic Impact of the Double Tax
Using extensive data and research, Opoku-Agyeman shows how Black women are disproportionately affected by childcare costs, housing, job segregation, and wage gaps. Black mothers, often primary breadwinners, face steep childcare expenses that consume a significant share of their income. In the workplace, occupational segregation pushes Black women into the lowest-paid industries—overrepresented in eight out of ten of them. Even in 2025, with cutting-edge technology at our fingertips, equal pay remains elusive. These systemic inequities are more than personal struggles—they represent structural challenges that weaken the overall workforce.
Real-Life Stories of the Double Tax
Beyond statistics, lived experiences bring the double tax into sharp focus. Consultant Abi Adamson shared how, in London, she lost a pay raise for challenging an unfair review and endured racial “banter” that pushed her to tears in a senior role. Opoku-Agyeman also highlights how women’s spaces often fail to fully include women of color, treating them primarily as racial minorities rather than as women. These stories reveal that the double tax is not just an American problem—it’s a global one, cutting across industries, borders, and cultures.
Why Tackling the Double Tax Benefits Everyone
Although the double tax most directly impacts Black women, solving it has ripple effects for society as a whole. As Opoku-Agyeman explains, “The best outcome for Black women is a better outcome for everyone else.” Black women’s experiences serve as an economic benchmark—an early warning sign of broader inequities. Addressing the compounded burdens of racism and sexism isn’t just about justice for one group; it’s about building stronger, fairer systems that benefit all workers, families, and communities. Ignoring the double tax means ignoring the health of the entire economy
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