“On average, American women made nearly 80 cents on every dollar that men earned as of 2015, with women of color’s paychecks falling even farther behind. Before the Equal Pay Act passed, women nationwide made around 61 cents on every dollar.
If pay equity progress continues at its current pace, women will not earn the same amount as men until 2059, according to projections from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.
While parts of that gap stem from women taking time off to raise children, engaging in salary negotiations less frequently, or finding work in fields that see lower profits, research shows the division begins as soon as men and women leave college. A study conducted last year by the Economic Policy Institute found that recent female graduates make an average of $4.36 less hourly than their male counterparts, adding up to roughly $9,000 less each year.”
