Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Commission on Women participates in Pay Equity Day

FRANKFORT, Ky.- The Kentucky Commission on Women (KCW) has again joined the national effort to raise awareness about the wage gap between men and women.

Pay Equity Day or Equal Pay Day is designated on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, because this date symbolizes how far women must work into the calendar year—three months on average—to earn as much as men earned in the previous year.

Census statistics released in September 2010 indicate little change in pay equity.  Year-round, full-time working women in 2009 earned only 77 percent of the earnings of year-round, full-time working men.  In Kentucky the gap widens to 74 cents.  For African American and Latino women the gap is still wider.

The Commission created a “Pay Equity Toolkit” available online at www.women.ky.gov to any organization or individual interested in hosting awareness activities. The toolkit contains a pay equity fact sheet, suggested activities, a sample letter to the editor and an historical timeline of the battle for equal wages in America.

“We must continue to build awareness about unfair pay for women, especially at a time when our economy is struggling,” said KCW Executive Director Eleanor Jordan. “It’s important to make it clear that this is not just a woman’s issue. Fair pay is a family issue. When the economic status of women is elevated, everyone benefits. We are one half of the population.”  The Commission suggests men and women wear red on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, to show support for this issue and to symbolize that Kentucky women are still in the red.

Events scheduled around the Commonwealth to emphasize the wage disparity between men and women include: 

Madisonville Community College: Murray State University/Madisonville Community College’s Celebrate Women Committee is hosting an informative program to celebrate women at Madisonville Community College Student Center on April 12, 2011, at 12:15 p.m.   Dr. Bill Winstead, MCC history professor, and Lana Moore, President of Madisonville Business and Professional Women’s Organization, will discuss the contribution of women to the work field and pay inequality.  Contact Susan Edington at susan.edington@murraystate.edu or 270-825-4379 for additional information.

Northern Kentucky University: Northern Kentucky University’s Panhellenic Council is hosting a Pay Equity Awareness Campaign on April 12, 2011, in the Student Union Building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., including the distribution of pay equity awareness handouts and a bake sell of cookies with 25% missing to symbolize the wage gap between men and women.  Men will pay 25 cents extra for the cookies.  Proceeds go to the Women’s Crisis Center.  Contact Kim Vance at 859-572-5146 for additional information.

Delta Zeta Sorority (Kappa Beta Chapter) Northern Kentucky University: Delta Zeta Sorority at Northern Kentucky University created a “Red Alert” on Facebook to raise awareness about Pay Equity Day and encourage individuals to wear red. The sorority also joined the National Committee on Pay Equity at www.pay-equity.org.

To learn more about Pay Equity Day visit www.women.ky.gov.

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