It has been nearly four decades since President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law, making it illegal for employers to pay unequal wages to men and women who hold the same job and perform the same work. Yet women in the United States, still earn on average only 73 cents for every dollar earned by men. Minorities are at the high end of the wage gap: African-American women earn only 63 cents for every dollar, and Hispanic women earn only 54 cents for every dollar earned by men.

More women are in the workforce than ever before. Of the 65 million jobs that have been added to the economy since 1964, 40 million were for women. If women were to receive wages equal to those of men for comparable jobs, working families would gain a staggering $200 billion in family income annually, with each working woman's family gaining more than $4,000 per year.

As the percentage of women within an occupation increases, the wages decrease. Women and men alike would receive large gains in earnings if they were paid the same as workers in comparable jobs that are not predominately female. In a study conducted by the Institute for Women's Policy Research, pay equity in female-dominated jobs (where 70% or more of the workers are women) would increase wages for women, regardless of race, by approximately 18 percent per year.

Women in New York earn, on average, 80 cents for every man's dollar, or $118 less per week. Again, the wage gap is wider for women of color, who earn 70 cents for every man's dollar, or $180 less per week. While New York appears to do relatively well on gender equality, the better overall position of women is due largely to the low wages paid to minority men rather than the gains made by women. Paying women in New York as much as men for comparable jobs would raise family incomes by over $4700 per year.

It is time to put behind us the idea that the wage gap between the sexes is due to the choices women make rather than any real discrimination. Women do not choose to lose promotions, to be overlooked for pay raises, or to make less money for doing the exact same job as their male counterparts. Numerous studies show that even when women make the same career choices as men and work the same hours, they still earn less.

Therefore:

NYWA calls on employers to pay ALL working women equal pay for equal work.

NYWA supports the enforcement of pay discrimination laws at the local, state and federal levels and recommends that any employer in violation be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Home
About NYWA
Action Groups
Position Statements
Events
Elly Grants
Covering the Uninsured
Become a Member
Contact Us

©Copyright New York Women’s Agenda
Website Designed, Hosted, and Maintained by Kellen Interactive Web Design