In June 1963, President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act. Now, it's time to make the law live up to its name. Urge your senators to support the Paycheck Fairness Act.
Read the article "A New Push for Equal Pay" in Parade magazine »
Thanks to the hard work of AAUW Action Network members and our coalition partners, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law on Jan. 29, 2009. However, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the gap between men's and women's median earnings widened slightly between 2007 and 2008, from 78 percent to 77 percent for full-time, year-round workers. While women have been hard at work to narrow the wage gap, Congress has failed to pass legislation that would give women effective equal pay protections. Join AAUW in urging the Senate to continue the fight against wage discrimination by acting swiftly on the Paycheck Fairness Act as well to ensure the change hard working Americans need to receive equal pay.
Behind the Pay Gap, research released in April 2007 by AAUW, shows that just one year out of college, women working full time already earn less than their male colleagues, even when they work in the same field. Ten years after graduation, the pay gap widens.
Because women earn less, on average, then men, they must work longer to receive the same amount of pay. In recognition of this inequity, Equal Pay Day was marked on Tuesday, April 28. Find out how AAUW marked this symbolic day when women's wages catch up to men's wages from the year before.
On Equal Pay Day, AAUW's Public Policy and 
Government Relations Director Lisa Maatz testified before the Congressional Joint Economic Committee. Read her testimony, and read the U.S. Government Accountability Office's new report on the gender gap in the federal workforce.
In 2010, Equal Pay Day will be celebrated on April 20. AAUW presents the following resources to help you prepare for Equal Pay Day 2010 and for the continued fight for pay equity:
- AAUW's Pay Equity Resource Kit (PDF). This resource kit contains a variety of useful resources to help you take action on Equal Pay Day and beyond. We’ve included information about state and federal legislation, and step-by-step suggestions to help you pursue pay equity projects.
- Share your plans for Equal Pay Day. Tell AAUW what your branch or group is doing to mark the day so we can track the fight for equal pay all across America and help spread the word of your events before they happen.
- Show your Senators the Face of Pay Equity! Upload a picture of yourself to send with your message to show your senators that you are the face of pay equity. Visit AAUW's Activist Photo Album to see other AAUW activists who have already shown the face of pay equity to their senators. AAUW also has posters and lapel stickers bearing the slogans "I am the Face of Pay Equity" or "The Power of One Vote" for use at AAUW events.
- More Equal Pay Day activities.
- Read AAUW’s Behind the Pay Gap research. Just one year after college graduation, women earn only 80 percent of what their male counterparts earn. Ten years after graduation, women fall further behind, earning only 69 percent of what men earn. Even after controlling for hours, occupation, parenthood, and other factors known to affect earnings, the research indicates that one-quarter of the pay gap remains unexplained and is likely due to sex discrimination. Over time, the unexplained portion of the pay gap grows.
- Use AAUW's Gains in Learning, Gaps in Earning research to find out the pay gap is between college-educated men and women in your state.
For more information, call 202/785-7793 or e-mail VoterEd@aauw.org.
AAUW Public Policy and Government Relations
