Gender Pay Gap

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The gender pay gap has been a persistent issue in the United States for decades, with women consistently earning less than men for doing the same work. The pay gap continues to remain a major problem that affects millions of women across the country.

According to recent data from the Pew Research Center, full-time working women in the United States earn only 84% of what their male counterparts make. 61% percent of women say a reason for this gap is that employers treat women differently. 56% of women say that women tend to make different choices about balancing work and family, leading to the gender pay gap. 

In addition, according to the National Womans Law Center, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women working full time, only make 92 cents for every dollar made by their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts. For black women its 67 cents to a dollar and for Native and Latina women it is 57 cents compared to a dollar made by their male counterparts.

This wage gap is extremely detrimental and has long-term effects. First of all, the gender pay gap leaves women with less money to support themselves and their families. This could result in poverty, and not being able to make ends meet. Women may also encounter retirement issues as they won’t have a sufficient amount of money for retiring. In addition, women who experience discrimination in their workplace are more likely to face a series of mental health issues that affect their overall quality of life. 

There are many steps that can be taken to address the gender pay gap. One important step is to pass legislation that protects women from discrimination in the workplace and requires employers to pay women and men equally for doing the same work. 

Ultimately, closing the gender pay gap is not only a matter of fairness and equality, but it is also essential for the health and well-being of families,  communities, and overall well-being. By working to address the pay gap, a more equitable society can be created.

Works Cited:

A Window Into the Wage Gap: What’s Behind It and How to Close It. (n.d.). National Women’s Law Center. Retrieved April 27, 2023, from https://nwlc.org/resource/wage-gap-explainer/#:~:text=The%2084%2Dcent%20gender%20wage

Aragão, C. (n.d.). Gender pay gap in U.S. hasn’t changed much in two decades. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/01/gender-pay-gap-facts/#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Census%20Bureau%20has

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