Day of action in recognition of Equal Pay Day

Dover, De- On Tuesday members of the Delaware House of Representatives along with the Women’s Office of Advancement and Advocacy hosted a Day of Action at the Delaware Legislative Hall in Dover in recognition of Equal Pay Day.

Equal Pay Day is a day that is meant to bring awareness to the wage gap that exist between men and women in the workforce.

According to House Majority Whip Melissa Minor Brown: “Women still earn only eighty-two cents for every dollar earned by a man, and the gap is even wider for women of color. Who on average only earn seventy-four cents for every dollar paid to a white man…”

Minor Brown spoke at the event, and stated that the lower wages causes women to face additional difficulties in life that can be more easily navigated by men because they make more money on average.

She cited that lower wages can cause women to meet barriers in life when it comes to necessities like groceries and childcare. Or even milestones such as buying a home or saving fore retirement.

While over the past several years the Delaware General Assembly has passed legislation that has reduced the disparity in pay, Minor Brown says there is still work to be done, and she hopes that the Delaware House will continue fighting into the future.