The Gender Wage Gap

As we commemorate and celebrate women’s history and accomplishments in March during Women’s History Month, it is also an opportunity to reflect on the history of discrimination against women and the continued struggles for equity today. While we have made enormous strides in all aspects of society regarding equity for women, there are still injustices that remain. One is the gender wage gap. According to 2014 Census data, women earn 79% of what men earn and that number is even lower for black and Latino women. A variety of factors contribute to the disparity.

This lesson provides an opportunity for students to reflect on their own opinions about sexism, understand the gender pay gap and its various manifestations and consider ways that it can be overcome.