Equal pay for women - Definition and Overview

Equal pay for women is an issue involving pay inequality between men and women. It is often introduced into domestic politics in many first world countries as an economic problem that needs governmental intervention via regulation.

Many consider the amount of pay disparity between men and women to be an indicator of the strength of an economy. Generally, in third world countries due to cultural and/or religious reasons the pay disparity is much higher.

Equal Pay Act of 1963

Legislation passed in by the Federal Government of the United States in 1963 making it illegal to pay men and women different wage rates if they do equal work on jobs that require equal skill, effort, and responsibility that are performed under similar working conditions.

A similar act was passed in the United Kingdom in 1970.

See also: Glass ceiling, Feminism

External links

• AFL-CIO report (http://www.aflcio.org/yourjobeconomy/women/equalpay/)
• Pay Equity Survey (http://www.three-peaks.net/equalpay.htm)
• American war labor board on Equal pay for Women in 1943 (http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5144)
• CNN report (http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Careers/10/22/equal.pay/)
• "Whatever Happened to Equal Pay?" Marxist Essay (http://www.marxist.com/women/equal_pay.html)
• Pay Equity Group (http://www.pay-equity.org/day-kit.html)