The median earnings of women in Indiana are only 61.1 percent of Indiana men's median earnings. Across the country today, workers' rights advocates will take part in a day of action to end unfair pay practices — a top concern for women and people of color nationally and in Indiana.

Nationally, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that the average woman earns just 73 cents for every dollar earned by the average man. Women of color are worse off. African-American women make just 65 cents on the dollar compared with the highest earners (white men), while Hispanic women make only 52 cents. Men of color also experience wage disparities. African-American men earn only 81 cents on the dollar, while Hispanic men earn just 62 cents.  

The Women, Work, and Economics group of the Women's Studies 207 class at Saint Mary's College is joining the National Committee on Pay Equity and hundreds of organizations nationwide to observe Equal Pay Day today — Tuesday. Tuesday symbolizes the day when women's wages catch up to men's wages from the previous week. In other words, because women earn less, on average, they must work nearly seven days to earn what the average man would earn in only five. 

Economic equity is an issue that affects all of us. You can help women and people of color to achieve economic equity by contacting your state representative and letting him or her know that you support legislation that works to guarantee pay equity. Working together, we can insure that all Americans get the respect that comes with a fair paycheck. 

Brooke Warner

Jessica Domingo

Esther O'Connell

Emily Hall

Stella Barrutia

Members of Women, Work, & Economics Group

Saint Mary's College

April 15, 2002

• Petition failed to unify student body
  
• Shakespeare in Africa
  
• Where is the outrage?
  
• Support equal pay for both women and minorities
  
• Terrorists give free countries no options