#EqualWorkEqualPay Newsletter (04.01.20)

Yesterday marked Equal Pay Day. On average, for every dollar earned by a man, a woman will earn 82 cents. We don't have to say it, but we will: that's not #EqualWorkEqualPay.

The pay gap is a nuanced issue. Mothers and women of color all experience the pay gap to different extents, and so we mark numerous "Equal Pay Day" events throughout the year. Each date 'commemorates' the additional days it took for a woman of that profile to earn what her male counterpart earned in the 12 months of the previous year:

  • Asian Women's Equal Pay Day (February 11)

  • Equal Pay Day [average] (March 31)

  • Mom's Equal Pay Day (June 4)

  • Black Women's Equal Pay Day (August 13)

  • Native Women's Equal Pay Day (October 1)

  • Latina Equal Pay Day (October 29)

The global COVID-19 pandemic has made the necessity of equal pay abundantly clear. Gender inequality has been exacerbated by COVID-19, and in particular, the wage gap has become even more devastating. This is especially aggravating because women are on the frontlines of defense against COVID-19, yet they're also the ones most affected by the economic consequences of the pandemic.

The COVID-19 crisis is a stark reminder of why #EqualWorkEqualPay matters. We know that the already-vulnerable become even more vulnerable during a crisis, so it is imperative that our recovery efforts for COVID-19 include a gender lens. When we come out of this time in our history, it’s on us to ensure that we value and compensate work fairly. We have to end pay discrimination. We have to correct for the way we de-value female-dominated professions and stereotypically-female roles. We must ensure that everyone - regardless of gender, race, marital status, ability, or identity - is paid a fair wage.

Equal Pay Day should be January 1 for everyone. Let's make it happen.

genEquality