We know it’s the 21st century, isn’t it time that we finally set this ‘women aren’t paid equally’ nonsense behind us and just give equal pay for equal work? That’s what Equal Pay Day is all about. Throughout the last century, there has been an ongoing and active fight to solve a problem that has existed far longer than that. Women have, for time out of mind, been paid lower wages for doing the exact same job. Equal Pay Day encourages you to get out there and fight for true employment equality for everyone! Isn’t it time women were paid what they were worth?
In 1996 the National Committee on Pay Equity decided that there must be a day dedicated to bringing awareness of the ongoing issue with the gender wage gap. The gap is actually caused by a number of factors, but they are factors that are directly related to the issues and choices created by society for women. One of the most prevalent factors in deciding who gets a job when two applicants are equally matched in all other aspects is gender, with men getting preferential treatment for positions when this comes up. This is particularly true where the job in question is considered high pressure or high risk. All of this comes together to result in women earning just 79% as much as men in the same position. For more information visit www.pay-equity.org.
- Women earn just 79 cents for every dollar made by men.
- The gender wage gap most severely affects women of color, and the wage gap exists within all racial and ethnic groups.
- Hispanic and African American women working full time and year round earned just 55 cents and 60 cents respectively, for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men.
- Asian women earned 81 cents for every dollar earned by Asian men.
- Black women earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by black men.
- Hispanic women earned 88 cents for every dollar earned by Hispanic men.
- White, non-Hispanic women earned 75 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men.
- Despite the fact that women now earn the majority of college degrees, the wage gap persists.
- Did you know that there are more CEO’s named John than there are female CEOs combined?
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