![]() And now we’re at the lowest rate of women participation in the labor force that we’ve been in more than 30 years. More than 2 million women have dropped out of the workforce since the pandemic started - 2 million. Women are on the frontlines as essential workers, particularly women of color, in hospitals, grocery stores, childcare facilities, farms, factories, but they’re still earning less. You know, as Jill mentioned, this pandemic has only exacerbated the problem. And this team is living proof that you can be the very best at what you do and still have to fight for equal pay. It doesn’t matter if you’re an electrician, an accountant, or part of the best damn soccer team in the world, the pay gap is real. ![]() For Native American women, it’s 60 cents. For AAPI women, it’s 87 cents for every dollar a white man earns. The reality though is that in nearly every job - more than 90 percent of the occupations - women still earn less than men: 82 cents on the dollar on average. And, frankly, we shouldn’t be satisfied until Equal Pay Day is no longer even necessary to mention at all. ![]() This year, Equal Pay Day falls in late March, which is a little bit better, but not much - from late April to late March. And more than three extra months - it’s more than that. That meant that it took women until April of 2009 to earn the same amount of money that a man made in all of 2008.Īnother way to look at it is, it took more than 15 months for a woman to earn the same amount that a man made in 12. They had to go all the way through January, February, March, and April to catch up. By late April, women will have made, at that time, on average, what men make in 12 months. This year - that year, I should say, in 2009, we marked - Equal Pay Day occurred in late April. Twelve years ago, when President Obama and I came into office, the very first law we enacted was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and Lilly was standing at our side. And it’s shocking when you look at the numbers. You know, it’s a day that measures how much longer women typically have to work to match what men make in a single year. It was declared 25 years ago - Equal Pay Day - though not enough people know about that and - and they - as they should. You all made me a hero with my granddaughters.Īnd the reason we’re here today is because it’s Equal Pay Day, which has been around for 25 years. And I didn’t bore you with all the pictures we still have walking on the field - (laughter) - no, I’m serious - and off the field. And she’s a soccer player.Īnd as Jill mentioned, seeing you win the World Cup back in 2015, that was an incredible moment for our family and our country. I went so far as I took - they might may say - a privilege of getting our granddaughter Maisy, who is a rising junior at the University of Pennsylvania - up taking a course right now - I got her on the phone so she - all she wanted to do was meet both of these women and meet them virtually. I said it last April, when we spoke, and I’ll say it again: The fact that Jill and I get to talk with you and your teammates makes us heroes with our granddaughters. Megan, it’s hard to believe it was almost a year ago that we met virtually during the campaign. You know, and it matters that you lent your voice to the issues and the issue of fair pay and decency for so many years. You know, you’re all heroes for so many people - and that’s not hyperbole to suggest that - on and off the field. But I - really, thank you for what you’ve done. ![]() There’s a whole lot of talent in the Biden family athletics, almost all on the women’s side of the equation. Not a joke.Īnd both of you and your entire team - I’m not joking - have inspired our daughters and our granddaughters, who, I might add, are all really good athletes: one two-time All-State my niece, All-American. And to all your teammates virtually, thank you as well. THE PRESIDENT: Well, good afternoon, everyone.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |