Deconstructing the Intergenerational, Structural, and Cultural Factors Contributing to Black Women's Wealth

Black women hold less in wealth than any other race-gender group in the US. At least three factors likely contribute to this persistent inequity. First, Black Americans and women have been excluded from investments such as homeownership through lack of access to financial services. Second, Black Americans and women face contemporary discrimination in the labor, housing, and financial markets, meaning that Black women are paid less, their homes are worth less, and they receive more loan rejections than any other group. Finally, historical and contemporary experiences with structural barriers and structural opportunities influence how people interact with their finances, which can affect behaviors such as risk aversion, which is higher among Black Americans.