Equal Pay Day, which falls this year April 4, marks the 94 extra days that women must work to receive equal pay for equal work globally. 

Today, women earn an average of 23% less than male counterparts in the same position, with the same experience globally according to UN Women. For women of color, the numbers are even more grim. This has consequences on gender equality, and poverty. 

In support of equal pay for women, soccer teams are boycotting championships, women are talking about how they found out they were being paid less, and US states, like New York, are considering bills making it illegal to ask for salary history. This is all progress toward closing the gap in earnings that affect gender equality. 

Read More: Women Across Europe Are Walking Out of Work Early to Demand Equal Pay

Yet a range of misogynistic legislation, like legal child marriage, unequal education opportunities, and little rebuke for gender-based violence, still pervades policy in 90% of countries. 

World leaders, from the US to Bangladesh, continue to add to gender-bias policy. For instance, on March 27, US President Trump revoked the 2014 Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Order, stripping women of protective measures in the workplace like paycheck transparency and arbitration on matters of sexual assault and discrimination. The world needs policy to support equality — which is why we bring you 10 reasons women still need equal pay. 

1. The Gender Pay Gap Is NOT a Myth 

For every dollar men earn, women are paid 79.6 cents in the US. Contrary to the multitude of tweets suggesting the pay gap is a fabricated lie, it’s real. 

While some attribute the pay gap to women choosing flexible hours, engaging in more part-time work, leaving to care for children, or taking on other caregiving responsibilities, other studies show gender bias in hiring and salary still exist. For example, the US Census Data in 2009 found that when more women entered a profession, average salary decreased. 

Most important, however, are the consequences of unequal pay. They cannot be ignored, and must be changed. 

2. Latina Women Will Make The Same as White Men...in 231 Years 

The gap is even larger for women of color: black women make 60% of what white men earn; Native American women earn 59%, and Hispanic women earn 55% of what white males make in a year. At this rate, it will take Latina Women 231 years to receive equal pay. 

3. It’s a Global Problem 

Over 145 countries have documented a gender pay gap according to the World Economic Forum. Its 2015 study addresses an important issue; what amounts to pay difference later in life can, in some cases, start early in life with differences in access to education, political power, and job opportunity. 

4. Equal Pay for Women Can Help End Poverty 

Eliminating the gender wage gap can add between $12 trillion and $28 trillion to global GDP by 2025. This is a serious incentive to equalize pay between men and women. Another report shows that poverty could drop by 50% in the US if the gender pay gap were to close. 

5. Because Only 4 of 120 Jobs Pay Women Higher Salaries 

Salaries should be equal regardless of gender, but to have 107 sectors of the workforce pay men more is ridiculous. Women’s Policy Research shared this insight in a new report released today. 

6. Gender Wage Gap Exists in High- and Low-Earning Jobs 

The gender pay gap exists across nearly all jobs, but for women in low-income positions the gap has more dire effects on savings and benefits. 

7. There is Literally a Chatbot to Help You Ask for a Raise 

A new campaign, Ask For a Raise, created a chatbot to, well, help you ask for a raise. It’s sassy, bossy, and empowering. The campaign features badass businesswoman Cindy Gallop. To try it out send @AskCindyGallop a message via Facebook and start negotiating equal pay today. 

8. Women Should Not Have to Choose Between Caregiving and Pay 

Caregiving and having children should carry equal responsibility between genders, yet women still take on the bulk of these duties globally. In addition to taking time off for caregiving, the gender pay gap continues to discriminate when women return to work. Women earn a third less after childbirth, while men earn 6% more after having kids. 

Globally, the wage gap is larger for women with children. In sub-Saharan African and South Asia, women earn over 30% less than men once they have children. This is double the gender wage gap of single women in these regions. 

9. Women Are 80% More Likely to Be Poor in Retirement 

As men and women grow older, the wage gap grows wider. A study from the National Institute of Retirement Security in the US found that the wage gap grew to 44% by age 80 for women, and that women age 75-79 are three times more likely to fall below the poverty line than men. 

Adding alarm to this finding, is the fact that women also live longer than men. 

“Living longer and needing more money for the extra years for health care, medical expenses and long-term care needs creates serious problems for women,” Cynthia Hounsell, founder of the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement told the New York Times. 

10. Finally, Because There Are Still Infuriating Tweets Like These: 

TopicsGender EqualityGlobalEqual PayGender Pay Gapgirls and women#EqualPayDay

News

Demand Equity

10 Reasons Women Need—And Are Still Fighting For—Equal Pay

By Meghan Werft