Women are equal to men, therefore, they should be earning equal salaries. However, the average salary of a woman in the workforce may lead you to believe otherwise. Typically, a woman who works a full-time, year-round job, is only paid 77 cents for every dollar their male colleague does (that’s a 23% gap). Studies have shown that in some cases, young women who graduated from college only earn about 82 percent of the salaries that their male counterparts do, despite earning the same degree and working in the same occupation.
Due to this outrageous disparity, Equal Pay Day has become an annual day to raise awareness of the pay gap and advocate for women in the workforce. This year, it was April 8, 2014. The significance of the date each year is that it represents the number of days in to the new year that women have to work to earn the same amount of money men did in the previous year (in 2014 it is 98 days).
This year was also the 50th anniversary of Equal Pay Act. The pay gap has only decreased slightly since 1963, when President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act.
Here are some ways you can begin to close the gap:
1. Advocate for yourself!
Know your worth and be confident in your experience. Don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary as you enter the work force. One study showed, that only 7% of female MBA’s attempted to negotiate their salary while 57% of male MBA’s did.
2. Stay informed and be vocal!
Keep your ears and social media accounts open for news about the advancement of women in the workforce. Follow news outlets and politicians you admire on Twitter, Facebook, etc. to stay in the know. Then, when you read something positive, voice your support! To name a few there is, Feminist Majority Twitter @FemMajority and Hillary Clinton’s Twitter @HillaryClinton.
3. Spread the word!
Once you’re informed, educate others. You could share this article with your friends and family to start a discussion. The more you talk about it, the more people will hear about this situation, and want to make a difference. Spreading the word helps to spread knowledge to others!
Here is a great advocacy video, for Equal Pay from National Women’s Law Center!