Empowerment through Equality: A Definitive Guide to Advocating for Equal Pay

More than 50 years ago, the United States took steps to address gender pay discrimination, making it illegal to pay people differently based on their gender. Despite this progress, there is still a problem with men and women getting unequal pay. When women work full-time in the U.S., they get only 82 cents for every dollar men earn. This causes issues for women throughout their lives.

Even when they retire, women get less money from Social Security and pensions because they earned less over their working years. In total, women end up with only 70% of the retirement income that men receive.

Understanding the Concept of Equal Compensation for Equivalent Work

Equal pay for work of equal value means all employees must receive the same compensation for performing similar jobs. Even if the jobs differ, they must receive equal pay if they hold the same value. However, putting this idea into practice has proven to be challenging.

When talking about "work of equal value," it includes jobs that may be different but offer the same value. This value is determined by various factors, such as qualifications, skills, responsibilities, and working conditions. For instance, a job in construction, mostly done by men, may be considered equally valuable as a job in childcare, typically done by women. However, the pay for the childcare job is often lower.

When discussing "remuneration," it's not just the basic wage but includes all elements of earnings. These include overtime pay, bonuses, travel allowances, company shares, insurance, and other benefits. Considering all these aspects is crucial because the basic wage is only a small part of an employee's total compensation.

Exploring the Continued Existence of the Gender Pay Disparity

The pay difference between genders still exists because of deep-rooted unfairness in the system. Many women, especially those who have moved from one place to another, often work in jobs outside the formal work system around the world. These jobs include selling on the street, doing house chores, working in coffee shops, and farming. Sadly, labor laws do not protect individuals working in these types of jobs. As a result, they receive less pay, work in risky conditions, and do not receive social benefits. Scenarios like these contribute to why the pay difference between men and women keeps happening.

Adding to this, women globally perform three times more caregiving and domestic work than men. This involves tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for children and the elderly. Even though care work is essential for families, communities, and economies, it remains undervalued and underrecognized. You can get a sense of the workload through UN Women's unpaid care calculator.

The "motherhood penalty" is another reason for the pay gap. Mothers who work earn less than women without children, and this difference gets bigger with more kids. This happens because mothers often work fewer hours and take jobs that are family-friendly but pay less. They also face unfair decisions when hired or promoted and lack support programs when they return to work after taking a break. All these factors add up to create an unfair situation.

Outdated ideas about what jobs men and women should do also play a part in the pay difference. People often think women should do certain jobs, like caregiving, which may be wrongly considered less skilled. These beliefs push women into jobs that pay less because they are different from jobs mainly done by men.

Unfair hiring and promotion practices make it hard for women to get leadership roles and higher-paying jobs, keeping the gender pay gap alive. Abby Wambach, a well-known sports figure with two Olympic Gold Medals, points out that it is not just about pay; there is also a gap in opportunities. She stresses the importance of standing up against unfair treatment and encourages everyone to speak out against inequalities without hesitation.

The Timely Significance of Equal Pay: An Urgent Matter

Equal pay is crucially important because it is a clear injustice that forces millions of women and families to live with ongoing poverty and unequal opportunities.

Amid the worldwide COVID-19 crisis, dealing with equal pay becomes even more urgent. Women make up most of the frontline workers, taking on essential health and care jobs that expose them to extra risks and pressures. The pandemic has resulted in the loss of 305 million full-time jobs, hitting women's employment as hard as, if not harder than, men's. Unlike past economic crises that mainly affected male-dominated industries, this crisis has a significant impact on women's work.

The need for equal pay becomes more urgent as more women face economic difficulties due to COVID-19. In times of financial strain, unequal pay hits those who already earn less the hardest. In the United States, Black women earn only 62 cents, Native women 57 cents, and Latinas 54 cents for every dollar earned by white men. With limited resources, reduced pay can stop women and families from meeting basic needs like food, secure housing, crucial medical care, and education. These effects have the potential to continue cycles of poverty across generations. So, addressing equal pay becomes a crucial step in lessening the negative impacts of economic disparities, especially during the ongoing global crisis.

Moving Forward: Initiatives to Advocate for Equal Pay

To make equal pay a reality, it's crucial to take strong actions that support fair employment for everyone. This includes measures to bring formal recognition to jobs currently in the informal economy. It is critical to ensure that workers in these roles have legal protection and the ability to stand up for their rights effectively.

Another vital aspect is the implementation of proactive pay equity laws. These laws ask companies to be open about how they decide salaries and take steps to fix any unfair differences. Being clear about pay decisions helps make sure there is no unfair treatment based on gender.

It is important to support employees so they can work together and talk about things as a group. Women being in leadership roles in companies and unions is equally important. It is also crucial to implement laws that create clear rules for treating men and women equally at work. This makes sure that women can be part of deciding things, which helps achieve fair pay for everyone.