Equal Pay Act, 48 Years Later

A Message from AAUW: The Equal Pay Act, 48 Years Later	Take Action!
"This act represents many years of effort… to call attention to the unconscionable practice of paying female employees less wages than male employees for the same job. This measure adds to our laws another structure basic to democracy. It will add protection at the working place to the women, the same rights at the working place in a sense that they have enjoyed at the polling place." - President John F. Kennedy, remarks upon signing the Equal Pay Act of 1963 On this day in 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed into law the Equal Pay Act, a law intended to end gender-based pay discrimination. At the time, women were earning, on average, only 59 cents for every dollar earned, on average, by men. Companies were posting the same jobs on men's and women's help wanted pages -- with different salaries. Discrimination was rampant and overt; it was still legal to pay unfairly. The Equal Pay Act was intended to be a key first step toward changing the way America did business, for the better. However, uneven enforcement coupled with hostile court rulings has limited the law's effectiveness. Today, the pay gap sits at 77 cents on the dollar. That means that in nearly 50 years, we've progressed at a rate of only about half a penny a year. This pace is unacceptable. If the law no longer reflects Kennedy's and members' of Congress intent to outlaw gender pay discrimination, we must update and strengthen the law. That's why we're asking you to urge your members of congress to support the Paycheck Fairness Act! The Paycheck Fairness Act, which came extremely close to passing in the last Congress, would reaffirm our country’s commitment to equal pay for equal work. It would restore, as Kennedy put it, a "structure basic to democracy." Take Action! Urge your members of congress to support the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 797/H.R. 1519)! To send a message, click on the "Take Action" link in the upper right hand corner of the email.