*originally posted to instagram on 3/8/2021
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY!!!
I love this day. Theres so much to celebrate when it comes to the accomplistments of women but there are also a lot of women’s issues that are important and need recognition. Today I’m focusing on closing the #genderpaygap because equality is important and its v important in the workplace! Side note: I imagine this image to the tune of “Bitch Better Have My Money” by Rihanna.
So the gender pay gap is an issue that women have been fighting against for decades & yet not much has changed. On average a woman is paid 0.82cents in comparison to a man earning $1. That means the average female worker loses more than $530,000 over the course of her lifetime. I can’t even imagine having that much money, let alone losing out on that much money during my lifetime! And don’t get me started on how pay isn’t even equal among women! Women of every race & ethnicity make less than their male counterparts- but Black, Hispanic and Native American women experience some of the biggest pay gaps. How are some of the most marginalized groups of women who have some of the toughest hurdles placed in front of them by our society, going to get paid the least... they not only have to get over those societal hurdles that most people don’t even have to deal with in their lifetimes, but then they are expected to perform the same, if not better, as their coworkers and still get paid less?! Also add in a pandemic on top of the prevalent #wagegap & it’s terrifying to think about the long term effect this is all going to have on us if change doesn’t happen. I’m just trying to be able to retire someday, damn! At the rate we were going pre-covid it was going to take over 208 years to close the economic gender pay gap. TWO HUNDRED EIGHT YEARS PRE PANDEMIC! And initial evidence is showing that the socio-economic implications of COVID-19 are impacting women disproportionately, and it’s too early to tell how many more years this has set women back to getting equal pay. We need change and we need it NOW, not in 200+ years.
If you’re interested in learning more theres some amazing well researched resources out there! #iwd2021
& if you want to support me, a female artist you can purchase prints and more at this link!
Equal Pay for Equal Work. It’s as simple as that.