Communications

September 10, 2009

Contact: Lisa Goodnight, goodnightl@aauw.org 202/785-7738

AAUW Reacts to New Census Data that Shows the Wage Gap is Stubbornly in Place

Calls for Passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act

Washington – Lisa Maatz, AAUW’s top policy adviser, issued the following statement in light of the income data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

“The government’s new report on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage shows that the wage gap between men and women working full time remains stubbornly in place. In 2007, the average woman made almost 78 cents for each dollar earned by her male counterpart. According to newly released 2008 figures, that number now stands at just over 77 cents for each dollar earned by a man. Given the tough economic times, some might say that women should be satisfied that the gap didn’t widen. However, given that the wage gap has been stagnant over the past decade — in good times and bad — AAUW sees this as a time for action.

It is critical that we make real progress on closing the wage gap. Wage discrimination hurts whole families, not just women. This is not a time for employers to fall back on the stereotypes of men as the primary breadwinners, and tough economic times are not sufficient excuse to ignore civil rights laws. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about a fifth of families with children are headed by single working moms, and nearly half of all families with children depend on two paychecks. Clearly a majority of working families have a stake in equal pay for equal work. These are real women, working everyday to make ends meet. They are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for simple justice.

AAUW remains committed to passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182/H.R. 12), a much-needed update to the Equal Pay Act of 1963. Congress made an important statement earlier this year by adopting the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act — the first bill signed into law by President Barack Obama. But it’s only the first step to fair pay. The Paycheck Fairness Act, along with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, will help create a climate in which pay discrimination is not tolerated. The House has already passed the measure, but the Senate needs to take up the mantle. It’s time we strengthened the Equal Pay Act so that it can finally live up to its name.”

For more information or to schedule an interview with AAUW Director of Public Policy and Government Relations Lisa Maatz, please contact Lisa Goodnight, AAUW Sr. Media Relations & Marketing Associate at 202/785-7738 or goodnightl@aauw.org.

To learn more about AAUW’s position on pay equity, visit: http://www.aauw.org/advocacy/issue_advocacy/actionpages/payequity.cfm

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August 26, 2009

From Linda Hallman, Executive Director
I’m pleased to present information about the 2009–10 leadership programs, and I encourage you to share these opportunities with other members of your branch. Please also share the following applications with college students, administrators, and relevant faculty at colleges and universities in your community, such as the staff of women’s and career centers.

Campus Action Projects (CAP)
Over the past five years, CAP grants have enabled teams of student leaders and campus faculty nationwide to design and implement effective programs that address specific barriers to equity on their campuses or in their communities and have helped college women grow as leaders. This year, CAP projects will address some of the barriers girls and women face entering and staying in the STEM fields, particularly in physics, engineering, and computer science, where the greatest gender disparities exist. Proposals must be submitted by October 16, 2009.

National Student Advisory Council (SAC)
Members of the SAC provide AAUW staff with essential firsthand accounts of student needs and with ideas for combating sex discrimination in higher education and the workplace. They also promote AAUW and our programs on their campus, build ties to the local AAUW branch, contribute to the AAUW blog, and serve as student leaders at the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, held each June in Washington, D.C. Applications must be submitted by September 30, 2009.

Campaign College
Campaign College is the only program in the country that encourages and trains women to run for student government on their college campuses. We are accepting applications to host a campus training in spring 2010. Applications must be submitted by September 30, 2009.

Find information about all these opportunities and more on the leadership programs section of the AAUW website.

Sincerely,

Linda D. Hallman, CAE
Executive Director