Tomorrow is Latina Equal Pay Day. That means that Latinas had to work all of 2016 and this far into 2017 to catch up with what white men earned in 2016 alone. Think about that. It’s almost Thanksgiving.
The pay gap affects women across races and backgrounds, but it hurts Latinas most of all. For every dollar white men earn, Latinas on average earn just 54 cents. That pay gap is much larger than the one facing women as a whole. And it’s a profound injustice. Latinas work hard every day to support their families and make major contributions to our economy. In return, they’re paid less than just about everyone else.
This isn’t about how much Latinas work – Latinas participate in the labor force at the same rate as non-Hispanic white women, yet white women earn more. This isn’t about what fields Latinas work in – Latinas are paid less across fields and industries, even higher-paying ones and even those dominated by women. This isn’t about education – no matter what their level of education, Latinas are still paid less than white women and men.
Latina Equal Pay Day is about facing these facts squarely, and recognizing the double discrimination that Latinas and other women of color encounter throughout their lives. Sexism and racism remain powerful forces, and Latinas face that reality every day in ways large and small.
The consequences of this injustice are significant. If the pay gap were closed, in a single year, a Latina working full time would be able to pay for nearly four years’ worth of groceries, more than 17 months’ worth of mortgage and utilities payments, or more than three years’ worth of childcare. Imagine what that additional income would mean for families – especially for the 1.1 million families led by Latinas who are living in poverty.
At the current rate of progress, Latinas won’t earn equal pay until 2248. You read that right – we’re more than 230 years away from equality. We need to do better now.
I’m excited about what the Lean In community is doing tomorrow. We’re teaming up with small businesses in cities from San Diego to Miami to Dallas to offer 46% discounts to highlight the unfairness of the Latina pay gap. This is the latest in a series of campaigns that Lean In has run, including on April 4 – Equal Pay Day for all women – and July 31 – Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. All told, more than 400 businesses across America have joined us to declare the importance of equal pay.
To close the pay gap, we all need to step up. Businesses should do their part to ensure all women and employees of all backgrounds are paid fairly and have an equal shot at success. That means taking a hard look at compensation to make sure people doing the same work are paid equally. It means taking steps to ensure that hiring and promotions are unbiased. It also means making sure contractors – who represent a significant and growing portion of our workforce – get the same protections as other employees. They – and all workers – deserve to be paid fairly for their labor, and that means a living wage for all, women and men.
It’s also time to raise the federal minimum wage. In real terms, it’s lower today than it was nearly 50 years ago. Nearly two-thirds of minimum wage workers are women – and ten percent are Latinas. By raising the federal minimum wage, we’d reduce pay inequality and help millions of families living in or near poverty. A number of states have already taken this step. Now we need national action.
Then there’s the issue of immigration reform. We can’t mark Latina Equal Pay Day without acknowledging the thousands of undocumented Latina workers across the country whose labor often goes unseen. Many fear the consequences of standing up for the wages and benefits they deserve and, as a result, they are often grossly underpaid. We need comprehensive immigration reform so the millions of undocumented immigrants working in the shadows can come forward – and those being exploited by unscrupulous employers know they will be protected.
Every woman deserves to be paid fairly and treated equally. Latina Equal Pay Day reminds us how far we have to go – and how many people are working hard every day to get us there.
