>> Bonnie: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY".

I AM HOST, BONNIE ERBE.

WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS ON WOMEN AND PARTICULARLY POOR WOMEN OF COLOR?

THE INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN'S POLICY RESEARCH IS A LEADER ON STUDIES ABOUT ISSUES AFFECTING WOMEN.

AND TODAY, I WPRO PRESIDENT DR. SEE NICOLE MASON TRANSMITTED TALK ABOUT THE WORK THEY ARE DOING ON WOMEN AND THE IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

WILL COME, DR. MASON.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> PRETTY GOOD.

YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION AND I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF IT.

>> Bonnie: YOU ARE WONDERFUL FOR GIVING US YOUR TIME AND IS VERY BUSY AND, QUITE FRANKLY, DEPRESSING TIMES, ESPECIALLY ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACTIRST OF ALL, TELL THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, A BIT ABOUT WHAT I WPRO DOES.

>> I WPRO IS THE LEADING THING TECH AND RESOURCE CENTER FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC SECURITY OF WOMEN AND FAMILIES.

AND WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT 33 YEARS.

AND SO, ACTUALLY, THIS MOMENT, THINKING ABOUT HOW TO RESTORE AN ECONOMY OR BUILD AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN TEEING UP FOR SOME TIME.

SO THIS MOMENT PROVIDES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND REIMAGINE AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR ALL.

>> Bonnie: NOW, HOW ARE WOMEN AND PARTICULARLY WOMEN OF COLOR AND POOR PEOPLE WERE IMPACTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS THAN WHITE PEOPLE?

>> C. Nicole Mason: PEOPLE ACROSS RACE, ACROSS SOCIOECONOMIC CLASS ARE STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT.

WHAT WE SEE HERE IS THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE STRUGGLING BEFORE THE VIRUS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE FEWER SAVINGS, THEY ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, AND THEY ARE OFTEN IN LOWER WAGE JOBS WHICH, AS WE SEE WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS RECENTLY, MANY OF THOSE JOBS HAVE BEEN SHED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> Bonnie: ARE THEY ALSO IN INDUSTRIES WHERE THEIR JOBS ARE LESS LIKELY TO EVER COME BACK?

FOR EXAMPLE, A HISPANIC FRIEND OF MINE, HIS WIFE WORKED FOR EIGHT YEARS FOR HOULIHAN'S RESTAURANT IN MARYLAND AS A SERVER, AND THEY CLOSE THE RESTAURANT BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

>> C. Nicole Mason: ABSOLUTELY.

SO WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW IS THAT MANY OF THE JOBS WHERE b ÃÃ THAT HAVE BEEN LOST ARE IN THE SERVICE SECTOR.

THOSE JOBS ARE PREDOMINANTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, LOWER INCOME, INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE SECTORS.

SO WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT EVEN THOUGH, FOR EXAMPLE, 21 MILLION UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE LAST MONTH, WHEN WE BEGIN TO RECOVER, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE AT 100 PERCENT EMPLOYMENT.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES WERE STRUGGLING BEFORE HAND AND THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN THE DOORS.

>> Bonnie: WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE BUSINESSES WERE SAYING HI TECH, WHICH WOULD EMPLOYEE HIGHER INCOME PEOPLE VERSUS SERVERS -- AND ANOTHER INDUSTRY THAT I CANNOT THINK, BUT THAT IT WILL BE BEEFED UP AFTER THIS WOULD BE THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY.

AND A LOT OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE GETTING, YOU KNOW LOW-INCOME BEHAVIORS OR ASSOCIATES DEGREES THAT ALLOW THEM TO JOIN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY LIKE NURSING ASSISTANTS OR PHYSICIANS ASSISTANTS, THOSE KIND OF THINGS WE DO SO WHAT WE KNOW ARE THERE ARE CERTAIN SECTORS THAT ARE GROWING.

