On September 8th, 2022, the United States will officially become a country that fully recognizes and compensates women for their work equal to that of men. While this date may seem far off, it’s important to keep in mind that there is still work to be done in order to achieve full gender parity. Join us on September 8th as we celebrate Native Women’s Equal Pay Day and continue the fight for equal pay for all!
What is Native Women’s Equal Pay Day?
Native Women’s Equal Pay Day is an annual event in the United States that celebrates the progress that has been made for Native women in the workplace.
Native women have long been discriminated against in the workplace, and their wages have remained significantly lower than those of white men. This inequality has continued even after Native women achieved full citizenship and voting rights. In 2013, Native women earned only 71% of what white men earned.
Every year, on Native Women’s Equal Pay Day, we remind people of the continuing injustice faced by Native women in the workforce. We hope that this day will serve as a reminder of the work that needs to be done to fully equalize pay disparities between Native and non-Native women.
The History of Native Women and Equal Pay
Native women have been working as laborers and in other jobs for far too long. The history of Native women and equal pay is a story of discrimination, inequality, and injustice.
Native women have been working as laborers and in other jobs for far too long. The history of Native women and equal pay is a story of discrimination, inequality, and injustice.
Native women were working in the United States before the country was even founded. They were working as domestics, farmworkers, and seamstresses. However, it was not until the late 1800s that they began to receive equal pay for the same work as white men.
The cause of this inequality is complex, but can be traced back to laws and customs that discriminated against Native Americans. For example, it was illegal for Native Americans to own land or vote. This meant that they were excluded from many opportunities that would have given them an edge in the workforce.
Despite these obstacles, many Native women fought for their rights. They organized labor unions and took legal action to get equal pay for their work. In 1970, Congress passed the Equal Pay Act Amendments, which finally protected Native American workers from discrimination in the workplace.
The Current State of Native Women and Equal Pay
Today is Native Women’s Equal Pay Day in the United States, which marks the point at which women earn what men earn based on their job titles and years of experience.
The current state of Native women and equal pay is not good. In fact, according to a report released by the National Indian Women’s Association (NIWA), Native women earn only 57% of what white men earn. This gap has barely budged in the past decade, and it has actually gotten worse for some groups of women.
In addition, Native women are more likely than white women to work in low-wage occupations. As a result, they face greater challenges in earning an equal wage. For example, according to the report, native women are twice as likely as white women to work in sales and service jobs. They are also three times as likely to work in food preparation and serving jobs.
NIWA is calling for immediate action to address the disparities faced by Native women in the workplace. The organization is urging Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would require employers to disclose wage information by gender and ethnicity. The act would also create penalties for companies that violate wage disclosure rules.
NIWA also recommends expanding
The Road Forward for Native Women and Equal Pay
According to the National Women’s Law Center, in 2017 women working full-time, year-round in the U.S. earned only 79 percent of what men earned. This figure includes workers of all races and ethnicities, but disparities persist for Native American and Alaska Native women. Nationally, Native women make just 72 cents on the dollar compared to white men.
Despite these persistent disparities, there are some signs of progress. Since 2009, the number of states with laws mandating equal pay has more than doubled from six to 12. And this year, eight states – California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington – have passed laws addressing wage transparency or paycheck fairness for all employees, not just those who are traditionally marginalized (such as people of color).
While we still have a long way to go, we can take heart in the fact that progress is being made and that we are on a path forward fighting
Conclusion
Today, September 8th marks the United States’ designated day to focus attention on the issue of Native American women’s unequal pay. This date was chosen because it is exactly 20 years since the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), which recognized that Native American children are more likely to be living in poverty and in abusive homes. According to a report by The National Women’s Law Center, as of 2016, Native American women make only 63 cents for every dollar earned by men. This gap persists despite the fact that Native American women have higher levels of education than their male counterparts and work in many high-paying jobs. We must continue working towards closing this wage gap and ensuring equality for all members of our society, no matter what race or ethnicity they may belong to.
