As our anniversary approaches, I have been reflecting on how little the pay equity narrative has changed, despite my requests. Nearly two years ago, I wrote, “When Is Equal Pay Day for White Women?” Yet, the Pay Equity Calendar still does not have a day for White women.
In the article, I state:
“The way data are presented has consequences for White women, too, as Equal Pay Day demonstrates. How can they know where they stand if they are lumped into the “all” category? The failure to disaggregate denies them knowledge about their position relative to men and other women. It denies them information about how gender operates to oppress them and about how their whiteness provides benefits. It denies them the opportunity to see themselves in the data.”
So, for the next 31 days, we will share (via social media) pay equity analyses that explore pay inequality at the intersection of sex and race/ethnicity.
Pay Inequity Starts Early
Table 1 provides race/ethnicity and gender aggregated pay equity data for Millennials. Asian Millennial women earned $.93 for every dollar White Millennial women earned and 19 cents more than Asian Millennial men. Black Millennial women made $.97 for every dollar Black Millennial men earned and $.87 for every dollar White Millennial women earned. Hispanic Millennial women earned $.69 for every dollar White Millennial women earned and $.67 for every dollar Hispanic Millennial men earned
Table 1. The Ratio of Median Wages for Millennial Women (Full-time Workers)
Source: 2022 Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) of the Current Population Survey (CPS). Calculations by: Women’s Institute for Science, Equity and Race.
Data Equity
In addition to expanding the conversation about pay equity, on March 8th, Himaja will moderate a webinar, “Women and Digital Privacy: Protecting Health Data Post-Roe.“ The webinar will explore how women are vulnerable to their reproductive rights being policed via their health and other digital data. Click the flyer to register.
Inclusive Public Policies
We fundraise twice a year, in March and August. This year we ask that you make a monthly donation of $30.80. However, any level of support helps us create a society where public policies are inclusive.