SO EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND EVEN BEFORE THIS THE SERVICE SECTOR WAS GROWING.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW WITH b ÃÃMANY OF THOSE JOBS WERE ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE JOBS, JOBS THAT PAY LOWER WAGES AND JOBS THAT HAD FEWER BENEFITS.

SO EVEN IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY, THERE IS A SEGMENT OF WORKERS WHO WERE NOT RNS OR DOCTORS WHO WERE LOWER-LEVEL HEALTHCARE WORKERS LIKE HOME HEALTH AIDES AND CNA'S WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC AND DID NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, SO THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT GOING TO WORK BUT ALSO DID NOT HAVE THE BENEFITS IN CASE THEY BECAME SICK.

>> Bonnie: FORBES HAD A LITTLE PIECE b ÃÃI THINK IT CAME FROM A STUDY THAT Y'ALL DID SHOWING THAT b ÃÃAND I KNOW IT'S A TINY BIT OF POSSIBLY DECENT NEWS IN A SEA OF BAD NEWS, BUT IT SHOWED THAT RESTAURANT SERVICE WORKERS, WOMEN MADE 89 PERCENT OF WHAT MEN MADE IN THOSE JOBS.

AND AGAIN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LOW INCOME JOBS.

BUT WHY IS b ÃÃTHERE ARE SEVERAL SECTORS LIKE THAT.

WHY IS IT THAT WOMEN IN THOSE SERVICE INDUSTRIES MAKE SO MUCH CLOSER TO WHAT MEN b ÃÃSTILL AT SOMETHING ABOUT 70 b OMEN ON AVERAGE MAKE ABOUT $0.70 FOR EVERY DOLLAR, AND IS JUST MUCH LOWER FOR BLACK WOMEN IN HIS HISPANIC WOMEN IN NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN AND ETC.

BUT WOMEN ON AVERAGE MAKE $0.10 MORE COMPARED TO WHAT MEN MAKE IN THOSE SERVICE INDUSTRIES.

I WAS INTRIGUED BY THAT.

>> C. Nicole Mason: SO, ACTUALLY, WOMEN EARN $0.82 ON THE DOLLAR ON AVERAGE COMPARED TO MEN.

AND FOR LATINA AND BLACK WOMEN, YOU KNOW, THEY EARN LESS.

THERE IS NOT b ÃÃTHERE ONLY IF YOU SECTORS THAT WOMEN OUT ON MEN, AND NEARLY ALL THE OTHER SECTORS, MOST SECTORS, MEN, REGARDLESS OF THE SECTOR OCCUPATION OUT EARN WOMEN.

THAT INCLUDES RETAIL AND THE SERVICE SECTOR.

EVEN WHEN WOMEN b ÃÃMEN ARE IN JOBS THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY FEMALE FOR WOMEN, THEY STILL OUT EARN WOMEN.

SO WHAT WE SEE NOW IS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, IS THAT WOMEN WERE EARNING LESS AND THAT HAS AN IMPACT IN TIMES LIKE THIS BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE LESS MONEY SAVED, THEY ALSO HAVE LESS MONEY TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, HOUSING IS AN ISSUE PARTICULARLY IN THIS MOMENT AS WELL AS PROVIDING FOR BASIC NECESSITIES.

SO THE WAGE INEQUALITY, THE PAY GAP DEFINITELY IMPACTS HOW WOMEN WILL DO IN THIS PARTICULAR ECONOMIC CRISIS.

>> Bonnie: BUT AS b ÃÃWHY IS IT b ÃÃYOU SAY WOMEN ON AVERAGE NOR MAKING $0.82 ON THE DOLLAR FOR EVERY DOLLAR A MAN MAKES.

I WAS A LITTLE BEHIND ON THE STATISTICS.

LAST TIME I CHECKED IT, IT WAS 78 OR $0.80, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

OKAY.

BUT EVEN SO, IN RESTAURANT SERVICE JOBS, THEY MAKE $0.89 FOR EVERY DOLLAR.

