More women in the United States are obtaining college degrees and increasing their participation in the labor force. Family friendly legislation – including the Equal Pay Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and policies such as flex time and telecommuting – have increased options to create a winwin
situation for women and their employers. Yet the wage gap between men and women persists. In 2005, women earned only 77 cents on the dollar to their male
counterparts. Over a working lifetime, estimates of what this wage disparity costs the average American woman and her family range from $440,000 to $2 million. In 2004, a typical college educated woman working fulltime earned $31,223 a year, compared to $40,798 for a college educated man—a stark difference of $9,575.

 

Since its founding in 1881, the American Association of University Women has been committed to promoting equity for all women. As part of this effort AAUW  dvocates for policies and programs that allow women to achieve economic security. AAUW’s 2007-09 Public Policy Program states that AAUW advocates “pay equity and fairness in compensation, equitable access and advancement in employment,” and “vigorous enforcement of employment antidiscrimination statutes.” AAUW
believes that pay equity is a simple matter of justice and continues to support initiatives that seek to close the persistent and sizable wage gaps between men and women. AAUW’s organization wide programmatic theme, “Education as the Gateway to Women’s Economic Security,” adopted in June 2005, reflects AAUW’s recognition of women’s educational gains as well as the understanding that
women’s progress has not yet translated into economic security.

 

Americans are well aware that there is a wage gap between male and female fulltime workers. According to AAUW poll research, when asked if a pay gap exists 75 percent say they agree. We know that working together, AAUW members and branches can make meaningful and powerful changes in their communities.