Realistic & Fair Wages
Living wages for mothers and equal pay for equal work.
Women are now half of the paid labor force in our nation for the first time ever. The labor of working women is increasingly essential to their family’s economic security, and is now also critical to the overall economic health of the United States. However, the public and private policies that affect parenting and the workplace have remained largely unchanged during this massive societal shift. As a result, families are reeling and parents of all socioeconomic backgrounds are struggling to earn enough and keep their families healthy.On average, according to the U.S. Census, women now make only 80 cents to a man’s dollar, with moms and women of color experiencing more extreme wage hits. No longer should equally qualified women be paid less for the same job as a man. That’s why it’s absolutely essential that we, as a nation, make family economic security issues like pay equity a priority!
Paycheck Fairness Act
The Paycheck Fairness Act is a much needed update of the 55-year-old Equal Pay Act. It’s a comprehensive bill that would create stronger incentives for employers to follow the law, empower women to negotiate for equal pay, and strengthen federal outreach, education, and enforcement efforts. The bill would also 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.
It's absolutely essential that we, as a nation, address family economic security issues like pay equity front and center. Women are now half of the paid labor force in our nation. The labor of working women is increasingly essential to their family's economic security, and is now also critical to the overall economic health of the United States. However, the public and private policies that affect parenting and the workplace have remained largely unchanged during this massive societal shift. As a result, families are reeling and parents of all socioeconomic backgrounds are struggling to earn enough and keep their families healthy.
More Fair Pay Resources
Blog posts
![[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Cardboard box with the top open and a MomsRising logo on the side.]](https://www.momsrising.org/sites/default/files/styles/retina_quality/public/Box%20Illustration%20With%20Logo.jpg?itok=yUDmfduY "Unboxing our wins in 2018!")
![[photo of 3 adults and 2 children]](https://www.momsrising.org/sites/default/files/styles/retina_quality/public/National%20Work%20and%20Family%202.png?itok=zTxwnacV "[photo from Canva]")
![[Image description: graphic with a woman with brown skin with arm flexed as Rosie the Riveter. Text: “It’s Labor Day! Excited about the powerful wins for WA working moms and women? Minimum wage. Equal Pay. Sick and Safe Leave. Paid Family & Medical Leave]](https://www.momsrising.org/sites/default/files/styles/retina_quality/public/Labor%20Day%20Graphic%20FB.jpg?itok=cph-iShn "Today, join MomsRising in thanking the labor movement by sharing on social media why strong unions are important to you.")
Take Action
We're counting on Congress and the EEOC to make sure we don't allow gender and race wage gaps to continue to shortchange women and their families.
Urge your elected officials to take action to close the women and mothers' wage gap!
On this #MomsEqualPayDay download your free copy of the equal pay chapter of #KeepMarching and use it to start conversations about the wage gap with your friends and family.
February 22nd was AAPI women's equal pay day, marking how far into 2018 that AAPI women have to work to make what white men were paid in 2017 alone. Don't let pay discrimination get swept under the rug!