SO THEY ARE MUCH CLOSER TO WHAT MEN EARN IN THOSE FIELDS.

IS THAT BECAUSE IT'S A LOW INCOME FIELD?

WAS IT AT A POINT EXCLUSIVELY RESERVED FOR WOMEN BECAUSE IT PAID SO LOW BUT NOW MEN, BECAUSE THEY NEED JOBS, OR GETTING INTO IT?

YOU KNOW, LIKE NURSING, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS NOT A GREAT PAYING JOB 20 OR 30 YEARS AGO.

NOW THERE ARE NURSES MAKING WELL INTO THE SIX FIGURES.

SO GUESS WHAT'S HAPPENING.

MORE MEN IN THAT INDUSTRY.

IN OTHER WORDS, MEN ARE ATTRACTED TO ALL-FEMALE INDUSTRIES WHEN THE PAY STARTS TO GO UP.

IS THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE RESTAURANT SERVICE INDUSTRY?

>> C. Nicole Mason: MANY RESTAURANT WORKERS ARE STILL UNFORTUNATELY DEPENDENT ON TIP WAGES, TIPPED EARNINGS.

AND THAT CAN VARY FROM RESTAURANT TO RESTAURANT.

AND SO, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO UNPACK THOSE NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IN GENERAL, WHAT WE STILL KNOW IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE GAP IS A BIT CLOSER IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, IS WOMEN ARE STILL EARNING LESS.

AND AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT TO OVERSTATE THIS, BUT THESE ARE LOWER WAGE OR LOWER PAYING JOBS IN GENERAL, IN FACT.

AND SO, AND THEN WHEN WE THINK ABOUT b ÃÃHE POINTED OUT THE NURSING FIELD.

SO MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF WOMEN ARE NURSES.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS WHEN MEN ARE NURSES OR WHEN MEN ENTER THE SECTOR, THEY OUT EARN WOMEN WITH THE SAME SKILLS AND EVEN IN SOME CASES LESS EXPERIENCE.

SO THIS IS A REALLY, YOU KNOW, SYSTEMIC PROBLEM, INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM.

IT REALLY GOES TO THE CORE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE BELIEVE THAT WOMEN EARN?

WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THEIR WORK?

>> Bonnie: YOU HAVE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A STUDENTb ARENT SUCCESS INITIATIVE.

PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> C. Nicole Mason: SO THE STUDENTb ARENT OF SUCCESS INITIATIVE IS ONE OF MANY PARTS OF OUR WORK WHERE WE ARE REALLY, AGAIN, AS WE MOVE INTO A HIGHER TECH b ÃÃRELIANT ON A HIGHLY SKILLED, HIGHLY EDUCATED WORKFORCE MAKING SURE THAT THE WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND IN THE FIRST, THESE FIRST WAVES HAVE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY.

AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT MANY OF THE WOMEN WHO ARE STRUGGLING DAY TO DAY TO MAKE ENDS MEET HER PARENTS.

AND SO, WHAT WE ARE WORKING WITH, ORGANIZATIONS AND CONDITIONS AND PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS IS TO MAKE SURE WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND TRAINING SO THEY CAN PROVIDE FOR THE FAMILIES.

>> Bonnie: YES.

I READ SOMEWHERE MANY YEARS AGO THAT THE PHD FEMALE JUST GETTING OUT OF SCHOOL ON THE PHD MAIL, SHE MADE $0.98 ON HIS DOLLAR.

AND NOW MAYBE, ARE THERE ANY FIELDS WERE WOMEN EARN MORE THAN MEN SINCE THE EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY?

AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY?

>> C. Nicole Mason: DEFINITELY NOT IN TECHNOLOGY OR HIGH SKILLED JOBS.

THERE IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT AND NOTABLE PAY GAP.

AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WHEN WE PROVIDE WOMEN WITH TRAINING SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCEMENT, THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AND LEAN INTO IT.

AND SHOULD BE REWARDED FOR THE SKILLS THAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE.

