Women—especially women of color—are the backbone of our nation’s economy. But at the same time, they are consistently underpaid and their work is undervalued. Action on equal pay is sorely needed to address these inequities, but Republican senators have blocked vital legislation, the Paycheck Fairness Act, that would achieve critical progress.
The median annual earnings for women working full time, year-round in 2023 was $55,240, or just 83 percent of men's earnings, with much wider gaps for most women of color compared with white, non-Hispanic men. All women—regardless of the number of hours worked during the year—typically made $42,110, or 75 cents for each dollar earned by all men. Discrimination is one of the factors contributing to this gap, leading to thousands of dollars in lost wages for women over the course of their careers. That’s why we need the Paycheck Fairness Act.
The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen existing equal pay protections, prohibit retaliation against workers who discuss their pay or challenge pay discrimination, limit employers’ reliance on salary history, and much more. These robust measures would bring us one step closer to equal pay.
Women and families cannot afford to wait for equal pay. Tell your senator to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act now.
