January 29, 2019

Ms. Foundation Speaks Out on 10th Anniversary of Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

Ms. Foundation Speaks Out on 10th Anniversary of Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

NEW YORK (January 29, 2019) – Ms. Foundation for Women President and CEO Teresa C. Younger released the following statement on the tenth anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act:

“In the ten years since President Obama signed the historic Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law, women around the country are still fighting for pay transparency and equal pay for equal work.

“Unsurprisingly, pay disparities affect women of color the most. According to the National Women’s Law Center, white women on average make 79 cents for every dollar made by a man, while Black women still make less at 63 cents. Native American women make 57 cents and Latina women make 54 cents — nearly half of what their white, male peers earn.

“Based on the Census Bureau’s data, the gender wage gap widened for women of color in 2017; our fight for economic equality is far from over. Only through transparency can corporate leaders accept full responsibility to breakdown the patriarchy and misogyny that becomes apparent when they underpay women. The challenge is now for the federal government and state houses to take appropriate action to ensure equal pay for equal work.

“The Ms. Foundation and our grantee partners are dedicated to fighting against the systemic inequality that allows women to be paid disproportionately less than men for the same job. We are steadfast in our commitment towards lifting women and girls of color and their communities, and will not rest until we achieve economic justice for all.”

Ms. Foundation spokespeople are available for interviews by phone or in-person from NYC. To schedule, please contact Sunshine Sachs at [email protected].

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For over 40 years, the Ms. Foundation for Women has worked to build women’s collective power in the U.S. to advance equity and justice for all. The Ms. Foundation invests in, and strengthens the capacity of women led movements to advance meaningful social, cultural, and economic change in the lives of women. With equity and inclusion as the cornerstones of true democracy, the Ms. Foundation works to create a world in which the worth and dignity of every person are valued, and power and possibility are not limited by gender, race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or age.