IN RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE JUST NOT ACROSS MANY, IF NOT MOST, ALL SECTORS.

IN SOME CASES, IT IS TORRELLAS OF ATTAINMENT LEVELS.

>> Bonnie: NOW, THE CORONAVIRUS OBVIOUSLY ONLY HIT A COUPLE, A FEW MONTHS AGO.

BUT IS THERE ENOUGH RESEARCH BEING DONE ON THE GENDER IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS ON THE ECONOMY AND HURTING WOMEN AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR MORE THAN UPPER INCOME COMMUNITIES?

>> C. Nicole Mason: WE KNOW THAT 60b|0 PERCENT OF THE JOBS LOST WERE JOBS LOST BY WOMEN.

AND SO, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS THE CASE AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR WOMEN'S LONG-TERM ECONOMIC SECURITY AND THE RECOVERY FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC.

AND WE KNOW THAT THAT SAME THING TO BE TRUE FOR WORKERS OF COLOR, AND UNDERSTANDING, AGAIN, NOT ONLY IS IT ABOUT THE ECONOMY BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE LACK OF HEALTH INSURANCE AND THE OTHER BENEFITS THAT PROVIDE A SAFETY NET FOR FAMILIES THAT WE REALIZE AND WE KNEW BEFORE THAT MANY WOMEN, LOWER INCOME WORKERS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO.

>> Bonnie: YOUR ORGANIZATION IS CALLED THE PANDEMIC A WAKE-UP CALL FOR MORE b ÃÃFOR CHANGING AND LIBERALIZING LAWS ON WORKING FROM HOME AND b ÃÃ MORE RULES, SHOULD SAY, AND WHAT THE VIRUS WILL DO IN TERMS OF INFLUENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS WELL.

PLEASE EXPLAIN THOSE TWO POINTS TO ME, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

>> C. Nicole Mason: YEAH.

SO A FEW MONTHS AGO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE HAVE SUCH A BOOMING ECONOMY, AND IT WAS PRIMARILY DEFINED BY THE STRENGTH OF THE STOCK MARKET AND LOW UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS.

BUT WHAT WE KNEW THEN IS THAT IT REALLY MASKED THE REALITY OF MANY FAMILIES, WORKING FAMILIES WHO ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND REALLY FELT ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE.SO WHAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS DONE IS TO REVEAL THOSE CLEAVAGES AND THOSE GAPS IN PEOPLE'S DAY-TO-DAY REALITIES.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ECONOMY DOESN'T JUST WORK FOR THOSE AT THE TOP, BUT WORKS FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE AND CITIZENS.

AND SO, WE ARE LEARNING A LOT THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC, ACTUALLY, AND IT'S REVEALING A LOT.

BUT IT'S ALSO b ÃÃIT WILL END HAS AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT, PROVIDES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT THE KINDS OF POLICIES, THE STRATEGIES WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY SAID, IS ECONOMICALLY SECURE.

>> Bonnie: HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

WHAT ARE YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING WOMEN OF COLOR AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ECONOMICALLY SECURE?

>> C. Nicole Mason: WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE AND BENEFITS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY TIED TO AN EMPLOYER BUT THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE WITH THEM AND THEY ON THE BENEFITS.

I THINK THAT'S ONE THING.

I'M ALSO A PROPONENT, AND WE ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME, REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC STATUS AND BASING IT ON NEED VERSUS INCOME AND EARNINGS.

AND SO, AGAIN, WE ARE IN A MOMENT WHERE WE CAN REALLY IMAGINE OUR ECONOMY AND WANT THAT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WHAT WE REALIZE IN THIS PANDEMIC MOMENT ARE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF COVID-19, IT'S THE WORKERS AND THE PEOPLE IN AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO CREATE AND MAKE THE ECONOMY AND NOT THE PEOPLE AT THE TOP AND THE CORPORATIONS.

SO WE NEED TO DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED, AND WE ALSO NEED TO LEAD WITH OUR VALUES.

