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Statement

Today is Asian American and Pacific Islander Equal Pay Day; We Must Take Bold Action to Close the Unjust Wage Gaps Too Many AAPI Women Face

March 5, 2019
Workplace Justice

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) Equal Pay Day – the day that marks how long AAPI women have to work in 2019 to catch up to what White, non-Hispanic men were typically paid in 2018.

“Today reminds us of the harmful, unjust pay gaps Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women face. We must remember that AAPI women are not a homogenous group, and certain ethnicities experience some of the most extreme, punitive wage gaps in the country. For instance, Burmese women are paid only 50 cents on average for every dollar paid to a white, non-Hispanic man, and Hmong women just 57 cents. AAPI moms face a wage gap of 74 cents on the dollar compared to white, non-Hispanic fathers. Overall, AAPI women are paid just 85 cents for every dollar paid to a white, non-Hispanic man. These wage gaps are unfair and unjustifiable, and they cause real harm to the economic security of AAPI women and their families. This must end.”

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

“These statistics belie the ‘model minority’ myth, which falsely paints all AAPI women as being highly paid. In reality, AAPI women are diverse and their experiences vary, as is true for every demographic group. In fact, AAPI women are overrepresented in low-wage occupations, and wage gaps for AAPI women persist across education and income levels. When AAPI women are shortchanged on their paychecks, it harms their families and communities and our country’s economy. We must move past misleading narratives, recognize the discrimination AAPI women face, and close these shameful pay gaps once and for all.

“We urge Congress to take bold action to make our workplaces more fair and boost families’ economic security. It is encouraging that the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act have already been introduced in the 116th Congress, but we need for them to become law right away. America’s moms will continue to raise our voices to demand equal pay for Asian American and Pacific Islander Women – and for all women. The time for progress is now.”

--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.