Essay On Equal Pay

Even though the gender wage gap still exists today, a lot has been done to eliminate it, and there is a lot of things everyone can do to end it. An early law that attempted to end the gender wage gap was the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act. This act said that, in the U.S, employees of public jobs will get 12 weeks of partial pay leave after a child’s birth or to take care of a sick relative or themselves. This will help give mothers and dedicated women a chance to care for their family and not go bankrupt. Additionally, in 1963 the Equal Pay Act said that equal pay for men and women is mandatory, and, therefore, is illegal to blatantly pay women less. Also, in 1964 Congress passed the Civil Rights Act. Title VII bans discrimination in hiring, firing,
promotion, and wage discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, or gender. Furthermore, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 attempted to eradicate the gender wage gap. It says that after a decision in pay has been made, the employee has 180 days to file a claim if they decide that the discussed wage will not be enough. Another act that attempted to shrink the gender wage gap was the Healthy Families Act of 2013-2014. The Healthy Families Act is similar to the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act in the way that they both gave public employees paid/partially paid days off. The Healthy Families Act says that U.S. workers will have access to fully paid sick days. Obviously these laws have helped prevent an increase in the gender wage gap, but they haven't completely gotten rid of it.
There is still a lot that needs to be done to eliminate it, and everybody can help. One action women in particular can do is develop their negotiation skills. Everyone is perfectly entitled to equal pay, and if anybody is not getting it. they also have the right to fight for it. Public sector employers can conduct a pay equity study. This would allot them to identify if there is a wage gap in their business, and take action to eject it, Since women are the most affected by the gender wage gap there are a few extra actions they can take to erase it from their lives. One is to learn their rights, and then put it on paper if they do find that they are being discriminated. Two is to get legal and emotional help. After all the laws that have been passed, it is very hard legally to pay a woman less than a man solely based on gender, and there are serious consequences to it. Emotional help is equally important. Women facing a severe gender wage gap are at a very high risk for developing a mental disorder, and it is important to take care of their mental health by going to a specialist. The gender wage gap is very significant in many women's lives, and each generation has been and must
continue to fight to end it.