Black Women's Equal Pay Day

Supriya Jain
Dec 22, 2023 By Supriya Jain
Originally Published on Feb 23, 2022
Black Women's Equal Pay Day aims to raise awareness for pay equity and improve the workplace culture for many women.

Where is Black Women's Equal Pay Day observed?

Black Women's Equal Pay Day is observed every year on August 3 in the United States of America, where the day started. Online events can also be joined by anyone from across the world.

Who is Black Women's Equal Pay Day observed by?

The day is observed by anyone willing to combat the wage inequality in the system against black women workers, which seriously affects society and families.

When did Black Women's Equal Pay Day first start?

Black Women's Equal Pay Day was first recorded to have been observed in 1996.

Who started Black Women's Equal Pay Day?

This symbolic day came into existence in 1996 through collected endeavors, and the National Committee On Pay Equity's participation.

History And Timeline

The National Committee On Pay Equity recognized the pervasive discrimination in the wage gap in the workplace. This institution is an alliance of labor unions, women's and civil rights organizations, and other institutions working to annihilate race and sex-driven pay discrimination. The efforts to recognize and combat the issue have gained momentum since the day's inception.

First Step Towards Justice.

Retaining the tenet of 'equal pay for equal work,' the Equal Pay Act was signed by John F Kennedy and passed.

1963

Equal Pay Day Observed

The status quo was challenged, and masses rose up against the perpetrator, i.e., the racial pay gap.

1996

Advocating for Fair Pay

President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which focused on incorporating more equity in wages.

1978

The U.S. Senate Assists

The Senate passed the Paycheck Fairness Act that targeted gender gaps in the payroll, as it had hoped that the legislation would have the desired effects.

2019

UN Celebrates Equal Pay

The day was recognized and observed by the UN for the first time. With their observance, the organization also revealed that women are paid 23% less than men worldwide.

September 18, 2020

Traditions And Customs

Black Women's Equal Pay Day may be an official event in America, but different versions of the same day are also observed across different parts of the globe to address the pay gap that exists on the grounds of race and sex. However, every country that observes this day has different ways of observing the day.

In the USA, various awareness campaigns and drives are organized on this national day to make more and more people aware of the issues of black women who are severely underpaid.

Ways To Observe Black Women’s Equal Pay Day

To observe the day, you can take to social media raise awareness on the lack of pay equity and how it hurts families. If you are an employer, you can endorse or recruit a black woman to your business, offer her equal pay, and arrange open discussions with men and women of color in the workplace.

It is extremely important to raise the issue of the gender pay gap in the modern world. You cannot help but be surprised at the pay gap that exists in a developed country like the USA.

As a responsible citizen, you must raise the issue in your local community. With each new year, the racial wage gap goes unchanged, thus affecting thousands of minority workers and their families.

You may organize or participate in events across your community to highlight this issue and pressure the government to pass suitable legislation for this cause through petitions.

Facts And Stats

  • Black Women's Equal Pay Day highlights the issues of the racial wage gap. The day was started in the USA, but many other countries, especially some in Africa, participate in online campaigns and events organized on this day.
  • Equal Pay Day is observed for the parent cause of Black Women's Equal Pay Day. Most countries have their own version of the former.
  • Equal Pay Day in Germany occurs on different days than in the U.S., and is even more robustly celebrated in Germany than in the United States.

How does race affect the gender wage gap?

It has been proven through surveys and studies that racial and gender discrimination has impeded the growth of black women to higher executive positions in companies. The lack of opportunities to push their career forward has a great deal to do with the gender wage gap, which is only worsened by the factor of racial discrimination.

How do employers observe Black Women's Equal Pay Day?

Employers may observe the day through workshops, events, discussions, or even taking a closer look at how much their organization is paying their team members and looking for signs of discrimination and ways to be fairer with compensation practices.

How can observing Black Women's Equal Pay Day support them?

The day reinforces people's belief in wage equity. This helps black women who work year-round enjoy equal work without racial or gender discrimination.

What are some benefits of Black Women's Equal Pay Day?

Equal Pay Day is an event of voicing concerns about race and gender-driven wider-than-average pay gap in the workplace and raising awareness on the matter. It advocates for equal pay and equal recognition irrespective of race and gender.

What are the conditions for observing Black Women's Equal Pay Day?

There are no set conditions. The day is observed to raise awareness against the gender wage gap. It details how much harder a black woman has to work in a given year just to earn as much as a white non-Hispanic man.

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Sunday, August 02, 2020
  • Monday, August 02, 2021
  • Tuesday, August 02, 2022
  • Wednesday, August 02, 2023
  • Friday, August 02, 2024

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Written by Supriya Jain

Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration specializing in Marketing

Supriya Jain picture

Supriya JainBachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration specializing in Marketing

As a skilled member of the Kidadl team, Shruti brings extensive experience and expertise in professional content writing. With a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from Punjab University and an MBA in Business Administration from IMT Nagpur, Shruti has worked in diverse roles such as sales intern, content writer, executive trainee, and business development consultant. Her exceptional writing skills cover a wide range of areas, including SOP, SEO, B2B/B2C, and academic content.

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