Yes, still an issue…
Equal Pay Day was Tuesday, April 12, 2016. This date was picked as a symbol of how far into the next year women have to work to equal what men earned in the previous year. Because, on average, women earn less than men for the same work, they must work more to earn the same amount. This gap is even wider for women of color. According to an article in USA Today, “Equal Pay Day for moms is June 4. For black women, it’s Aug. 23. For Native American women, Sept. 13. And Latinas’ Equal Pay Day isn’t until Nov. 1.”
Women’s business and professional associations, labor groups, civil rights organizations and others committed to equal pay coordinate activities across the country to raise awareness about how to solve wage inequity. But you need to do something too.
- Negotiate. For yourself or another woman.
- Take the time to research pay in your industry and geography.
- Don’t automatically assume that other women aren’t the primary breadwinners in their families and that they “need” less pay.
- Share what you make — be more transparent with salary information.
