Native and Indigenous women have made important advances socially, economically and politically. However, they continue to face a range of obstacles to their and their families’ economic wellbeing and overall security.
This year, Native Women’s Equal Pay Day is Thursday, October 1. This marks the day an average Native American woman must work into the new year to finally make what a white, non-Hispanic man made at the end of the previous year.
This means that because of the gender and racial pay gaps, the typical Native woman must work 22 months to be paid what the average white man was paid in just 12 months. Native women who work year-round, full-time jobs make just .60 cents for every dollar paid to their white, male counterparts.
There are many contributors to the wage gap: lack of pay transparency, employment discrimination, occupational segregation, lack of affordable childcare, inadequate minimum wage and tipped minimum wage, unfair workplace practices, inadequate access to capital, and general gender and race based bias.
This year, as we prepare to observe Native Women’s Equal Pay Day, women all across the country are banding together to uplift the voices of Native and Indigenous women. It’s time to stand up for equality in this country, and within our own communities. It’s time to demand more, because Native and Indigenous women deserve more.
Take Action for Native Women’s Equal Pay Day
Support Native and Indigenous women on Thursday in two ways:
On Thursday, October 1 from 10am-10:30am PT/1pm-1:30pm ET, tune into Equal Rights Advocate’s Facebook page for a free live conversation about Native Women’s Equal Pay Day, why we observe it, what equal pay would mean for Native Women particularly during this time of the pandemic, and what is at stake for Native Women in this election. Featuring:
- Senator Red Dawn Foster, Member of the South Dakota Senate from the 27th District
- Stephanie Gutierrez, Owner of Hope Nation LLC
- Jamie Gloshay, Co-Founder Native Women Lead
- IllumiNative Representative
- Shannon Williams, Equal Pay Today
- Angie Jean Marie, TIME’S UP
And right after the event, continue the conversation online by joining the Twitterstorm from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT/2 p.m.-3 p.m. ET to speak out in support of #NativeWomensEqualPay. Log onto Twitter and use Equal Rights Advocates’ social media toolkit to participate in a robust dialogue that seeks to center the needs of Native and Indigenous women.
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