Goodwill Gathers Community to Discuss Gender Wage Gap

By Joe Hayes, Major Gifts Manager

Aligned with our values to be bold, listen actively and build a village, business leaders and residents of the Charlotte region gathered at this month's Coffee & Conversation to discuss the gender wage gap crisis and how to affect it.

New research by Oxfam America reveals that nearly a third of the American workforce (31.9%) earn less than $15 an hour. That’s roughly 52 million people earning less than a living wage. The disparity only widens when accounting for gender and race. While 75% of men earn more than $15, only 60 percent of women do (31 million people). For working women of color, only 50% bring home at least $15. And, in 25 states, only 40% of working women of color earn $15 or greater.

Here are some additional statistics to note:

• Women earn on average 83 cents to every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man earns
• Only 1 in 5 women (20%) are financially healthy versus 29% of men
• Women report worse outcomes on all measures of financial health: spending, saving, borrowing and planning
• Women are more likely to be financially vulnerable than men (24% versus 17%), meaning they struggle in nearly all areas of their financial lives
• Women of color are most likely to say they did not apply to a job because they felt they did not have the required skills or training (Perry Undem, 2022)

If the gender wage gap were eliminated, the average woman would have enough additional money every year to take care of themselves and their family. As is, women and their communities cannot afford to pursue the life they want to achieve. So, how do we affect change and begin to close this gap?

We each possess the ability to advocate for the salary we deserve. If we do not,?that salary will be set for us. Throughout the conversation, it was discovered that men—specifically?white men—are advocating for themselves during the hiring process. In contrast, women and other minorities are often content?to accept an employer’s first offer, which is likely at a discounted rate. That said, the most significant change we each can make?is to live in our worth. Set your price, wear it proudly and adjust it accordingly.

That means negotiating your value during the hiring process. An employer will attempt to set your price for you and wait for your acceptance of it. As one attendee shared, “always ask for more money. Know your worth.”

Other takeaways from the?conversation were:

• Do your research. Know the market rate for the position and understand the value you bring to the table.
• Negotiate. Push through the fear of rejection and wait for your worth.
• Become comfortable with conversations about money. Teach your children.
• Pay equity is a shared responsibility between employers and employees.

There is no easy solution to this crisis, but we must start somewhere. Although we know employers can be a great asset in helping to close the wage gap within their organizations, we still must do our part to assert our own value in the job market. Such a small step, when multiplied by many, could have a lasting effect as we continue our march towards equal pay for all.

If you have not already, I encourage you to join our remaining Coffee & Conversation sessions . With an endless drip of some of the best organic coffee in town, we aspire to grow our village, continue to listen actively and create bold strategies to affect positive change throughout the Charlotte region. Imagine the good we can do together.

At Goodwill, it is our mission to build pathways that help people pursue the life they want to achieve. This includes assisting women to develop their skills and career coaching services so that they are better prepared to negotiate their salaries?and benefits. And we are able to provide these services at no cost to the community thanks to donor and shopper support, creating a brighter future for all.

Interesting in being a part of our mission? Click here to learn more about investing in Goodwill and the offerings we provide!