Mind the Gap: When will equal pay be here to stay?

When I was a kid, 77 cents seemed like a lot of money. I could go down the local 7-Eleven and buy a handful of five-cent gum and candy that lived on the bottom shelves. Today, 77 cents won't let me buy much of anything. What it will give me however is a place to stand in the gender pay gap line.

This pay gap is the difference between men and women’s typical earnings. According to recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics, a woman only earns about 77 cents to every dollar a man earns.

But, ‘I’m going to college. I’m increasing my earning potential,’ you say. Yes, you are. There is evidence though that suggests this is still not enough to close the space between men and women’s wages.

The national organization American Association of University Women (AAUW) found through extensive research there is a seven percent difference in the earnings of male and female college graduates one year after graduation. They compared “apples” to “apples” taking into consideration things like enrollment status, GPA, region, major, race and marital status. Unfortunately, the gap is still open. Nevertheless, we get our degree, go out, and get a job.

In his State of the Union Address in January, President Obama said, “Today women make up about half of the work force. But, they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. Women deserve equal pay for equal work.” Equal pay for equal work. A simple concept that seems silly to have to discuss as a government matter and pass laws about, although pay equity is something that has been legislated for some time now.

The Equal Pay Day Act was signed in 1963 thanks to John F. Kennedy. That’s just 52 short years ago. And women’s wages still haven’t caught up to men’s? At this rate, we will have pay equality in the year 2139. But, let’s be optimistic.

The government has made strides toward equal pay. There are a few more steps in the race to get us closer to the finish line. The Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill introduced in2013, would empower women to negotiate for equal pay and strengthen federal outreach and enforcement efforts. The Fair Pay Act, similarly introduced in 2013, but not enacted, would require employees to provide equal pay for work of equal value and require employers to provide equal pay for jobs that are comparable but not identical. Until there is just pay for all workers, entities like AAUW will wrestle for equality.

Equal Pay Day has become a day to commemorate the Act JFK signed and to celebrate a symbolic time when women’s wages catch up with men’s from the previous year.

This year Equal Pay Day falls on Tuesday, April 15. AAUW has a new student organization at the MSU Denver campus. They are working to empower women through a variety of ways. Look for them on that day in the Tivoli Tavern to learn more about the gender pay gap and see how AAUW is working for equal pay for equal work.