Take The Lead and Close the Pay Gap!
Why is this Equal Pay Day, Tuesday, April 8th, so important?
Because women still only earn 77¢ for every $1 earned by a man. But together, we can fix that.
Make Equal Pay Day extra meaningful this year by taking action to close your own pay and leadership gap.
For starters, Take The Lead is offering the Close The Gap App for just $7.77.
The Gap App will help you define your goals, communicate your value, build your support network and negotiate your salary, promotion, or whatever you want to achieve. All you have to do is go to CloseTheGapApp.com on Tuesday April 8th, and input the discount code: EQUALPAYDAY.
The Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963, declaring it illegal to discriminate on pay based on their sex. Women then were commonly paid significantly less than men because they were always assumed to be earning only a supplemental income.
Though progress has been made, unequal pay practices are still pervasive. Why, over 50 years after this debate was effectively ended, is equal pay still up for debate?
There are those that would argue that pay is never contingent on an individual’s sex or gender, but, if that is true, why would it take an American woman until April 8, 2014 to earn the same wages for the same work as an American man earned in 2013?
The wage gap is further compounded by race and ethnicity:
On average, women earn 77¢ for every comparable $1 earned by a man.
African American women make 64¢ for every $1 earned by a man.
Hispanic women make 54¢ for every $1 earned by a man.
Men account for 92.5% of top earners.
It is time to CLOSE THE GAP.
What’s more, when you gain fair pay for yourself, you raise the bar for other women.
So spread the word! Encourage the women in your life to check out the Close The Gap App. Share the news on Twitter and Facebook by completing the phrase: “I will close the gap by…”. Include the hashtag #EqualPayDay and tag @takeleadwomen.
Getting all fired up? So are we. So we have also created an album on Facebook filled with shareable graphics to help you get this message out.
Take The Lead also provides great Learning Programs for women of all ages and stages. So check those out on our website and see what Take The Lead can do for your corporate women’s initiative, professional association, school, or other group.
The only question remaining: Are you ready to close the gap? Heck yes you are. On April 8th go to CloseTheGapApp.com and get the Equal Pay Day discount on the Close The Gap App–normally $10–for $7.77 by using the discount code: EQUALPAYDAY.
You may be worth more than you are being paid, so join Take The Lead and help close the pay gap on April 8th
Looking for more opportunities to celebrate Equal Pay Day and close the gap?
Check out She Negotiates Equal Pay Day Poetry Challenge and The Equal Pay Coalition NYC, in coordination with the Women’s Equality Coalition, for their National Equal Pay Day Action Alert.
Sign up for NYSPowHer, a new initiative network for economic equality across New York State, using their website at nyspowher.org or emailing info@nyspowher.org for more information.
About the Author
TAKE THE LEAD prepares, develops, inspires and propels women to take their fair and equal share of leadership positions across all sectors by 2025. It’s today’s women’s movement — a unique catalyst for women to embrace power and reach leadership parity.