WASHINGTON, D.C.—This February 11th, NOW recognizes Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Women’s Equal Pay Day. There are persistent wage disparities between AAPI women and white men, as well as within AAPI communities. Far too many AAPI women are not receiving equal pay for equal work, which prevents them from supporting themselves and their families and investing in their future.
Depending on the industry, women in AAPI communities are paid as low as 50 cents to every dollar made by white men holding the same job. On average, AAPI women are paid 79 cents to every dollar made AAPI men. These inequalities simply should not exist – there should be no difference in pay for two people in the same occupation, regardless of gender, race or ethnicity.
Gaps vary by industry as well – AAPI women who are hand laborers, servers and physicians make 24 to 26 cents less than their white male counterparts. The National Women’s Law Center reports that the AAPI wage gap is worsened for women 65 and over, mothers who work full time, and women in urban areas. At all levels of educational attainment, AAPI women are consistently paid less than white men in the same occupation.
NOW fiercely supports legislation such as the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help to reduce wage discrimination, and urges our leaders to look at systemic patterns of sex or race/ethnicity-based pay discrimination. Today, we stand with AAPI women across the nation in demand of pay equity.