Equal Pay Eludes California’s Working Women, Lawmakers Say

rs24857_wlc-qut-800x450.jpg

Assemblywoman Susan Eggman speaks about her bill at a press conference announcing the priorities of the Legislative Women's Caucus. Photo Katie Orr/KQED

By Katie Orr, KQED News Fix
Marking Equal Pay Day on Tuesday, female lawmakers sounded the alarm about the status of working women in California: From inequality in wages to lack of family friendly workplaces, the California Legislative Women’s Caucus says things have to change. And they have proposed legislation to do that.

Studies show that working women in California earn about 80 cents for every dollar men earn. The pay gap is larger for African-American and Hispanic women. To help combat that, Assemblywoman Susan Eggman has introduced a bill that would prohibit employers from asking job applicants about their salary history. Eggman said fields that women have historically worked in, like teaching or nursing, tend to pay less.

Read the complete story at KQED News Fix.
 

Don't miss out on our newest articles, episodes and events!
Sign up for our newsletter