‘It's our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America’
April 12 is Equal Pay Day, but of course, gender-based pay discrimination is an issue more than just one day a year. According to an analysis by TIME and Motto, women earn less than men at every single point in their careers, from 15% less between ages 22 and 25 to 38% less between ages 51 and 64.
While we may not solve pay inequality anytime soon, we can at least continue the dialogue to shine light on this persistent issue, as many celebrities, athletes and public figures do.
Carli Lloyd
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“When I joined four teammates in filing a wage-discrimination complaint against U.S. Soccer late last month, it had nothing to do with how much I love to play for my country. It had everything to do with what’s right and what’s fair and with upholding a fundamental American concept: Equal pay for equal play.” —via The New York Times
Jennifer Lawrence
“Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper all fought and succeeded in negotiating powerful deals for themselves. If anything, I’m sure they were commended for being fierce and tactical, while I was busy worrying about coming across as a brat.” —via Lenny Letter
Read more: So You’re Making Less Than a Man—Now What?
Patricia Arquette
“To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation: We have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. … It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America.” —via her acceptance speech for the 2015 Best Supporting Actress Oscar
Emma Watson
“The reality is that, if we do nothing, it will take 75 years, or for me to be nearly 100, before women can expect to be paid the same as men for the same work.” —via a speech at the United Nations Headquarters in September 2014
Amanda Seyfried
“A few years ago, on one of my big-budget films, I found I was being paid 10% of what my male costar was getting, and we were pretty even in status. I think people think because I’m easygoing and game to do things, I’ll just take as little as they offer. But it’s not about how much you get, it’s about how fair it is.” —via The Sunday Times
Read more: How to Negotiate Salary: 5 Secrets Backed by Research
Viola Davis
“I have to be honest with you. I believe in equal pay, first of all. I’m sorry, if a woman does the same job as a man, she should be paid the same amount of money. She just should. That’s just the way the world should work.” —via Mashable
Sheryl Sandberg
“It’s indisputable that there’s a real pay gap. People can argue about how big, but that’s almost besides the point. … The point is that every woman, every girl deserves to get paid what they’re worth.” —via an interview with HuffPost Live
Elena Delle Donne
“[Sexism] is in the workforce, as well. There isn’t even equal pay, so it’s not just in sports—it’s everywhere. Women out there need to keep pushing, and don’t let it deter you. Because we need all strong women to come out and speak about it. Equality’s coming, we just have to talk about it.” —via Motto
Read more: Here’s the History of the Battle for Equal Pay for American Women
Beyoncé
“Men have to demand that their wives, daughters, mothers and sisters earn more—commensurate with their qualifications and not their gender. Equality will be achieved when men and women are granted equal pay and equal respect.” —via The Shriver Report
Daniel Craig
“A man is still likely to earn more money than a woman, even one doing the same job. You have a far better chance of entering political office or becoming a company director. … Women are responsible for two-thirds of the work done worldwide, yet earn only 10% of the total income and own 1% of the property. … So are we equals? Until the answer is ‘yes,’ we must never stop asking.” —via a 2011 video for International Women’s Day
Joe Biden
“Equal pay for equal work. It’s common sense. It’s also overdue. Let’s close the gap and let’s do it now.” —via Twitter
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Carli Lloyd
Harry How—Getty Images Carli Lloyd poses for a portrait at the USOC Rio Olympics Shoot at Quixote Studios on November 17, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. “When I joined four teammates in filing a wage-discrimination complaint against U.S. Soccer late last month, it had nothing to do with how much I love to play for my country. It had everything to do with what’s right and what’s fair and with upholding a fundamental American concept: Equal pay for equal play.” —via The New York Times
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Jennifer Lawrence
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin—FilmMagic/Getty Actress Jennifer Lawrence arrives at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 28, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. “Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper all fought and succeeded in negotiating powerful deals for themselves. If anything, I’m sure they were commended for being fierce and tactical, while I was busy worrying about coming across as a brat.” —via Lenny Letter
Read more: So You’re Making Less Than a Man—Now What?
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Patricia Arquette
Michael Tran—FilmMagic/Getty Patricia Arquette speaks onstage during the 27th Annual GLAAD Media Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 2, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. “To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation: We have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. … It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America.” —via her acceptance speech for the 2015 Best Supporting Actress Oscar
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Emma Watson
Astrid Stawiarz—Getty Images Actress Emma Watson speaks during The Empire State Building lighting In HeForShe Magenta For International Women's Day at The Empire State Building on March 8, 2016 in New York City. “The reality is that, if we do nothing, it will take 75 years, or for me to be nearly 100, before women can expect to be paid the same as men for the same work.” —via a speech at the United Nations Headquarters in September 2014
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Amanda Seyfried
Daniel Zuchnik—WireImage/Getty Images Actress Amanda Seyfried attends the K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers Annual Gala at American Museum of Natural History on November 4, 2015 in New York City. “A few years ago, on one of my big-budget films, I found I was being paid 10% of what my male costar was getting, and we were pretty even in status. I think people think because I’m easygoing and game to do things, I’ll just take as little as they offer. But it’s not about how much you get, it’s about how fair it is.” —via The Sunday Times
Read more: How to Negotiate Salary: 5 Secrets Backed by Research
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Viola Davis
Jason LaVeris—FilmMagic/Getty Images Actress Viola Davis attends the 47th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 5, 2016 in Pasadena, California. “I have to be honest with you. I believe in equal pay, first of all. I’m sorry, if a woman does the same job as a man, she should be paid the same amount of money. She just should. That’s just the way the world should work.” —via Mashable
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Sheryl Sandberg
Jerod Harris—Getty Sheryl Sandberg attends AOL MAKERS Conference at Terranea Resort on February 2, 2016 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. “It’s indisputable that there’s a real pay gap. People can argue about how big, but that’s almost besides the point. … The point is that every woman, every girl deserves to get paid what they’re worth.” —via an interview with HuffPost Live
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Elena Delle Donne
Sean M. Haffey—Getty Images Elena Donne Dunne poses for a portrait at the 2016 Team USA Media Summit at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 9, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. “[Sexism] is in the workforce, as well. There isn’t even equal pay, so it’s not just in sports—it’s everywhere. Women out there need to keep pushing, and don’t let it deter you. Because we need all strong women to come out and speak about it. Equality’s coming, we just have to talk about it.” —via Motto
Read more: Here’s the History of the Battle for Equal Pay for American Women
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Beyoncé
Kevin Mazur—Getty Images Beyonce performs onstage during the 2015 Budweiser Made in America Festival at Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 5, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “Men have to demand that their wives, daughters, mothers and sisters earn more—commensurate with their qualifications and not their gender. Equality will be achieved when men and women are granted equal pay and equal respect.” —via The Shriver Report
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Daniel Craig
ChinaFotoPress—Getty Actor Daniel Craig attends 'Spectre' premiere at The Place on November 12, 2015 in Beijing, China. “A man is still likely to earn more money than a woman, even one doing the same job. You have a far better chance of entering political office or becoming a company director. … Women are responsible for two-thirds of the work done worldwide, yet earn only 10% of the total income and own 1% of the property. … So are we equals? Until the answer is ‘yes,’ we must never stop asking.” —via a 2011 video for International Women’s Day
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Joe Biden
Drew Angerer—Getty Images U.S. Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the 2016 International Women of Courage Forum at the State Department, March 29, 2016 in Washington, DC. Established in 2007, the awards honor women around the world for leadership and courage in equality, social progress and human rights. Fourteen women were recognized this year. “Equal pay for equal work. It’s common sense. It’s also overdue. Let’s close the gap and let’s do it now.” —via Twitter
