According to a CNN report published April 7, an important event that raises awareness about economic equality for all regardless of gender is right around the corner and even the President of the United States will be celebrating! April 8, 2014 is Equal Pay Day!
Equal Pay Day, also known as National Equal Pay Day, is an annual event observed in April, the month when women’s wages finally catch up to the average men’s earnings from the previous year. Created in 1996 by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE), all sorts of events and activities will take place around the nation in honor of the occasion.
Equal Pay for Equal Work
When the Equal Pay Act was signed into law in 1963, women working full-time earned 59 cents for every dollar men earned for equal work. Despite progress over the years, women who work full-time still continue to earn considerably less than men on average - about 77 cents for each dollar earned by our male counterparts. That means less food on the table, less money for mortgage or rent, health insurance premiums, utilities and women's retirement security, to name a few. While it may not seem like a lot of money, over time, that lack of income adds up
United States President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation on April 7 stating, in part:
The time has passed for us to recognize that what determines success should not be our gender, but rather our talent, our drive, and the strength of our contributions. So, today, let us breathe new life into our founding ideals. Let us march toward a day when, in the land of liberty and opportunity, there are no limits on our daughters' dreams and no glass ceilings on the value of their work.
President Obama will sign two executive actions on April 8, increasing wage transparency for government contractors.
Please support women and help stomp out the wage inequality gap.