Pay Equity Day this year falls on April 12. As in the recent past years in which the day has been noted, women must work an additional 3 months to earn the same pay as men earn in 12 months for equal or comparable work. And the disparity exists at all economic levels, from the top executive to the guy/gal who mops the floors.

The wage disparity exists even in occupations in which women are dominant, such as nursing, teaching and childcare. One recent study published in the “Journal of the American Medical Association,” which focused on pay data from 300,000 registered nurses, disclosed that male nurses earned an average $5,100 more yearly than female nurses in similar positions. This wage gap has remained unchanged since 1988. The article concluded that there is an “unconscious but persistent bias – that men are simply more capable, that women with children are less committed to their work …”

A recent New York Times article headline states that “As Women Take Over a Male-Dominated Field, the Pay Drops” (Clair Cain Miller, March 18). The article’s troubling statements, suggested by recent research, comes to the conclusion that “Work done by women simply isn’t valued as highly.” Women are now as well, or even better educated than men, have nearly as much work experience and are just as likely to pursue high-paying careers. In most of the fields noted, the pay disparity is more than 20 percent. Research shows also that, as men enter traditional women’s fields, the average pay goes up. This has been especially noticeable in the teaching and nursing professions.

A few disturbing statistics were noted by a US News & World Report (April 17, 2012): women are 96 percent of secretaries and administrative assistants but earn only 86 percent as much as their male counterparts; women are 85 percent of maids and housekeepers and earn 83 percent as much as males; women are 54.3 percent of financial managers, earning only 66 percent of what men earn. Women are about 25 percent of CEOs, but earn only 69 percent as much as their male counterparts. Women are about 4.2 percent of truck and other drivers, earning 71.8 percent as much as male drivers. One can assume these figures have not changed much in four years.

The sports world is not immune to this controversy. The majority of professional team sports remain exclusively male and high paying. However, U.S. Soccer supports a strong, world competitive women’s team. Currently, the team claims that they generated nearly $20 million more in revenue than the U.S. men’s team, but have been paid only a quarter of what the men were paid: women earn $99,000 each if they win 20 friendlies; men earn $263,320 for the same feat, but get $100,000 even if they lose all 20 games; women get nothing for playing more than 20 games; men get $5,000 to $17,625 for each game beyond 20. Pay for playing in World Cup games is equally disparate: the women’s team got $2 million when it won the World Cup last year: the men’s team in 2014 earned $9 million and were knocked out in the round of 16.

We celebrate Pay Equity Day with mixed thoughts. Women have gained much in their quest for equal compensation for equal “blood, sweat and tears.” But, we are not quite there yet. It is not only an economic issue, it is a human, moral issue. New York state last year passed an equal pay bill closing loopholes employers were using to defend unfair wage practices, increased the penalty for violating this law and stopped employers from requiring workers to keep their pay rates secret. The Legislature continues to tackle different aspects of the pay gaps. Federal legislation like the Paycheck Fairness Act is necessary to ensure equality throughout the US.

The Jamestown Branch AAUW and the JCC Women’s Advisory Group are sponsoring a “Rally for Equal Pay” on Wednesday at noon at the JCC Campus Pond (the Student Union in case of rain/snow). Sheri Scavone, executive director of the WNY Women’s Foundation, will speak on “The Simple Truth About The Gender Pay Gap.”

Please join AAUW in supporting pay equity.

B. Dolores Thompson is a Jamestown resident and is the AAUW Jamestown Branch public policy chair.