In December, the Census Bureau released five-year data from the American Community Survey (2005 to 2009), which not only provided general population data, but broke down occupational data by gender. The data demonstrates a stark contrast in occupations held by men and women, with many fields highly segregated by gender. On average, the median pay in jobs dominated by men are higher than in those dominated by women, and for jobs held by both men and women, median pay for men almost always exceeds that for women.
Remapping Debate, a non-profit media project dedicated to reporting on domestic public policy issues, graphed the data to highlight gender segregation and pay disparities in the American workforce. Within the highest-paying top 25 occupations for men, women workers made up less than 50 percent of the total workers. In 10 of these occupations, women workers made up less than 20 percent of the total. In 23 of the 25 cases, median earnings of women were less than 90 percent than those of men. And in more than 100 occupations, men are more than 90 percent of the workers.
Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics last summer indicate that the gender pay gap is a nationwide problem. In November, Legal Momentum wrote about the Senate's failure to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, a devastating blow to millions of American women who continue to face significant barriers to workplace equity. Women make up half of the workforce, and two-thirds of American families with children depend on this income for survival. Yet, an enormous gender pay gap remains - women make only 77 cents for every dollar that men earn, a divide which is even greater among women of color. This gap translates to a loss of over $10,000 a year, significantly worsening the struggles of many women to keep their families afloat during the economic crisis.
In addition to gender pay disparities, countless jobs remain dominated by men and present significant hurdles to women seeking to join the field. These barriers range from workplace discrimination to workplace security. Legal Momentum is a leader in promoting opportunity and equality for women in non-traditional job sectors, such as the construction trades and in law enforcement, many of which are high-paying, have career tracks, and provide job security, annual leave, and other benefits. Through our Equality Works Program, Legal Momentum uses policy initiatives and impact litigation to challenge discrimination and expand opportunities for women working in historically male-dominated fields such as the skilled trades and firefighting.
Workplace equality is a critical step towards ensuring economic security for women and their families and we will continue to fight until all women receive full economic equality.
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