There is a major divide in equality for men and women and it all boils down to money. Although it is 2014, women continue to make less money than men despite the fact that, on average, more women than men are actively seeking out higher education. According to the foundation Women Moving Millions, females now outnumber males who are enrolled in higher education learning institutes.
At the University of Oregon, the student body is comprised of 46 percent males and 54 percent females. Female college students need to be concerned about this pay gap as the difference in wages means that it takes females longer to pay off college debt.This is especially problematic, as it will affect a female’s personal life upon graduating.
On average throughout the country, women make 77 cents per every dollar a male makes. That is a 23-cent difference and while that may seem miniscule, it adds up. In Oregon specifically, The National Partnership for Women and Children released its findings that women make 79 cents for each dollar paid to males. This number applies to specifically to full-time, year-round work. These findings were taken from US census data.
Although there are various reasons, the main one being direct and indirect discrimination, cited for why this difference in pay exists, it still boils down to the fact that women are still not earning as much as men, yet are expected to pay the same prices as their higher earning male counterparts.
Even more concerning is the fact that women head up to 151,881 of the 420,121 households in Oregon according to an April 2013 study by the National Partnership for Women and Children. Out of these 151,881 households, 52,095 households run on incomes that fall below the poverty line. The study also found that if the pay gap were eliminated, women could earn up to 10,000 dollars more a year. It stated that these extra funds would be enough to pay for up to 72 more weeks of food, six more months of mortgage and utility payments, 12 more months of rent or 2,671 additional gallons of gasoline.
The gender pay gap is not something new. Every year, April 8th is dedicated to the cause and is recognized as National Equal Pay Day. This year, President Obama signed an executive order that was written to eliminate workplace discrimination and allow employees to negotiate their wages. Obama will now require federal contractors to turn in data that will document how much employees, categorized by gender and race, are being paid.
Even though the year is 2014 and we do pride ourselves on being a progressive country, there is a major problem right in front of us with no clear solution in sight. Women continue to earn less than men yet carry more responsibility than ever. Until the pay gap is eliminated, women will not be treated fairly in a country that prides itself on democracy and equality. Women everywhere need to rise up and demand answers from legislators.
For this female college student, it all boils down to this: Why should women support a government that has continually failed to provide equality for us?