Author: Skylar Daveline

How Raising the Minimum Wage Can Narrow the Gender Pay Gap

Posted on by Skylar Daveline

The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 since 2009. While the majority of states have increased their minimum-wage laws since then, there are still 20 that have maintained the federal minimum. 

In April of this year, California raised their minimum wage to $20 an hour for fast food employees, granting half a million workers in the state an increase in pay. The minimum wage for all other workers in the state will remain at $16. With the highest minimum wage in the country being $17.50 in Washington DC, this is a significant step in demanding livable wages for all citizens. 

Although states are taking strides to increase base pay for workers, it is still not enough. In California, the living wage for an adult with no children is $27.32 and is $61.58 for an adult with two children. Further, the value of the federal wage is at its lowest point since 1956, although businesses are within the financial means to pay significantly more. These drastically low wages have critical effects on equality in the U.S., with women being considerably overrepresented in low-wage jobs. Not only will increasing the minimum wage help ensure all workers earn a living wage, but it will also narrow the gender wage gap. 

In the U.S., women make up 64.1% of employers working in the 40 lowest paying jobs. Also called occupational segregation, the overrepresentation of women in certain types of jobs is the single largest factor for the gender pay gap, as jobs held predominately by women are undervalued and undercompensated. Careers that are predominantly female often pay much less than predominantly male careers, even if the value of labor is the same. Systemic sexism within the U.S. prevents “women’s work” from being recognized for its true value and labor, historically leading to employers paying lower wages for these careers. 

Occupational segregation can be attributed to the fact that women – especially women of color – are forced out of male-dominated occupations and are prevented from joining all together. First, gender bias and stereotypes can limit the experience that young girls gain, such as being discouraged from joining STEM clubs and training associations that would build the skills needed for male-dominated careers. Second, women face limited access to networks and mentorships, facing greater barriers in establishing professional connections and thus, not receiving the same career opportunities as men. 

Women also experience disproportionate burdens of both formal and informal caregiving. These unequal caregiving responsibilities ultimately lead women to sacrifice higher paying jobs. While formal caregiving is a low wage job, many women put their careers on hold to accommodate informal caregiving – often taking care of their children and the household without pay. Lastly, even when women successfully enter male-dominated careers, they often face harassment and discrimination that make them seriously consider leaving the field. 

The impacts of occupational segregation are more heavily felt for women of color. Experiencing an intersection of both sexism and racism, double the amount of Latinas and Indigenous women are represented in low-paying jobs than they are in the workforce overall and, for Black women, their representation is almost 1.5 times larger. 
The broad impact of occupational segregation on women means that raising the minimum wage would effectively narrow the gender pay gap. For every dollar a man makes, women make 82 cents, and, for every dollar a white man makes, Black women earn 63 cents, Native women earn 60 cents, and Latina women earn 55 cents. According to The Center for American Progress, “Over the course of a 40-year career, women earn about $400,000 less than men due to the gender wage gap.” By increasing minimum wages, those who are overrepresented in these fields, including women, will gain the most benefit.

So That Shame Changes Sides: Gisèle Pelicot’s Forceful Resistance

Posted on by Skylar Daveline

Gisèle Pelicot demands to be heard in a system that stifles the voices of sexual violence victims. Now garnering attention from the world, Pelicot, 72, has become a hero and a symbol of resistance for many women, young and old, who see themselves in her. 

In Avignon, France, Pelicot insists she receives justice in “the most significant rape trial France has seen in decades.” After almost a decade of her husband, Dominique Pelicot, 71, drugging and raping her, and inviting at least 83 other men he met in an online chatroom to do the same, Ms. Pelicot demanded a public trial in a case that could have been kept private. 

The remarkable bravery Pelicot has displayed on a worldwide scale has illuminated the reason why many women still choose not to speak out after experiencing sexual assault. In the three weeks since the trial began, defense lawyers have attempted to undermine her credibility, offering a contrasting narrative that Pelicot had been conscious and consenting during her assaults. They have shown “indecent and shocking” photographs of the assaults in the courtroom. Louis Bonnet, the mayor of Mazan where Pelicot lives, blew off the trial, saying in an interview that “no one was killed.” Of the 50 men accused, 35 of them have claimed they are innocent and only 14 have said they regret their actions. 

“I understand why rape victims don’t press charges,” Pelicot said. 

In a connected case, Jean-Pierre Maréchal, 63, has been accused of copying the methods of Mr. Pelicot to rape is wife and allowing Mr. Pelicot to rape her as well. The wife of Maréchal is not pressing charges and is not divorcing him, reasoning that it is for her children. 

Rape remains the most under-reported crime, with 63% of rapes never being reported to the police, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. With a prominent history of both law enforcement and the public not believing victims, shaming them for their experiences, and the rape conviction rate being extremely low, many women find it easier and less distressing to not come forward.

Pelicot is changing the narrative as she pushes victims to seek justice, leading by example. With hundreds of people holding demonstrations outside the courtroom and gathering in cities across France, a new community has emerged to support victims of sexual violence and end the shame tied their experiences. 

“It is not for myself that I am testifying, but for all the women who suffer chemical submission,” Ms. Pelicot said. 

