Congress designated August 26 as Women's Equality Day in 1971. This day commemorates the passage of the 19th Constitutional amendment, which granted some women the right to vote in 1920. It wasn’t until 1965 that voting rights for Black women were a reality.
On this day, I challenge you to consider what equality means.
Though similar, equality and equity are distinct concepts. Gender equality refers to the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for all people. Gender equity refers to conditions of fairness that are responsive to the needs, challenges and opportunities related to gender in a given context.
Whether the focus should be equality or equity is often a contested subject. Equity is context-bound and related to factors within a specific context. Equality is an end-state in which all people experience the same rights. We believe equity is a precondition of equality. Without equity in key areas, women will never achieve equal status in the United States.
https://www.diffen.com/difference/Equality-vs-Equity
At United WE, we take a data-driven approach when it comes to equity and equality for women. Among others, three of our areas of focus include:
1. Pay equity
2. Paid family leave
3. Listening to the real-time experiences of women through Town Halls
Pay Equity
United WE commissioned the Pay Equity Best Practice Guidelines in conjunction with the University of Missouri's Institute for Public Policy. This research resulted in a comprehensive set of gender pay equity guidelines. These guidelines provide resources and a helpful toolkit for employers.
Our 2020 Status of Women in Missouri report highlights the ongoing pay inequity women face. This report found that women make only 77.5 cents for every dollar earned by a man. For Black women, this number changes to 68 cents for every dollar earned by a white man, and 61 cents for Hispanic women for every dollar earned by a white man. This inequity is driven by a devaluing of women’s work, as well as the disproportionate amount of unpaid labor and childrearing done by women.
To prevent pay inequity in the workplace, the Pay Equity Best Practice Guidelines recommend three best practices for employers. To reach gender pay equity, employers must first determine whether gender-based disparities exist. Second, employers can evaluate their current systems for pay from an equity perspective. And lastly, employers can ensure pay transparency throughout their organization.
These evidence-based guidelines can provide a roadmap to equity within workplaces. And equity in these smaller contexts take steps toward equality for women overall.
Paid Family Leave
Paid family leave contributes to women's equity by preventing families from facing the hard choice of caring for a child or paying their bills. United WE commissioned studies with the University of Missouri Insititute of Public Policy on the status of Paid Family Leave in Missouri and Kansas. Our findings revealed that:
"In families \ with children, 93% of fathers and 71% of mothers were employed in 2016. Further, more and more working adults are caring for aging parents as well as household children. Women report spending more time caregiving than men."
In spite of the increase in parents working outside of the home, initial 2016 study findings show that family leave is not available to most working families. Unpaid leave could mean loss of wages as well as job security for one or both parents, as they care for children and aging parents.
We apply our research from across both Missouri and Kansas in our work with policymakers on both sides of the aisle. We are working toward equity for women through legislation in both states which will expand paid family and medical leave. We are proud of the fact that United WE helped to secure paid parental leave for Kansas and Missouri state government employees. We are advocating for 12 weeks of paid leave at 100% for all part-time and full-time workers.
Take Action
Women's Equality Day is a national day to consider women's progress. It is also a day to examine the barriers to both equity and equality that persist. It is a day to consider how we can take action toward data-driven, concrete solutions.
Today, I ask you to not only honor the pursuit of women’s equity but act upon it.
Register to vote, identify your polling place and familiarize yourself with the candidate for the 2022 Midterm Election on November 8, 2022.
Become a Gender Equity Ambassador. Our Ambassador program is a nationwide network of women and men working to advocate for women's equity. Every month, Ambassadors receive three action items, key facts to share with their networks and survey questions to complete. Ambassadors provide feedback and insights on all things women's empowerment to help further the mission of United WE. You can learn more about the program and how to sign up here.
Learn more about gender equity at We Work for Change 2022 and learn firsthand from Lt. General (ret). Nadja West .
Fondly,
Wendy Doyle