>> Bonnie: ARE THERE ANY DATA OUT THERE YET, OR IS IT TOO SOON, ON HOW THE COVID-19 VIRUS HAS AFFECTED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH HEALTH INSURANCE IN THIS COUNTRY?

AND IF NOT, PRE-VIRUS, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE COMPLETELY UNINSURED?

>> C. Nicole Mason: WELL, WE DO HAVE THE NUMBERS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE UNINSURED.

AND IT WAS A LOT.

MANY PEOPLE FELT VERY VULNERABLE.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WORRIED ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC IS THAT THE COST OF CARE, SO GOING TO GET TESTED WERE SCREENED FOR COVID-19 WAS CROSS PROHIBITED FOR PEOPLE, EVEN THOSE WHO HAD HEALTH INSURANCE.

AND SO, HOW THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED, YOU KNOW, OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE RELUCTANT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF HEALTH INSURANCE OR THE COST OF CARE TO GET TESTED.

>> Bonnie: CONGRESSWOMAN, KATIE PORTER FROM CALIFORNIA DID PUSH THROUGH IN HER b ÃÃIN A HEARING WITH THE CDC BEFORE HER, SHE MADE HIM PROMISE THAT TESTING WOULD BE FREE FOR ALL AMERICANS.

>> C. Nicole Mason: THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

BUT THAT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS INTO THE VIRUS.

AND SO, THERE HAD ALREADY BEEN SOME HARM, I WOULD SAY.

AND SO, I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR KATIE PORTER AND HER BEING ABLE TO PUSH THAT, BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THAT TESTING HAS BEEN FAR AND FEW BETWEEN, ESPECIALLY IN PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES.

I WANT TO LOOK THAT UP.

BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE LOSS OF JOBS, MANY PEOPLE ARE UNEMPLOYED AND HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS WHICH ALSO MEANS THEY HAVE ALSO LOST ACCESS TO HEALTH BENEFITS AND INSURANCE.

AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THEM, BUT FOR IN MANY CASES FOR THEIR ENTIRE FAMILIES.

AND SO, ONE OF THE THINGS I AM REALLY b ÃÃHAVE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT AND ENCOURAGED BY IS THAT IN THE STIMULUS PACKAGES, THERE HAS BEEN PROVISIONS FOR PAID SICK LEAVE FOR FAMILIES.

BUT IT DOES NOT GO NEARLY FAR ENOUGH BECAUSE IT EXCLUDES MANY OF OUR BIGGEST AND LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN MANY OF THE EMPLOYERS THAT EMPLOYED MANY LOW-WAGE WORKERS.

AND SO, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE NEW AND NEXT ROUND OF STIMULUS IS THAT THERE PROVISIONS TO PROVIDE FOR LOWER WAGE WORKERS WHO ARE EXCLUDED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF PACKAGES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE.

>> Bonnie: DO YOU THINK WITH ALL THE CHANGES THAT WILL BE MADE BY ELISE AT THIS POINT A REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED SENATE AND A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT WILL HELP OR HURT WOMEN IN TERMS OF BEING IMPACT -- AND WOMEN OF COLOR BEING IMPACTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS?

>> C. Nicole Mason: WHAT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL ABOUT THIS MOMENT IS THAT WE DO HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THEY CONTROL THE PURSE STRINGS.

SO IT'S MADE IT HARDER FOR A SENATE WHO IS SOMETIMES PUNITIVE TOWARDS LOWER WAGE WORKERS, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN TO RAM THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK, IF WE HAD NOT HAD A DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WOULD BE POSSIBLE.

AND SO, WHAT WE SEE IS THAT THE SENATE HAS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE HOUSE IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH MANY OF THE PACKAGES AND THAT THEY NEED TO GET TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT I REALLY BELIEVE IS THAT WE NEED TO PUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOVE PARTISAN POLITICS AND REALLY DO WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF WORKERS AND FAMILIES AND WOMEN AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> Bonnie: DID YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THE STIMULUS PACKAGE, THE FIRST ONE THE PAST?

