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Statement

It’s Latina Equal Pay Day. Congress Must Act to End Wage Discrimination, Dismantle Structural Racism and Sexism, and Boost Opportunity for All

October 21, 2021
Workplace Justice, Equal Pay, Federal Budget

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of leaders of MomsRising/MamásConPoder, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on Latina Equal Pay Day 2021, the day that marks how far into 2021 Latinas have to work to be paid what white men were typically paid in 2020:

“Today serves as a painful reminder of the damaging wage gap Latinas continue to face. In the United States today, Latinas are paid just 57 cents on average for every dollar paid to white men. For Latina moms, the wage gap is even more punitive: just 46 cents on the dollar compared to white dads. More than half of Latina moms are their families’ primary breadwinners, and wage discrimination makes it harder for them to put food on the table, access health care, pay for housing and other necessities, afford child care, save for college and retirement, and more. That’s unjust and unacceptable, and it’s past time for change. 

“Latinas have been disproportionately harmed by the pandemic, and we cannot have a just recovery without addressing these disparities. Congress must take bold action to close the wage gap for Latinas, and for all women. Ending wage discrimination would boost families, communities, businesses and our economy.”

-Statement of Xochitl Oseguera, Vice President, MamásConPoder

“Because of the wage gap, on average, Latinas would have to work beyond age 100 to be paid what white men are paid by age 60. That’s shameful. The wage gap is racist, it’s sexist, and it’s systemic. It contributes to the wealth gap and the opportunity gap that hurts Latinx children. It must end.

“We are counting on Congress to take bold action to end wage discrimination and build an economy where all of us can thrive. We need the Build Back Better reconciliation package, a robust care infrastructure that will provide permanent paid family and medical leave, high-quality, affordable child care, home- and community-based services for all, and a permanently expanded Child Tax Credit. We need the Senate to join the House in passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, and we need the Raise the Wage Act to boost the lowest-paid workers.  Finally, we must address the structural racism and sexism that segregates Latinas into low-paying occupations and industries.

“We will continue to raise our voices until the wage gap is closed and no one is shortchanged on her paycheck due to her gender or race.”

-Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, MomsRising

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.