{"id":30422,"date":"2020-11-21T02:53:37","date_gmt":"2020-11-21T07:53:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.greenmoney.com\/2025\/?p=30422"},"modified":"2020-12-30T11:51:20","modified_gmt":"2020-12-30T16:51:20","slug":"how-investing-in-women-helps-everyone-during-a-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.greenmoney.com\/2025\/how-investing-in-women-helps-everyone-during-a-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"How Investing in Women Helps Everyone During a Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"
>> Back to December 2020 Issue<\/a><\/div>\n
Above photo: Shaw Legal Services, a Self-Help Credit Union borrower based in Chicago, IL, provides free legal services to immigrants and people who don’t have access to the legal system. Before COVID-19, they were in the process of expanding, but clients soon put services on hold and the court system shut down. Attorney Anne Shaw used all the funds to pay her employees so they could provide for their families. Photo courtesy of SHCU<\/em><\/h5>\n

\"Ebony<\/p>\n

Can women really have it all?<\/h2>\n

Women have made much progress in the last century. They gained the right to vote, currently earn a higher percentage of college degrees than\u00a0male counterparts, and\u00a0represent more than half of the American workforce. Despite their strides, women have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic’s economic effects, and\u00a0their progress is in jeopardy.<\/p>\n

Many women with varying levels of income have been successful at juggling their work and family lives \u2014 those with strong support systems were able to \u201chave it all,\u201d albeit with much hard work and stress. But today, the pandemic and subsequent economic downturn\u00a0have placed new pressures on women, especially those who are essential workers, parents, or both. Supervising children who are engaged in remote learning and balancing other caretaking responsibilities means that many women are in two places at the same time: at work and at home.<\/p>\n

The United States is now facing what some experts are describing as the \u201c<\/strong>first female recession<\/strong><\/a>.\u201d Many industries impacted by the pandemic \u2014 like retail, childcare, food service and entertainment \u2014 have a majority female workforce, causing women to be more vulnerable to layoffs.\u00a0Because women are often the primary caretakers in a household, many have also been forced to reduce their work hours to care for children and sick or elderly family members.<\/p>\n

Economic insecurity among women brings long-lasting consequences for American families and our overall economy. As families have evolved, many women are now the breadwinners in their households. Their loss or reduction of income impedes their ability to provide for their families. This, in turn, can have a negative impact on the well-being of children and can lead to increased education and economic inequality.<\/p>\n

\"Linda
Linda Jordan, a Self-Help mortgage borrower in Tarboro, NC. Stuck in public housing, Linda dreamed of something more and was ready to become a homeowner. After working with Self-Help to secure a loan, Linda said \u201cSelf-Help really helped me a lot. Now, I\u2019m in my own home, and I\u2019m loving it.” Photo courtesy of SHCU<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Working women need support now more than ever. Investors seeking high impact can tailor their funding choices to have a direct, positive effect on women and their families.\u00a0Here are five ways:<\/p>\n

1)\u00a0 Invest in Community Development Credit Unions<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Community Development\u00a0Credit Unions (CDCUs<\/a>) have\u00a0historically supported women, people of color, and\u00a0low-income\u00a0communities.\u00a0CDCUs, therefore, are well-positioned to support\u00a0women\u00a0who are carrying the weight of today’s public health crisis\u00a0and\u00a0economic downturn.<\/p>\n