I confess – I’m kind of addicted to the show Mad Men. Every Sunday night I happily go back in time several decades and revel in that 1960’s Madison Avenue atmosphere – The dialogue! The fashion! One of the things I enjoy most is seeing how far we’ve come – but sadly, there's one 1960’s throwback that is still a big problem now in 2010 – pay check fairness for women.

The Equal Pay Act was signed into law in 1963, but 47 years later women are still earning only 77 cents to a man’s dollar for year-round, full-time work! [1]  If passed, the Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen the 1963 Equal Pay Act, which has already passed the House but is stalled in the Senate. Let's stop the madness and get this bill moving in the Senate!

*Send a message to your Senators now: Paycheck discrimination is madness! Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act! http://action.momsrising.org/go/8_6_10_PFA/

Two weeks ago Vice President Joe Biden called on the Senate to get on the right side of history and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, emphasizing that it's one of the most important things that can be done to help ensure the economic security of American families and is the right thing to do.

Right now the Senate is about to go on recess, and your Senators are preparing to go back home to meetings with constituents, listening to voters, and gearing up for the fall elections. They need to know that paycheck fairness is a top priority for their constituents and for voters--and that it needs to be passed as soon as they return to Washington in September.

Why do we need the Paycheck Fairness Act?

Things aren't looking up for women's paychecks now--and the wages of women who are mothers are particularly impacted.  On the whole, women working full-time, year-round make an average of 77 cents to every dollar that men make [1].  Women who are mothers make even less - only 73 cents to a man's dollar, and single mothers make the least at about 60 cents to a man's dollar.  Women of color experience even more wage hits.

Further, a recent study found that with equal resumes and job experiences, mothers were hired 79% less of the time than non-mothers--and were offered $11,000 lower starting salaries (Fathers, on the other hand, were offered $6,000 more starting salaries than non-fathers).

Paycheck fairness is not just a woman’s issue. The majority of families these days need the wages of two parents to make ends meet, and getting equal pay for equal work would go a long way toward helping family economic security.

Tell your Senators: Get on the right side of history and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act! http://action.momsrising.org/go/8_6_10_PFA/

If passed, the Paycheck Fairness Act will strengthen the Equal Pay Act because it will:

• Deter wage discrimination by strengthening penalties for equal pay violations and by prohibiting retaliation against workers who ask about employers' wage practices or disclose their own wages;
• Empower women to negotiate for equal pay;
• Strengthen federal outreach, education and enforcement efforts;
• Create stronger incentives for employers to follow the law.

Fair pay is especially critical in this tough economy because more and more women are the sole breadwinners in their families.  The average woman loses $700,000 in pay due to gender discrimination in her lifetime. For women of color, this number can be even higher. [2] That’s a lot of cash that would come in handy right now for America's families.

And, please also take a moment now to share this blog post with friends and family so they can take action too. (You can use the Share button or click Like on Facebook at the bottom of the post. Thanks!)

Together we have the power to make this happen!

Amplify your message using twenty-first century media tools to fight twentieth century discrimination! Send a direct message to your Senators via Twitter and post comments on their Facebook walls!

[1] U.S. Census and National Women's Law Center Fact sheet

[2] National Committee on Pay Equity