"The Double Tax: How do we move forward from the hidden barriers from structural inequalities?"
On 23 September 2025, the Royal Economic Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Network, in collaboration with the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s Business School and the Office for Institutional Equity (OIE), hosted a thought-provoking online event titled “The Double Tax: How do we move forward from the hidden barriers of structural inequalities?”
The event opened with a conversation between Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, an award-winning Ghanaian-American researcher, writer, and doctoral student at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Dr Jummy Okoya, Associate Professor of Leadership and EDI and Dean of the Office for Institutional Equity at the University of East London.
The session, based on Anna’s book The Double Tax, explored how systemic inequities shape experiences – particularly for Black women – and discussed practical strategies for driving meaningful change in workplaces and institutions. Their conversation was followed by a Q&A session and open discussion with participants.
Main Talk: Understanding the Double Tax
The discussion centered on the concept of the “Double Tax” – the compounded social, financial, and emotional costs that Black women bear while navigating systems not designed for them. Drawing on research, lived experience, and insights from Anna’s work, the speakers unpacked the structural barriers that perpetuate inequality in professional and academic settings.
Anna raised key issues around the accessibility of academic research, stressing the importance of using clear language to reach wider audiences and bridge the gap between academia and society. It was noted that these conversations need to start early, even in childhood, using accessible language and visual tools to engage diverse audiences.
Real-world examples – including pay disparities, care-giving burdens, and career progression obstacles – illustrated the persistent challenges that women, particularly women of colour, face in advancing their careers.
The speakers also discussed the value of community networks, mentorship, and cluster hiring in fostering representation and inclusion. A key takeaway was the need to reframe care-giving as a leadership strength rather than a professional liability, underscoring the importance of inclusive workplace design and parental leave reform.
At the core of the discussion was humanity. An engaging analogy presented identity as a Venn diagram – where our multiple, intersecting identities overlap. True inclusion requires recognising these intersections and moving away from binary thinking. Institutions must reflect honestly and embed inclusion into their everyday processes – from recruitment and promotions to decision-making and daily interactions.
Audience Reflections
The open discussion segment allowed participants to share perspectives and experiences. Attendees reflected on how conventional productivity models often exclude marginalised groups, highlighting the need for more inclusive approaches to wellbeing and career success.
Participants emphasised the importance of community groups in promoting empowerment and mental health, particularly among underrepresented communities. The conversation also turned to leadership diversity and pipeline development, with contributions from professional regulators who discussed initiatives to prepare Black women for senior and board-level roles.
There was broad agreement on the importance of allies and champions in leadership positions to amplify underrepresented voices – while ensuring that the responsibility for change does not fall solely on minority individuals. Dr Okoya also highlighted the “100 Black Women Professors” initiative as an impactful example now being expanded to professional services.
Conclusion
Overall, the event generated a range of practical ideas on how to embed inclusion within institutions and professional environments. It encouraged attendees to remain mindful of the Double Tax – often present yet invisible – and to recognise the broader intersectionality of identities that shape individual and collective experiences.
Speakers
Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman
Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman is an award-winning Ghanaian-American researcher and writer. She is a doctoral student at Harvard Kennedy School studying public policy and economics. She is the youngest recipient for a CEDAW Women’s Rights Award by the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Her first book received widespread coverage from outlets like NPR, ESSENCE, TELEMUNDO, FOX Soul, and The New York Times. She is widely known online as itsafronomics.
Dr Jummy Okoya
Dr Jummy Okoya is the interim Dean of the Office of Institutional Equity. She leads on delivering UEL’s EDI strategy as a cross cutting priority of vision 2028. She is an HR expert and EDI academic with more than 2 decades’ experience. She brings a wealth of experience of delivering strategic EDI projects, developing, and leading executive programmes.
She is very passionate about gender equity and is a national leading figure in advocating for more Black female professors and creating a pipeline of Black female PhD student into academia.
Jummy is an Associate Fellow at Oxford University Said Business School, she was listed among top 10 Diversity Allies for the education sector in the UK in 2022 and top 50 inspirational Black women in the UK in 2019 and nominated for excellence in diversity in higher education in 2017.
RES Diversity & Inclusion Network
The RES Diversity & Inclusion Network aims to connect individuals and groups working to make Economics more diverse and create a better community. We welcome economists from academia, public and private sectors working on increasing diversity, and creating more inclusive environments for under-represented groups in economics to join us (also join our mailing list to keep up to date with our news and events).
If you have any questions, please contact programmesofficer@res.org.uk
The Diversity and Inclusion Network is kindly supported by Frontier Economics as the RES Strategic Partner for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.