DID YOU MEET YOUR SATISFACTION IN TERMS OF HELPING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

>> C. Nicole Mason: ABSOLUTELY NOT.

AND I THINK THE FIRST PACKAGE, WHILE I THINK IT WAS A VALIANT VALIANT EFFORT AND WE REALLY NEEDED THAT $2 TRILLION IN FUSION INTO THE ECONOMY TO REALLY HELP KEEP PEOPLE AFLOAT, BUT IT WAS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

AGAIN, MANY WORKERS WERE LEFT OUT OF THE PACKAGE, UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS.

I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE $1200 THAT WENT OUT TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, BUT THAT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE NEW STIMULUS BILL THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING IS THEY ARE CONSIDERING $2000 PER MONTH UNTIL WE ARE OUT b ÃÃUNTIL UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS REACH PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

AGAIN, WE NEED TO PUT MONEY IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOSTNE OF THE LESSONS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM THE 2008 RECESSION IS THAT WE NEED TO PUT MONEY IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES RATHER THAN PUMPING THAT INTO LARGE CORPORATIONS AND BUSINESSES AND HOPING IT WILL TRICKLE DOWN.

>> Bonnie: MOST OF THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS , AT LEAST AT THE LOWER LEVELS OF PAY, NURSING ASSISTANTS, THE PHYSICIANSb ELL, PHYSICIANS ASSISTANTS ARE ACTUALLY REASONABLY PAID.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE NURSING ASSISTANTS AND BELOW THEM, ALL THE WORKERS BELOW THEM, MOST OF THEM ARE WOMEN.

AND IN NEW YORK CITY, FOR EXAMPLE, EVERY DAY AT 7:00 PEOPLE LEAN OUT OF THEIR WINDOWS WITH DRUMS, BEING ON THE DRUMS AND YALE HIP HIP HOORAY AND SING SONGS AND DO THAT TO THANK THOSE HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BEING b ÃÃ PROBABLY BEING DONE IN OTHER CASES AROUND THE COUNTRY AS WELL, BUT HOW DO YOU TAKE THAT ENERGY AND TRANSLATE IT INTO FEDERAL b ÃÃI GUESS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR THESE WORKERS, RIGHT?

>> C. Nicole Mason: WE NEED HANDCLAPS AND WE LOVE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT.

MORE THAN THAT WE NEED PEOPLE TO GET OUT TO THE POLLS AND VOTE THEIR VALUES AND VOTE IN A WAY THAT MAKES SURE THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND WORKERS HAVE THE NECESSARY PROTECTIONS AND LIVING WAGES AND QUALITY JOBS THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.

SO I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE WAYS IN WHICH EVERYONE HAS COME TOGETHER AND HAVE BEEN UNITED AROUND OUR WORKERS AND OUR FRONT-LINE PEOPLE.

BUT THERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.

AND SO, IN THIS MOMENT, IN ADDITION TO RALLYING BEHIND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE FRONT LINES, WE ALSO NEED TO BE PUTTING PRESSURE AT BOTH THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE MOST IN NEED OF SUPPORT AND, YOU KNOW, A HAND UP AT THIS TIME GET IT.

>> Bonnie: DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA YET ON THE PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN VERSUS MEN WHO FILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO HAVE FILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT?

BECAUSE I LEAST I HEARD IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, MORE MEN WERE GETTING SICK THAN WOMEN.

WAS THAT THE CASE?

I COULD BE WRONG ON THAT.

AND IF NOT, WHAT ARE THE PERCENTAGES BY GENDER, IF YOU KNOW IT, OF PEOPLE COMING DOWN WITH NOT JUST TESTING POSITIVE, BUT ACTUALLY COMING DOWN WITH COVID-19?

