“As we rebuild our economy in the midst of a deadly and devastating pandemic, we simply must take steps to end the wage gap that denies tens of millions of women fair pay, forces millions of families into poverty, and hurts our economy. Across occupations and education levels, women face an unfair, terribly damaging wage gap, with women of color and moms hurt the most. In the United States today, Latinas are paid just 55 cents, Native women just 60 cents, and Black women just 63 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. Overall, across all races and ethnicities, women are paid just 82 for every dollar paid to men. The wage gap hurts women, their families, and our economy. It’s past time for it to end. 

“This year, we recognize Equal Pay Day in the midst of a crisis for working women. Structural racism and sexism are causing women to suffer an outsized impact from the pandemic. Women, and especially women of color, have lost the most jobs since the pandemic hit, and millions have been pushed out of the workforce because of caregiving responsibilities. 

“Not only does the pay gap make it harder for women to weather this storm in the short term, these overlapping crises threaten to make pay inequity even worse in the long term, as research shows women suffer bigger hits to annual earnings than men when they take time out of the workforce.  Further, the wage gap is even worse for moms, who are paid just 75 cents on the dollar compared to dads,with Latina and Black moms paid just 45 cents and 50 cents respectively compared to white, non-Hispanic dads. The moms of America are counting on Congress to take action to end the pay gap, boost women’s economic security, and build an economy that works for all of us.”

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

“No one should be shortchanged on her paycheck due to gender or race, but women across the United States face that unjust reality each day. It is especially shameful that Black women and Latinas, who are more likely to hold the low-wage frontline jobs in health care, child care and other positions that we have relied on so heavily during this crisis, face the widest, most punitive wage gaps. We must remedy the structural racism and sexism that drive these inequities. 

“Congress must immediately pass and President Biden sign the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would promote pay transparency and increase penalties for wage discrimination. We must also raise the minimum wage to $15 for everyone, including tipped workers. and build the infrastructure that enables parents to stay in the workforce, including paid family and medical leave, paid sick days, affordable child care, and more. 

“We will not stop fighting until the pay gap ends and we achieve true gender and racial equality.”

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