Dispelling the Wage Gap Myths – Paycheck Fairness Is Not a Woman-Only Issue

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Friday November 19, 2010 · 7:35 AM PST

2010/11/19 · 07:35

It is disappointing that the Paycheck Fairness Act (PFA) failed to pass a procedural vote this week to end the filibuster and bring it to the floor, 58-41 (60 votes were needed). Almost as disappointing are the arguments that we don’t need laws like these anymore or that the PFA would hurt men or that the wage gap doesn’t even exist anymore.

KStellrecht

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Wednesday July 07, 2010 · 2:02 PM PDT

2010/07/07 · 14:02

Panelists at the 2010 National Dialogue on Long Term Care discussed the challenges associated with the rapidly growing older population, including the skyrocketing costs of long-term care, Medicare and Medicaid. This issue is of great importance because the population 85 years and older is growing at 3% rate, while the general population only grows at a rate of 1%. And those age 85 and older are more likely to need long-term care services and supports.

KStellrecht

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Monday June 21, 2010 · 1:56 PM PDT

2010/06/21 · 13:56

The Urban Institute is holding a series of forums this summer on Social Security, including one last week called "The Future of Social Security: Solvency, Adequacy & Equity, and Work." Panelists, including Virginia P. Reno, advisory board member for the Elder Economic Security Initiative at Wider Opportunities for Women, discussed how changes in demographics will affect the Social Security system.

The media and some politicians often use overreaching phrases like "crisis" and "going bankrupt" when referring to Social Security. This misinformation does nothing to further the debate and instead leads to a grave misunderstanding about a popular program. Seventy-five percent of Americans say it is critical to preserve Social Security -- even if it means paying higher taxes.

KStellrecht

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Thursday June 10, 2010 · 9:34 AM PDT

2010/06/10 · 09:34

Through the early 1960s, it was common practice for employers to segregate job listings for men and women. In many cases, identical ads were run for each gender – but with a lower pay rate for the job targeting women.

That is, until 1963, when it became illegal to pay women lower wages for the same job through passage of the Equal Pay Act under President Kennedy.

While women have made measurable progress in the workplace since passage of the Act, a severe gap persists. In 1963, women earned 59% of what men took home. Forty seven years later, women now earn 77% of their male counterparts. The loss of 23 cents on the dollar translates to a pay gap of over $10,600 between the median annual earnings of men and women. Over a lifetime of work, this translates to a loss of at least $700,000.

KStellrecht

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Wednesday May 26, 2010 · 12:24 PM PDT

2010/05/26 · 12:24

Today is Wider Opportunities for Women's (WOW) 2nd Annual Blog Day. This year's theme: America's Budget Matters (So Does Yours). Right now, the President and Congress are deciding how to balance America's budget. When making these decisions, out nation's leaders need to hear about what matters when it comes to the budgets of all Americans - young and old.

Visit the America's Budget Matters (So Does Yours) event page to find out how you can get involved in this day-long event and to read blogs from participating national and state organizations.

Below is a blog authored by Kelly Stellrecht, Field & Program Associate at WOW.

RSS

Dispelling the Wage Gap Myths – Paycheck Fairness Is Not a Woman-Only Issue

CLASS Act is a Good First Step

Doomsday for Social Security isn’t the Truth

Mind the Gap – All the Way to Retirement

Long-term care insurance can help with financial security