Last week, people across the country marked Equal Pay Day – and it was energizing to see so many calls for change on such an important issue. But if we're going to make real progress, we need more than one day to show why equal pay is so critical – and so urgent.
This is a moment when costs are rising on essentials: healthcare, housing, childcare, eldercare, and so much more. It's unconscionable that families have to face those increases while women are making less money for every hour they work.
As someone who spent years as a single mom, I know how hard it can be to make ends meet – especially when everything from groceries to gas is getting more expensive. With all these extra costs, unequal pay makes getting by much more challenging.
We're also just beginning to emerge from a period of economic challenges that fell especially hard on working women, particularly women of color. Millions of women left the workforce during the pandemic. As the economy continues to bounce back, women shouldn't be put at a disadvantage.
And of course, this isn't just about the challenges of the moment.
I have two daughters. My oldest daughter is just getting her career off the ground and my younger daughter is working hard in school as she thinks about her future. They deserve to know that they'll earn equal pay for equal work. ALL our daughters deserve a future where their work will be valued equally with their male colleagues. And they should see that we're taking action to make it happen.
Kara Hahn is a lifelong Long Islander, social worker, county legislator, and candidate for Congress in NY-01. This open seat is a must win for Democrats to defend our majority in the House and continue driving progress in America, but we can't do it without your help. Make a recurring donation to sustain our movement for the long haul and send Kara to Congress!
