Statistics released on Women's Equality Day, August 26, 2008, show that the gap between men's and women's earnings narrowed only slightly from 76.9 percent in 2006 to 77.8 percent in 2007. 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.

AAUW strongly supports efforts to close the persistent wage gap between men and women. It is critical that we remind the country and our leaders that equal pay for equal work is a simply matter of justice, and improved laws and effective enforcement are essential in eliminating wage discrimination.>

• AAUW celebrated a victory with the passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1338) in the House of Representatives on July 31, 2008. Read the in-depth story of AAUW's instrumental role in this victory, capping off a fight that lasted more than a decade, and learn more about the role thousands of AAUW members and supporters across the nation played in this win for pay equity. Championed by longtime AAUW friend Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen and update the Equal Pay Act — passed 45 years ago — and would provide critical tools in the fight to close the sizable wage gap between men and women. See how your representative voted on the Paycheck Fairness Act, and contact your representative about their vote. AAUW will continue to press for Senate passage of this legislation.
  
  
• Under heavy pressure from AAUW members and our coalition partners, the Senate narrowly failed to pass a vote to move forward with the House-passed Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 2831). See how your senator voted on April 23, 2008, and contact your senators about their vote. AAUW believes that the narrow legislative fix to the U.S. Supreme Court’s misstep in their May 2007 Ledbetter v. Goodyear decision contained in the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act would more justly allow victims of pay discrimination to seek vindication, and AAUW and its members will not stop until the Senate gets it right by adopting this critical measure.

To match men's earnings for 2008, women have to work from January 2008 to April 2009 — an extra four months. In recognition of this inequity, Equal Pay Day will be celebrated on April 28, 2009. AAUW presents the following resources to help you prepare for Equal Pay Day 2009 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.
  
  
• As women continue to earn only 77.8 cents on the dollar to their male counterparts, AAUW believes that women deserve more than a one cent raise. Tell your members of Congress to keep the change, because it’s time to do better than decreasing the wage gap by only a penny a year.
  
  
• Show your Senators the Face of Pay Equity!  Send a strong signal to your senators that, in honor of Equal Pay Day, pay discrimination will not be tolerated. 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Read AAUW's Public Perception of the Pay Gap research. Eighty-one (81) percent of women and 69 percent of men agree that there is a difference between the wages of male and female full-time workers.
  
  
• 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

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