by Mica Whitfield and Ashley Panelli
Rights don’t always disappear in one big sweep; they erode quietly. It’s a headline here, a policy change there, a small shift that compounds until it feels overwhelming, and it is impossible to ignore. And that’s the plan: keep us too tired to notice, too tired to fight, too tired to vote so the few in power can hold on.
The widening pay gap is one of those compounding “small things,” only that its impact is anything but small. Last year, the pay gap widened by two cents, and women working full-time, on average, made 81 cents for every dollar a white man in her position made. This loss hurts, and not only is it felt in the paychecks of hard-working women, but it is felt by advocates, activists, and legislators who relentlessly and boldly fight for pay equity. Our work toward equal pay is slow and is earned inch by inch by those bold enough to continue fighting against the oppression that fosters the pay gap.
On Sept. 8, in the center of Hispanic Heritage Month, was Latina Equal Pay Day. It highlighted that Latina women working full-time are paid, on average, 58 cents to every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. And just recently, the data for all Latina workers, including those working part-time and full-time, increased by three cents, which is larger than the general average for all women. Within this already staggering gap, Afro-Latinas earn even less, as racism and colorism continue to keep fair pay out of reach. It’s no mystery—with daily attacks on Latinx and Black communities, as well as intentional targeting from the current administration, the gains made toward closing the pay gap are slipping.
Recent data from Equal Rights Advocates showed a widening of the wage gap last year between women and men. Two cents from the previous year, showing the persistence of wage gaps, the effect of the lack of national policy advancement, and the ongoing impact of racism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism that fuel pay disparities.
It hasn’t been uncommon in recent years for pay disparities to rise and fall. Short- and long-term effects of the Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic, and other policies have affected women’s workforce participation and the types of employment women are more likely to work in. But since 9to5, a grassroots power-building organization that advances economic justice, helped pass the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act 16 years ago, the wage gap has narrowed from $0.77 to $0.83—just six cents. For women of color, LGBTQ workers, and disabled women, who make even less, those gains are even smaller. It’s clear that more action and common-sense policy are necessary to eliminate pay gaps.
Now we face an administration determined to eliminate those gains. This administration has taken unprecedented steps toward stripping workers of rights, eliminating programs that helped workers of color earn a fair wage, and weakening systems that have long reported on workforce participation and protected workers. With more than 100 brutal actions that affect workers in his first 100 days, there is no doubt the administration. pay gap will once again widen in 2025 under the Trump
Women of color are already seeing the effects of this administration in their wallets and economic security. For example, Black women are losing their jobs at a higher rate than other groups. During the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, Black women lost their jobs first and were the last to recover, and are often seen as the canary in the coal mine of economic data, signaling that economic devastation is on the way.
And still, as a response to this data, Trump called the jobs numbers rigged, fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, and threatened to silence the jobs report altogether. This data is not only critical for Black women but for every person in this country who will endure an economic downturn. Hiding the data doesn’t make it any less true or ominous, and it certainly does not create a thriving economy.
But we cannot surrender our hope. Our work is too critical to relinquish, and we must creatively find solutions, even in uncertainty. If you’re wondering what you can do, here are several recommendations.
1. Take Action in Your State
Colorado showed us what’s possible. In 2019, 9to5 Colorado and its partners passed a first-of-its-kind law requiring salary ranges to be posted on job listings and excluding past earning history for determining wages in a new position. This act helped level the playing field and expose unequal pay in the workplace, and over a dozen states followed suit, passing equal pay laws of their own. Since then, it has become far more common to see pay information on job postings, helping millions of women across the country earn what they deserve.
While we continue to work toward national policy that narrows the pay gap, like the Paycheck Fairness Act, Paid Family and Medical Leave, tenant rights, child care funding, and workplace harassment protections, we must remember that progress isn’t just made at the federal level. Our collective power is often most effective at the state level.
Organizations like 9to5 are active in every state across the country, fighting for working women to close the pay gap. We need people like you to join and show up in the fight for equal pay. Join this movement at 9to5.org/join, stay connected, and be ready to take action for equal pay and working women and nonbinary people of color.
2. Practice Civil Engagement
Yes, register to vote and vote. But your job does not start or end there.
Showing up at the polls is the bare minimum of being politically engaged. We must vet candidates to find and support politicians who vote for your values and support equal pay legislation. We must engage with our representatives at every level of government, from showing up to county meetings to the halls of our state capitals, to the halls of Congress. We have to keep the phone numbers of our representatives on speed dial and their emails handy so we can hold them accountable and tell them what they need. They work for us, and it is up to us to make sure they do.
3. Talk About Pay and Workplace Harassment
The wage gap is a systemic issue that relies on secrecy and oppression. One of the most powerful tools we have is to talk about pay in our workplaces. 9to5 has developed a printable guide to help start the conversation about pay in your workplace.
Workplace harassment is an all-too-common problem that contributes to the pay gap. It takes a huge physical and emotional toll on the victim, which often has rippling effects inside and out of the workplace. Survivors often miss days of work, affecting their paychecks. It can push people out of their jobs, affecting their long-term career trajectory and earning potential. We know that people at the intersection of race, class, and gender are most likely to experience workplace harassment that targets not only sex but also national origin, race, religion, color, and genetic information. Learn more about workplace harassment in this printable guide.
The pay gap will persist until we end all forms of oppression, but when we work towards legislation, vote for politicians who support equal pay, and have discussions in our own workplaces and communities about pay, we can forge a path toward a future where all working women and nonbinary people thrive.
(Mica Whitfield and Ashley Panelli are co-directors of 9to5, a national movement for women.)