Slate Money Money Talks: Beyond The Pink Tax
Nov 11, 2025
In a compelling discussion, Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, a Harvard PhD student and author of The Double Tax, delves into the economic burdens faced by women of color. She highlights shocking costs associated with childbirth and childcare, revealing the extensive financial strain these issues pose. Anna critiques political rhetoric surrounding reproductive health and discusses the implications of targeting influential figures like Lisa Cook on economic policy. Her proposed solutions, including reparations and pay transparency, offer hope for systemic change.
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Life Stages Reveal Compounded Costs
- Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman frames the book around the compounded costs women face across life stages, from first mirror to first paycheck.
- She argues costs escalate when race and class intersect, creating a systemic “double tax.”
The High Cost Of Having Children
- Childbirth and child-rearing carry huge, often hidden, financial burdens in the U.S.
- Anna says hospital bills, prenatal care and childcare costs can leave families with six-figure liabilities or ongoing debts.
C-Section Bill Undermines Pro-Natalist Claims
- Elizabeth Spiers recounts paying about $15,000 out of pocket for a necessary C-section despite expensive insurance.
- She uses that personal payment to challenge simplistic political claims about boosting birth rates.
