Gender pay disparity persists, even with new laws

“Women earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men.”

You might think the above statement was written 20 or 30 years ago, but it was spoken by Barack Obama in June 2008 during an address made to working women while on the campaign trail in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In Ohio, the disparity is even worse: women earn, on average, 73 cents for every dollar earned by men.

Women work as hard as men; women carry the same titles as men. However, in many cases, a woman will earn less than a man in the same job – even in 2010. Gender pay disparity continues to exist for two main reasons. First, women working the same job as their male counterparts are consistently paid less for their work by the companies who employ them. Second, and more insidious, the types of jobs traditionally held by women are lower paying than the types of jobs traditionally held by men.

In January 2009, the President signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. While the bill extends the statute of limitations for women seeking recourse, it does not address the underlying social and political context that keeps women making nearly 25% less in the work force while doing the same work.

There are a number of arguments about why the gap continues to exist; many blame it on women taking extra time off to have and rear children. However, in a study by Catalyst (a “nonprofit membership organization working globally with businesses and the professions to build inclusive workplaces and expand opportunities for women and business”) women were no more likely to leave or change jobs because of family than men. In fact, even when a woman had no children, her pay still lagged significantly.

Many say that the pay disparity exists because women don’t have the education and training of their male counterparts. However, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s Digest of Education Statistics, in 2005 - 2006, women earned nearly two-thirds of all associates, bachelors, and master’s degrees and almost half of all doctorates. The digest further predicts that by 2016 - 2017, women will be earning nearly two-thirds of doctorate degrees as well.

There are no more excuses. Women are as capable as men, as educated as men, and as well-trained as men. New Directions Career Center has been fighting gender pay disparity by offering comprehensive training, counseling, and support for women to empower them to become self-sufficient and successful wage earners and was recently names as one of three partners to deliver a program called E3 (Educate, Empower, Elevate). This program supports post secondary education for women to help them achieve economic self-sufficiency. Women must focus their post secondary education on a "hot job" that is projected to be around for a while and to pay a livable wage. The program is being funded by the Women's Leadership Council (WLC) through United Way of Central Ohio. For more information on the E3 program, call NDCC at 614-849-0028, and ask to speak to either Cindy Kazalia or Amanda Fox.