The Gender Gap Among Gen Z is Rising. What Will it Mean for the 2024 Election?

Posted on by Skylar Daveline

The divide between young men and women’s political preferences are growing at unprecedented rates. While this divergence, coined “the gender gap” by founder and President of the Feminist Majority Foundation Eleanor Smeal, is not new, older generations have not witnessed as striking a contrast between men and women voters. Young women see Harris as a beacon of hope to address the issues they care most about, supporting her by 70%, according to the Harvard Youth Poll. Young men are supporting Harris at 53%. Smeal says this 17% difference is larger than she has ever seen. The gender gap is now more of a “gender chasm.”

The rising gender gap is partly attributed to the political issue priorities of each sex. According to Brookings Institute, young women prioritize solutions to “sexual harassment, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and mental health problems,” whereas men are most concerned with “competition, bravery, and honor.”

The gender divide may consequently decide the election. According to exit polls from the 2022 midterms and the 2020 presidential election, young voters were significant in determining Democratic wins. In an election where issues such as reproductive health, LGBTQ+ rights, sex discrimination, education, and the protection of immigrants are on the line, it is more critical than ever to ensure female voters’ voices are heard.

Gen Z women have become the most progressive group in U.S. history. In the last eight years, events such as Trump’s campaign victory, the #MeToo movement, and the Dobbs decision became critical turning points for many young women. Since they are most affected by these matters, young women have turned towards more liberal policies and candidates that would speak to their concerns. These voters are supporting candidates that have championed these issues – who have been more outspoken about reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and affordable healthcare, broadening advocacy for women’s issues and consequently energizing young women.

This could be game changing, as young women are considerably more likely to vote than young men. In the last presidential election, 52.5% of women ages 18-29 voted, while only 47.5% of men in the same age range did, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Young women are also shown to be more politically engaged. Since young voters have been significant in the outcome of past elections, this difference in voting could mean that Gen Z women will have substantial power in November.

The Strategy and Advocacy of the Modern ERA Movement

Posted on by Skylar Daveline

Since Virginia ratified the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) on January 15, 2020 — becoming the 38th and final state needed to ratify the constitutional amendment — there has been a resurgence in enthusiasm among activist groups to finish the job that was started more than 100 years ago: publishing the ERA in the Constitution once and for all. A joint resolution was introduced in January 2023 by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) to remove the arbitrary deadline for ratification and recognize the amendment as part of the Constitution. ERA activists are now pressuring members of Congress to sign onto the discharge petition that would force this resolution to a vote on the House floor. Two key organizations have been crucial in leading this charge alongside the Feminist Majority Foundation: Sign4ERA and the ERA Coalition.

Sign4ERA, a grassroots organization gathering signatures in support of the ERA, is one advocacy group leading the modern ERA movement. They hold rallies, advocate at conferences, press Congress to certify the ERA, and empower the next generation of feminists. Recently, Sign4ERA has established a new strategy: the “ERA Bus.” The bright green bus with phrases such as “ERA NOW” and “TAKE ACTION NOW” is hard to miss, touring key districts to mobilize support for the ERA, gain more signatures, and above all, press lawmakers and politicians for their support. Led by Mary Ann Gorman and former New York Representative Carolyn Maloney, the ERA Bus has been spotted at universities, campaign events, rallies, and in front of critical politicians’ offices. The Sign4ERA petition has now reached over 100,000 signatures. 

The ERA bus stopped by Cornell and two of Feminist Majority’s Campus Organizers joined the efforts!

The ERA Coalition researches and advocates for the ERA and educates the public on the importance of the ERA in today’s world. The ERA Coalition has been active in gathering support for petitions to the President, Attorney General, and Congress to certify the ERA. They have also organized town halls, rallies, and participated in conferences, including the Feminist Majority’s National Young Feminist Leadership Conference. Moreover, in early-July, the ERA Coalition began its Elect Equality Campaign to educate voters on congressional candidates’ positions on the ERA and women’s issues for the upcoming 2024 election. Within this campaign, candidates can receive different levels of ERA certification. If candidates’ voting and interview records show support for the ERA, they receive a “check” for their support. However, candidates who “demonstrate a commitment to ensuring substantive gender equality” through voting, interview, and statement records, receive the title “ERA Certified.” You can find the full list of candidates here. Through this campaign, they hope to elect candidates with strong histories of supporting gender equality and freedom that will vote to finally publish the ERA in the Constitution.  

The ERA movement has been fighting for women’s equality since Alice Paul drafted the amendment in the 1920s, but the movement today has evolved to also include those who have been marginalized in the past, now amplifying their voices and placing them at the forefront of this fight. Zakiya Thomas, the President and CEO of the ERA Coalition distinguishes the modern ERA movement to representing the country as a whole, with Black women taking the lead. “This isn’t a white woman’s issue alone. This is about everyone having the equality that they are owed under the Constitution,” Thomas said. With Black women like Zakiya Thomas, Rep. Cori Bush, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley spearheading the effort, and the inclusion of diverse groups such as LGBTQ+ communities, the ERA movement continues to grow and we are closer than ever to recognizing the ERA as the 28th Amendment.

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