AAUW - Recognizes Equal Pay Day (2005)

Washington -- April 25, 2006, is Equal Pay Day. For the average woman’s salary to equal a man’s for 2005, she must work from Jan. 1, 2005 well into April, and Equal Pay Day raises awareness about this critical gender pay disparity. The Census Bureau reports that on average a woman earns 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man.

With these astonishing facts, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) investigated the impact of a college degree on women’s earnings. While educational gains for women are often credited with helping to shrink the gender gap in earnings, the AAUW Educational Foundation’s interactive online report, Gains in Learning, Gaps in Earnings, revealed that a college education does not close the wage gap. “According to AAUW’s research, women with four-year degrees typically earn 71.5 cents for every $1 that their male counterparts earn,” said Lisa Maatz, AAUW director of public policy and government relations. “Women earn $44,200 compared $61,800 for men — a gap of $17,600 a year.”

In an effort to end pay inequity, AAUW has supported legislation introduced last year on Equal Pay Day. The Fair Pay Act, introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), seeks to abolish wage discrimination by requiring employers to provide equal pay for work of equal value, whether or not the jobs are the same. The Paycheck Fairness Act seeks to strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which made it illegal to pay men and women different wages for equal work. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) are working to eliminate the loopholes that have hindered the law’s strength.

“As an active member of the National Committee on Pay Equity, AAUW also has been encouraging branches to launch WAGE Clubs — small groups of women who share personal stories about sex discrimination such as pay inequity at work,” said Maatz. “These clubs will gather information, build allies, and then go to the top to create change in their workplaces.” The WAGE Clubs are the brainchild of the WAGE (Women Are Getting Even) Project, an AAUW coalition partner working nationwide and year-round to promote awareness of pay equity.

Through these efforts AAUW hopes to achieve pay equity for women everywhere because not only do women suffer, their families suffer as well. “A large majority of women identify equal pay for equal work is a national priority,” said Maatz, “Equal Pay Day serves as an effective reminder of this fact for our elected officials as we move toward the fall elections.”

###

The American Association of University Women, with its nationwide network of more than 100,000 members, 1,300 branches, and 500 college and university partners, has been a leading advocate for equity for women and girls since 1881. AAUW proudly celebrates its 125th anniversary this year — a legacy of leadership.

AAUW: Because Equity Is Still an Issue