Being an Asian American Woman pays in one way

Full-time women workers in the United States last year earned 80.2 cents compared to every $1 of full-time male earnings.

A study of median weekly earnings by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research found that the so-called “he-cession” or “man-cession” — which inflicted greater job loss on men than women — did little to change overall compensation dynamics.

Women working fulltime last year had median weekly earnings of $657, compared to men’s median of $819.

The ratio in 2008 was 79.9 percent; in 2007 it was 80.2 percent; in 2006, it was 80.8 percent; and in 2005, it hit an all-time high of 81 percent.

The male/female compensation discrepancy showed marked differences according to race or ethnic background.

Asian-American women last year earned 92.2 cents per $1 of Asian-American male earnings, for the smallest difference.

The ratio for whites was 79.2 percent; for African-Americans, 68.9 percent; and for Hispanics or Latinas, 60.2 percent.