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Statement

On Asian American and Pacific Islander Women’s Equal Pay Day and Every Day, We Must Fight Discrimination and Close the Punitive Wage Gaps that Harm AAPI Women

February 11, 2020
Workplace Justice, Equal Pay

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from leaders of MomsRising, a national online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Women’s Equal Pay Day – the day that marks how long AAPI women have to work in 2020 to catch up to what White, non-Hispanic men were typically paid in 2019.

“Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women continue to face shameful, deeply damaging wage gaps. In the United States today, AAPI women are paid just 90 cents on average for every dollar paid to a White, non-Hispanic man. That doesn’t tell the whole story: Nepalese women in this country are paid just 50 cents on the dollar on average, and Cambodian, Fijian, and Burmese women less than 60 cents on average compared to White, non-Hispanic men. AAPI mothers who work full time, year round are typically paid only 86 cents for every dollar paid to White fathers. These unconscionable gaps persist across income and education levels. They must end.

“These racist, sexist gaps add up: Over a 40-year career, the typical AAPI woman is likely to lose $240,000 to the wage gap. Those vital funds could be used for housing, health care, education, healthy food, child care and more. These pay gaps are harming families, communities and our economy. We must take bold action so no worker faces pay discrimination.”

-- Statement of Sara Alcid, Senior Campaign Director, Workplace Justice Campaigns, MomsRising

“The pay gaps AAPI women face are unjustifiable, and it’s past time lawmakers tackle their root causes. AAPI women are overrepresented in low-wage jobs and it is imperative that we raise the federal minimum wage to help close the wage gap. We also urge the U.S. Senate to immediately pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, already passed by the U.S. House, to increase pay transparency and fight discrimination. Lawmakers must prioritize other policies that help close the wage gap, including affordable child care, paid family leave, paid sick days, and others. 

“No one should face wage discrimination because of her gender or race. The ‘model minority’ myth pushes the false and harmful narrative that all AAPI women are highly paid. We must reject harmful sterotypes and end the discrimination AAPI women face. We will not rest until these damaging pay gaps are closed for AAPI women -- and all women.”

-- Statement of Ruth Martin, Vice President, Workplace Justice Campaigns, 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.