1 Women celebrating the right to vote (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress) W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY 26 A UGUST 2014

Women’s Equality Day commemorates American women achieving full voting rights under the U.S. Constitution by the passage of the 19th Amendment in This historic event was the culmination of a massive civil rights movement that spanned decades. 2 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

“On Women's Equality Day, we celebrate the progress that has been made, and renew our commitment to securing equal rights, freedoms, and opportunities for women everywhere.” —President Barack Obama 3 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY Photo courtesy of the White House

Fifty-one years ago, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act (EPA) Bill into law to contest gender-based wage discrimination. 4 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY At that time, the U.S. workforce included nearly 25 million women—a third of all U.S. workers. Yet, women earned an average of 59 cents on the dollar compared to their male colleagues.

5 “Our economy today depends upon women in the labor force,” Kennedy said when he signed the law in W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

By amending the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, Kennedy made it illegal to discriminate against women in the payment of wages. In the first two decades after the EPA's passage, the gender wage gap narrowed significantly, but progress has since languished. 6 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

Pay equity was back in the national spotlight again in 2007, when the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. 7 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY Photo courtesy of the U.S. Supreme Court

Lilly Ledbetter was a supervisor at Goodyear Tire and Rubber’s plant in Gadsden, Alabama, from 1979 until her retirement in 1998 where she worked as an area manager, a position largely occupied by men. Initially, Ledbetter’s salary was in line with the salaries of men performing substantially similar work. By the end of 1997, Ledbetter was the only woman working as an area manager. 8 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

Ledbetter’s pay slipped in comparison to the pay of male area managers with equal or less seniority. The pay discrepancy between Ledbetter and her 15 male counterparts was stark–Ledbetter was paid $3,727 per month; the lowest paid male area manager received $4,286 per month, the highest $5,236. Ledbetter had signed a contract with her employer stating she would not discuss pay rates with other workers. 9 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

Ledbetter submitted a questionnaire to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in March 1998 inquiring about salaries. In July, she submitted a formal EEOC charge. After her retirement in 1998, she filed suit, asserting, among other things, a sex discrimination claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, of W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

The district court allowed her Title VII pay discrimination claim to proceed to trial. The jury found for Ledbetter, awarding back pay and approximately 3.3 million dollars in compensatory damages. Goodyear appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court stating that no discriminatory act relating to her pay occurred during the timeframe Ledbetter claimed. 11 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

In a contentious 5-4 split decision, the justices concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove Goodyear had acted with discriminatory intent and that employers cannot be held accountable for discrimination 180 days after the first discriminatory paycheck was issued. Ledbetter received no restitution. In addition, Goodyear billed her $3,165 for court-related costs. 12 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

Ledbetter continued her fight in the hopes other women would not face the same inequities she did. Her efforts, along with help from other organizations, culminated in the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in January W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act allows an employee to recover back pay for up to two years preceding the filing of a discrimination claim. The changes of the Fair Pay Act also apply to claims filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

15 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY Lilly Ledbetter with President Obama as he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. (Photo courtesy of the White House.)

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, women in America today earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. Women of color earn even less (for Black women, it is 69 cents, and Latino women, 58 cents.) Qualified women are often excluded from job opportunities in the trades, and instead are more likely than men to work in part-time, low-wage jobs with no benefits. 16 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

The 23-cent wage gap has remained intact over the years, a troubling fact for a modern economy in which more women are entering the workforce. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women are projected to account for 51 percent of the increase in total labor force growth between 2008 and W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

Recent research has shown that, women still earn less than men. In 2012, the median income of American women working full time year-round was $37,791; for men, it was nearly $50,000. According to the EEOC, at the present rate, it will be another 50 years before the gender pay gap is eliminated. 18 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

19

Women make up 55 percent of workers in minimum-wage jobs; a full-time minimum-wage job pays about $15,000 per year. 20 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2014 guidelines reported that for a family of four, the poverty level is $23,850.

The average woman has to work approximately 15 months—more than 90 additional days—to match what her male counterpart earned in 12 months. 21 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

According to a 2013 Pew Research Center analysis of census and polling, 5-in-10 American households with children under 18 now include a mother who is either the sole, or primary, breadwinner for her family. 22 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

Women make up approximately half of America’s workforce, yet graduate at a higher rate than men from college and graduate schools. The wage gap worsens as women get older. Until age 35, women earn roughly 90 percent of what men earn; as they age, women typically earn about 75 to 80 percent of what men earn. 23 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

24

“We have by no means done enough to strengthen family life and at the same time encourage women to make their full contribution as citizens. If our nation is to be successful in the critical period ahead, we must rely upon the skills and devotion of all our people…It is appropriate at this time…to review recent accomplishments and to acknowledge frankly the further steps that must be taken. This is a task for the entire nation.” —John F. Kennedy, W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY (Photo courtesy of the White House)

Since the 196os, much has changed for women in the labor force, yet there is still work to be done. President Obama said, “As we reflect on decades of progress toward gender equality, we must also resolve to make progress in our time. Today, we honor the pioneers of women’s equality by doing our part to realize the great American dream—the dream of a nation where all things are possible for all people.” 26 W OMEN ’ S E QUALITY D AY

office/2013/08/23/presidential-proclamation- womens-equality-day equal-pay-act-parity-eludes-us/ y_2014.cfm comes-lilly-ledbetter 27 R ESOURCES

Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida August 2014 Dawn W. Smith Production Development Specialist DEOMI Research Directorate The findings in this report are not to be construed as an official DEOMI, U.S. Armed Forces or Department of Defense position, unless designated by other authorized documents. (All photographs are public domain and are from various sources, as cited.) 28