>> C. Nicole Mason: THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME DOWN WITH IT AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO SURVIVE IT ARE TWO DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, TWO DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS, KINDS OF PEOPLE.

AND SO, WE KNOW THAT THE VIRUS IN THE PANDEMIC IS WORSE FOR PEOPLE WITH EXTENUATING OR EXACERBATING UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS.

UNFORTUNATELY, DISPROPORTIONALLY, MANY OF THOSE ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR OR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE HAIRCARE, HEALTHCARE, INSURANCE.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS, AND I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION, IS THAT WE KNOW THAT WOMEN HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE LAYOFF, BECAUSE THIS, TO BE VERY CLEAR, IT'S A SERVICE RECESSION.

WOMEN ARE PREDOMINANTLY IN THESE SERVICE SECTORS WERE THESE ONCE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED.

SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR RESEARCH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, YOU KNOW, ALSO HAS SEEN IS THAT 60b|0 PERCENT OF JOB LOSS HAS BEEN BY WOMEN OR UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS NOW, WHAT WE ARE WAITING TO UNDERSTAND, WILL TRY TO GET UNDERSTANDING SOON, IS HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE WOMEN OF COLOR, PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND HOW WE ARE ABLE TO DISAGGREGATE THOSE NUMBERS.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN THE SERVICE SECTOR, WE KNOW THAT IT'S HAVING A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON THOSE PEOPLE AND THOSE FAMILIES.

>> Bonnie: DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA BY GENDER HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE IMPACTED BY JOBS THAT NEVER RETURN?

IN OTHER WORDS, WHO IS GOING TO BE MORE b ÃÃWHAT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WILL BE MOST b ÃÃWHAT ARE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF UNEMPLOYED WHEN THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, WE HOPE, IS OVER?

>> C. Nicole Mason: SO THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WE ARE NOT IMMEDIATELY GOING TO TURN TO b ÃÃ GOING TO 100 PERCENT OF LINDIMENT, MEANING THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT WE LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHEN IT RECOVERS, WE WILL HAVE 100 PERCENT.

WE WILL GET ALL THOSE JOBS BACKHAT'S OUTCOME TO BE POSSIBLE.

IN CERTAIN SECTORS THAT WERE ALREADY STRUGGLING BEFORE THE RECESSION.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, RETAIL STRUGGLING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND SOME SMALLER BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS WERE STRUGGLING AS WELL.

SO MANY SMALL BUSINESSES OR RESTAURANTS SAID THEY COULD GO MAYBE TWO WEEKS OR A MONTH WITHOUT PAY OR BUSINESS.AND AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING INTO THE THE SECOND MONTH OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THOSE BUSINESSES WILL NOT SURVIVE AND BE ABLE TO OPEN THEIR DOORS AND BE 100 PERCENT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT RETURN TO WORK.

AND SO, THAT IS WHY MANY OF THE INITIATIVES THAT ARE GEARED TOWARD RETRAINING, UPSCALING PEOPLE, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, PEOPLE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND, YOU KNOW, OBTAINING DEGREES ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IN THIS MOMENT BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE JOBS WON'T BE COMING BACK.

AND THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS THAT IS ALSO WHY WE NEED CONTINUED SUPPORT OF FAMILIES.

THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET HAS BEEN SHREDDED OVER THE LAST FEW, YOU KNOW, DECADES.

WHAT WE SEE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WITHOUT THAT SOCIAL SAFETY NET, MANY FAMILIES ARE REALLY VULNERABLE AND DO NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN.

AND SO, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN THE SHORT TERM AND THE NEAR-TERM TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A STRONG, SOLID SOCIAL SAFETY NET FOR FAMILIES IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> Bonnie: THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. C. NICOLE MASON, HEAD OF THE INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN'S POLICY RESEARCH.EALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR VAST KNOWLEDGE IN THIS FIELD HAT'S IT FOR THIS ADDITION OF "TO THE CONTRARY".

I AM YOUR HOST, BONNIE ERBE.

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