Equal Pay Day (Mar 12, 2024): Closing the Gender Gap
Wendy Vogel and Fiona Szeto
March 12 is not just a date on the calendar, it is Equal Pay Day, a reminder of the persistent issue of wage disparity between men and women. This annual observance symbolizes how far into the year women must work to make as much as men made during the previous year and sheds light on the ongoing battle for pay equity. Originating from the Equal Pay Law of 1963 and gaining momentum since its inception in 1996, Equal Pay Day serves as a platform to raise awareness and implement strategies to bridge the wage gap.
History and Legislation:
The journey toward pay equity began with the enactment of the Equal Pay Law, ratified by John F. Kennedy in 1963, a significant milestone in the fight against wage discrimination. Fast forward to 2009, President Barack Obama's signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act provided further reinforcement of women's rights in the workplace, aiming to combat discriminatory pay practices.
Did you know?
-
Women consistently earn less than men across various professions
-
Equal Pay Day is not a single occurrence but a recurring reminder of the wage gap
-
In the United States, women earn approximately 83% of what men do, amounting to a staggering difference of $500 billion per year
-
The pay gap transcends industries, affecting women across all professions
-
Women face not only lower wages during their working years but also an income gap in retirement
-
The gender wage gap is greater in higher education roles, like advanced practitioners and physicians
Here are data from APSHO’s most recent compensation survey:
-
In all advanced practice professions, female APSHO survey respondents make 94.5 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts.
-
Female nurse practitioner respondents make 97 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts.
-
Female physician assistants make 87 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts.
-
Female pharmacists make more than their male counterparts
What can you do as an oncology/hematology AP?
-
Know the facts - not just for yourself but for all women
-
Join APSHO’s advocacy efforts to work toward pay equity
-
Participate in the next APSHO Compensation Survey–coming soon!
-
Tweet/Post and retweet/repost reliable information on this topic
-
Join the conversation in the APSHO Community
-
Learn more about advocating for yourself and your professional value
Closing the Gap:
While progress has been made, the fight for pay equity is far from over. Initiatives like Equal Pay Day serve as catalysts for change and for sparking conversations. Understand your role in creating a fair and equitable workplace. Gender does not determine one's worth. We all rise together.
Resources:
“Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology.” www.apsho.org, www.apsho.org/general/custom.asp?page=Commentary-on-APSHO-Comp-Survey.
Dill JS, Frogner BK. The gender wage gap among health care workers across educational and occupational groups. Health Affairs Scholar. 2024;2(1):qxad090.
Loder R, Coombs J, Najmabadi S, et al. Gender Disparities in Physician Assistant Educator Promotion and Compensation: A Mixed Methods Approach. J Physician Assist Educ. 2023;34(1):3-8.
Statistics, U. S. Bureau of Labor. “The Gender Pay Gap for Women Pharmacists.” Narrow the Gap, narrowthegap.co/gap/pharmacists.
Streilein A, Leach B, Everett C, Morgan P. Knowing Your Worth: Salary Expectations and Gender of Matriculating Physician Assistant Students. J Physician Assist Educ. 2018;29(1):1-6.