March 12th 2024.
In honor of Equal Pay Day, which falls on March 12 this year according to CNN, Nneka Ogwumike, President of the WNBPA, brought attention to the unique impact of the gender pay gap on women workers in the WNBA. She shared a graphic calling for transparency in wages and included a quote from the WNBPA emphasizing the importance of this day in raising awareness about the wage gap between men and women.
In 2021, NBC Sports shed light on the underlying reasons for the significant pay gap between women's sports, specifically the WNBA, and men's leagues. Underinvestment in women's leagues, fueled by sexist beliefs, has played a major role in perpetuating this issue. Will Allen, a former NFL player, spoke out in support of pay equity and emphasized that it is not just a women's issue, but a societal one. He urged men to also advocate and fight for equal pay and gender equality.
While there has been some progress in recent years, as reported by CNN, the fact that Equal Pay Day still exists in 2024 serves as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done to achieve true pay equity. Additionally, there are separate equal pay days for Black and Indigenous women on July 9 and November 21, respectively, highlighting the even wider gap faced by women of color. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) explains that the purpose of these days is to bring attention to the ongoing gender pay gap and how it disproportionately affects different communities.
Efforts have been made at the state level to address the issue of pay equity, but there is a need for comprehensive federal action. The Salary Transparency Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act have been introduced in Congress multiple times, and Deborah Vagins, the national campaign director of Equal Rights Advocates and director of Equal Pay Today, emphasizes the importance of these federal actions in achieving actual pay equity for women. The Paycheck Fairness Act, in particular, includes protections against retaliation for employees who discuss their wages, closes loopholes that allow for pay discrimination, and provides remedies for those impacted by sex-based pay discrimination.
In 2010, the ACLU advocated for the passing of the Paycheck Fairness Act, stating that it would enhance the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which has been largely ineffective in closing the wage gap. They emphasized the urgent need for this act to secure equal pay for all Americans and update the existing legislation, which lacks adequate enforcement tools and remedies.
In conclusion, while progress has been made, the existence of Equal Pay Day in 2024 and the separate equal pay days for women of color serve as reminders of the ongoing struggle for pay equity. There is a need for both state and federal action to address this issue and ensure that all workers are paid fairly and equally for their work.
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