And according to the Supreme Court and Senate, pay her less. Yesterday, the Senate voted on the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This would basically overturn the Supreme Court ruling that when pay discrimination is present, the employers don't have to make it up to the victims unless the victims report the discrimination within a small timeframe.
This issue mostly affects women because still, 30 years after the Women's Movement, women still make only 77 cents to every man's dollar. (Yes, who knew that this discrimination still existed in what we claim is a fair society?). According to Kim Gandy in a press release:
"Every week, every year, women bring home less money than men to support themselves and their families. If you look at it over a lifetime, the average woman is losing, at minimum, hundreds of thousands of dollars in wages and retirement income," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "NOW is committed to closing this gap, no matter how long it takes, because economic justice is at the heart of women's equality."
This is unacceptable in today's "equal" society. There is no reason women should earn less than men, but moreover, there is no reason anyone should accept this tacit discrimination.
Kim Gandy makes a call for action:
It's sad enough that women are still only paid 77 cents or less to men's dollar, even though civil rights laws banned wage discrimination over four decades ago. The Supreme Court's decision could push back much of the progress that women have been making in closing the wage gap. Congress must restore those rights.
Call your Senator's office today at 1-866-338-1015! This toll-free number will be available through tomorrow (Wednesday).
But even with the calls from thousands of supporters, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act failed in the Senate. Who is out senate speaking for, because it's sure not me. I support the Fair Pay Act, and others, Democrats and Republicans alike, should support it as well.