Despite the Equal Pay Act being signed 55 years ago, the gender pay gap still exists with women of every race being paid well below men. To bring awareness to this issue, National Equal Pay Day was created, which falls each year on a Tuesday in April. This year, Equal Pay Day fell on April 10th to symbolize just how far into 2018 women would have to work to earn what men made in 2017. On Twitter, many spoke up on the wage gap using #EqualPayDay, including a number of celebrities and politicians.
Supermodel Karlie Kloss and Sen. Kamala Harris both called for the need for Equal Pay Day given the inequalities women face in the workplace and voiced their support for equal pay for equal work.
#EqualPayDay should not even exist, but as long as there is a disparity in what women earn we’ll be here to remind you. We don’t want to play catch-up. It’s very simple: equal pay for equal work. pic.twitter.com/dVbAeoNXn5
— Karlie Kloss (@karliekloss) April 10, 2018
On #EqualPayDay, let's remember our fight for equality is not over — women deserve and must demand equal pay.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) April 10, 2018
Others were vocal about the ways in which society can implement real change when it comes to pay.
Here are a few ways to fix the gender wage gap:
Encourage women.
Hire women.
Promote women.
Pay women a fair wage.
Support women.
Mentor and sponsor women.
Let women lead.#equalpayday— Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) April 10, 2018
Today is Equal Pay Day and it's time to take action! Call your state senator and urge them to enact strong equal pay policies. Dial 1-855-934-0729 to hear a useful script and be connected right now. @AAUW
— Kate Landry (@katelandry17) April 10, 2018
However, while there were many supporters of Equal Pay Day, there were also some pushback from people who say that the gender pay gap is a myth and that women need to stop complaining.
If you want equal pay… make the same choices as men.
Otherwise, stop whining.#EqualPayDay
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) April 10, 2018
The wage gap is a myth. Why does left-wing feminism love twisting facts to push a victim narrative? #EqualPayDay
— Brad Polumbo (@brad_polumbo) April 10, 2018
#EqualPayDay on Twitter proves just how much of a debated issue the gender pay gap still is in our country, even in 2018.