On average, women in the U.S. earn only 78 cents for every dollar earned by men. That's 22 percent less than a man makes! Research shows that, just one year out of college, women working full time already earn less than their male colleagues do, even when they work in the same job. Ten years after graduation, the pay gap widens.
Even more depressing, it's taken us 40 years to make a 12-cent gain to get 78 cents; at age 66 and older, women are twice as likely as men to be poor. Decades of earning lower wages result in significantly lower Social Security benefits, retirement incomes and pensions, leaving women with less money to retire on.
Has it happened to you -- or to a daughter, granddaughter, mother, niece, girlfriend, wife or sister? Together, we can fix the problem! The Paycheck Fairness Act would create stronger incentives for employers to follow the law, empower women to negotiate for equal pay and strengthen federal enforcement efforts. Urge your Senator to support the Paycheck Fairness Act today!
9:39 am PST, Nov 14,Monique Danielle, New York
I know personally several cases, including my own where the female has far better credentials than her male counterpart and yet is not only paid less, but has been passed over simply for the sake of seniority in terms of a pay raise or promotion.
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3:35 pm PST, Nov 13,Elizabeth DeCosta, Rhode Island
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8:34 am PST, Nov 13,Theresia Cronan, California
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10:14 pm PST, Nov 12,Leah Lenardic, Illinois
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9:11 am PST, Nov 12,Jessica Boettiger, Washington
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7:32 am PST, Nov 12,Barbara Hansen, Wisconsin
Equal rights for women has been a fight going on for longer than 1850 when some brave women started to publicly talk about it. It has been more silent now because of all the propaganda we are feed to be fearful of anything and everything. That is to keep the focus on some off the real issues that still need change!! Equal pay for equal work in 2009 should be a NO BRAIN law to pass. All women no matter what you believe in should be able to see that one.
We call our selves a country of equality and freedom. Look hard over the last many years! WE CAN NOT SAY THAT IN ALL HONESTY. We should be ashamed at the example we are setting to the world, to our children, daughters, sisters, wife and yes even to our sons! .
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7:05 pm PST, Nov 11,Jennifer Boettiger, Washington
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11:23 am PST, Nov 11,Joanne Burns, New Mexico
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11:18 am PST, Nov 11,Name not displayed, California
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6:02 am PST, Nov 11,L Jones, Ohio
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10:18 am PST, Nov 10,Philippe Paul, Washington D.C.
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8:12 am PST, Nov 10,Judith Commons, California
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7:13 pm PST, Nov 9,Pamela Burns, Michigan
Plain and simple: equal pay for equal work. It should not matter what gender you are. We all work to support our families. Why would it be fairer for a man to afford more groceries for his children?
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4:05 pm PST, Nov 9,Virginia Taylor, Missouri
Of course more men than women are jobless now,because men earn higher wages.This equates to a windfall for employers bottom line.The answer to this is to make salaries equal so that men can get back to work.
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1:58 pm PST, Nov 9,Gail Mullins, Tennessee
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11:13 am PST, Nov 9,Teresa Zollars, California
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10:55 am PST, Nov 9,Rose Kaiser, Missouri
Women should be treated a equals in the workplace. Especially, since women headup many families.
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10:25 am PST, Nov 9,Costantina Lentini, Italy
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5:52 am PST, Nov 9,Ashton Ball, Texas
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12:29 am PST, Nov 9,Neysa Ortiz, California
Men and women do the same amount of work. Therefore they should be paid the same amount of money.
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9:38 pm PST, Nov 8,JACK WARREN, Oregon
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8:01 pm PST, Nov 8,Jenny Chilson, Wisconsin
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7:58 pm PST, Nov 8,Martha Patnode, California
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6:45 pm PST, Nov 8,Vincent Alvarez, Oregon
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6:36 pm PST, Nov 8,Marissa Koziar, New Jersey
Dear Senator Lautenberg,
As an American citizen, I am greatly disturbed by the fact that, on average, women are still being paid just 78 cents for every dollar men earn. This is wrong for women, and this is wrong for America. I expect you to support the Paycheck Fairness Act.
It is a comprehensive update of the 45-year-old Equal Pay Act and would create stronger incentives for employers to follow the law, empower women to negotiate for equal pay and strengthen federal enforcement efforts. It will provide the tools the administration needs to enforce our laws that require equal pay for equal work.
Most of the women I know are the breadwinners for their families. Consequently, not only are women be negatively affected by the pay discrepancy but their families who depend on them are as well. In fact, there are more households headed by single women than by single men which means that children in households with only one parent suffer greatly.
Sincerely,
Marissa Koziar
