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Statement

On Native American Women’s Equal Pay Day, We Demand Action to Close Damaging Wage Gaps

September 23, 2019
Workplace Justice, Equal Pay

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from leaders of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on Native American Women’s Equal Pay Day – the day the wages of American Indian and Alaska Native women catch up to what White, non-Hispanic men were paid in 2018.

“Today serves as a shameful reminder that Native women continue to be shortchanged on their paychecks. In the United States today, Native women are paid just 58 cents on average for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. This gap is even more extreme for Native moms, who are paid just 48 cents on the dollar compared to white dads. Native women should not have to work nearly 21 months to be paid what white men are paid in 12. These gaps are disgraceful and unjustifiable, and they harm Native families, communities and our nation’s economy. They must end.”

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

“We need lawmakers to take swift, meaningful action to help close the wage gap for Native women -- and all women. Earlier this month, the Census Bureau released data showing no real progress in combatting these gaps, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced it will no longer require large companies to report employee wages broken down by gender and race. America’s moms demand that the EEOC reverse this decision, and that the U.S. Senate move quickly to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act -- vitally important legislation the House has already passed that will do a tremendous amount to close the gender- and race-based wage wage. The extreme wage gaps Native women face are racist and sexist and cause deep and lasting harm. We will continue to protest until the wage gap is closed.”

-- 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.