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Writer's pictureFernanda Alayo

Breaking the Wage Gap: I Want Money! We All Deserve Money!

Updated: May 6

Amigas, welcome to spring!


Equal Pay Day was observed this past March 12th, 2024. This was the point in the year when women finally caught up to men's earnings from the previous year, recognizing that White non-Hispanic women earn only 82 cents for every dollar earned by white non-Hispanic men. 


However, it's crucial to recognize that this day doesn't capture the challenges faced by Latina women (National Women’s Law Center, 2024)


The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened these disparities, with 21% of Latinas losing jobs in April 2020 and only 16% having the ability to work from home, resulting in less flexible hours and irregular schedules (American Association University of Women.)


Latinas face a significant wage gap, earning only .55 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men (American Association University of Women) and often working well into the mid-late fall to match the earnings of White non-Hispanic men from the previous year (National Women’s Law Center, 2018). 


The gap varies by state. Click here to find your state's gap. Knowing the landscape is the first step in negotiating for better pay!


Just a few days ago, we celebrated the enduring legacy of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, whose vision and determination formed La Causa, giving rise to the United Farm Workers of America and pioneering negotiations for better pay and working conditions. Their incredible influence has inspired a new generation of Latino leaders who are united in their commitment to creating a brighter future for everyone. Latinos are leading the way in the cleaning and domestic labor market, driving positive change through initiatives like the Domestic Workers Coalitions. California-based organizations like Mujeres Unidas y Activas and La Colectiva de Mujeres paved the way, and the National Domestic Workers Alliance was established in 2007.


Picture of Cesar Chavez
Celebrating Cesar Chavez

Celebrate our community’s unwavering dedication to achieving workplace equity by looking back at this quote:


"Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed.  You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read.  You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride.  You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore…you cannot stamp out a people’s cause."- Cesar Chavez

May 18th, 2024, at StartingBlock, 821 E Washington Ave Madison, WI. Sponsored by Summit Credit Union!


Here, we’ll explore questions such as: How do we compete and stay true to our values? How do we network and create authentic connections that help us economically?








Latinas, Black, and Brown women are highly encouraged to attend. There will be a workshop in Spanish for our Spanish-speaking audiences! Must Register to attend. I want Money. We deserve Money for everyone, so we provide exclusive Spanish and English content!


Thank you to Unity Point/Meriter Hospital for sponsoring our free tickets. Use promo code BIGMONEY to attend.




June Event: 

June 15th, Saturday, at MyArts Theater, Madison, WI


Presenting Sponsor Summit Credit Union!





Works Cited

American Association University of Women. “STATUS OF LATINAS IN THE UNITED STATES.” AAUW Latina Initiative, 2021, pp. 1-7. American Association University of Women, https://www.aauw.org/. Accessed 03/22/2024 March 2024.


Berland, Meika, and Morgan Hardwood. “EQUAL PAY FOR LATINAS.” Workplace Justice, 2018, pp. 1-8. National Women's Law Center, https://nwlc.org/. Accessed 03/22/2024 March 2024.


“Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.” Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 29 April 2014, https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/equal-pay-act-1963-and-lilly-ledbetter-fair-pay-act-2009. Accessed 2 April 2024.


“State Minimum Wage Laws.” U.S. Department of Labor, 2024, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state. Accessed 2 April 2024.


Weeks, Matt. “UGA report: Minority groups driving U.S. economy.” UGA Today, 2 March 2017, https://news.uga.edu/multicultural-economy-report-17/. Accessed 2 April 2024.

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