Equal Pay Day celebrated in Delaware

DOVER, Del. – On Tuesday, some of Delaware’s movers and shakers gathered at Legislative Hall in Dover to call attention to the gender pay gap and its impact on women and their families.

At the event, lawmakers and members of the American Association of University Women stepped up to the podium to speak about wage disparities between women and men in the first state.

On average, lawmakers say women in Delaware who work full time throughout the year earn just 86 percent of what men earn.

The most recent U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey revealed that black women in Delaware earn just 69 percent of the earnings of white men and that Hispanic women earned just 58 percent. Lawmakers say it’s important to recognize these disparities so they can be overcome in the future.

Rep. Valerie Longhurst, (D) District 15 said, “We are acknowledging the disparities that exist to continually stop women from breaking through that glass ceiling. One day soon we will break that glass ceiling.”

This spring, several organizations are partnering up to offer four free salary negotiation workshops to women throughout Delaware.

To register, you can visit de.gov/women