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Equality in the Workplace

In 2020, women earned 84 cents for every dollar men earned, the Pew Research Center says. Based on those rates, it would take a woman an extra 42 days of work to earn what a man did in 2020. Here’s a closer look at the pay gap women face in the workplace.

Differences in Ages Play a Role Women ages 25-34 have a smaller wage gap than other generations. In 2020, research showed that women in this age group earned 93% of hat men did, and that gap is closing. In 1980, for instance, women in this age group earned 33 cents less than male counterparts, a gap that narrowed to just 7 cents in 2020.

Why is There a Pay Gap? Pew says that some of the gap can be explained by measurable factors such as educational attainment, occupational segregation, and work experience. Women tend to be overrepresented in lower-paying occupations relative to their share of the workforce, which may exacerbate differences in pay. But there are also more nefarious reasons. A 2017 Pew study shows that about 40% of women reported experiencing gender discrimination at work, including earnings inequality. A quarter of employed women said they earned less than a man who was doing the same job. The Effect of Motherhood Motherhood is another factor in the gender pay gap. Becoming a mom can interrupt a woman’s career path, having a negative impact on a woman’s earnings. In the U.S., women tend to take off more time than fathers after becoming a parent and were nearly twice as likely as fathers to say taking time off had a negative impact on their job. Once they become a mother, women still tend to carry more of a load in the home and with childcare responsibilities. In a 2019 survey, Pew says that mothers with children younger than 18 say they were more likely than fathers to need to reduce working hours, felt like they couldn’t give a full effort at work, and turned down a promotion because they were balancing work and parenting. One in five mothers say they had been passed over for an important assignment or promotion at work and more than a quarter say they were treated as if they weren’t committed to their work.

Landmark Equal Pay Case The U.S. women’s national soccer team (USWNT) will finally receive equal pay with the men’s team, reaching a $24 million settlement last month with the United States Soccer Federation after a lengthy unequal pay lawsuit. In a joint statement, the Federation (also known as U.S. Soccer) and the U.S. women’s team said: “We are pleased to announce that, contingent on the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement, we will have resolved our longstanding dispute over equal pay and proudly stand together in a shared commitment to advancing equality in soccer.” l

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WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: PANDEMIC COVID-19 Pandemic Disproportionately Affected Women in the Americas

A Third of Pregnant Women with COVID-19 Unable to Access Life-saving Critical Care On Time

Washington, DC, March 8, 2022 (PAHO): The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on women in the Americas, contributing to increased gender inequality in health and threatening women’s development and well-being, a new report from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says. The report Gender and Health Analysis: COVID-19 in the Americas, launched today during a webinar to mark International Women's Day, explores the effects of the pandemic on women and girls, and presents findings in areas such as health, employment and social welfare. The event included the participation of Karen Sass, Director of Disability of the Ministry of Social Development National Secretariat of Care and Disability of Uruguay and H.E. Hugh Adsett, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the Organization of American States (OAS). "This report underscores that gender inequality is an ongoing social, economic, political and health crisis, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic," PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne said. "But it also highlights where we need to work harder to create a more equitable, resilient and sustainable future," she stressed. During the pandemic, the role of caregiver exposed women to an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Comprising the vast majority of healthcare workers, women were on the front line caring for patients and accounted for 72% of all COVID-19 cases among healthcare professionals in the region. "If they had been better protected from the start and with reasonable shifts, many infections could have been avoided," Dr. Etienne said. The physical and emotional costs of working long shifts in hospitals and the worry about COVID-19 exposure followed many female healthcare workers home, where they were often also responsible for 80% of chores. The study points to several research that have shown that women working in healthcare are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression, insomnia or burnout than their male counterparts. During lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus, women also spent more time at home, a place which was unsafe for many. Calls to domestic violence hotlines shot up by 40% in some countries during these periods. In others, they dropped dramatically, indicating that women could have faced new barriers to seeking help. COVID-19 has also had a marked impact on women's health. The report highlights that, while data shows women are overall less likely to develop severe disease from COVID-19 than men, they were also more likely to be diagnosed later. And once they were diagnosed, they died earlier, suggesting that many did not receive timely adequate care. Meanwhile, the re-direction of healthcare services to cope with the COVID-19 emergency left too many women and girls without the support they needed to stay healthy. In Latin America and the Caribbean, 1 in 4 adolescents did not have access to family planning services, leaving them exposed to unwanted pregnancies, health risks, and school dropouts, among others. The pandemic also aggravated maternal mortality. Expectant mothers had to balance the fear of COVID-19 with the uncertainty of whether they could safely deliver their babies in a health facility, and too many did not receive the care they needed in time. In the past two years, more than 365,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in pregnant women in the region, and more than 3,000 of them have died. "We must address these profound inequities to tackle the current health crisis and build a better future for women and girls in the region," Dr. Etienne stressed. The report also warns that the incorporation of a gender approach in the response to the pandemic has been insufficient. Gender does not feature in analyses of the direct and indirect effects of the pandemic, making it difficult to recognize and understand the different consequences COVID-19 has had on men and women. "The pandemic demands a radical transformation in the generation, analysis and use of disaggregated data to identify health inequalities," PAHO Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa said. "Without quantitative and qualitative data and evidence, our efforts in gender equity and other aspects of health are significantly compromised," he added. l

Washington D.C. 2 March 2022 (PAHO): A lack of access to timely care and disruptions to prenatal services are to blame for an increase in maternal mortality in the Americas during the pandemic, with one in three pregnant women unable to access timely critical care, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F. Etienne said. With COVID-19 cases among pregnant women reaching more than 365,000 in the region over the past two years, and deaths surpassing 3000, Dr. Etienne said in a media briefing today that “this is a tragedy, especially now that we have safe and effective vaccines.” A pre-published PAHO study on maternal mortality across 8 countries showed that from 447 pregnant women that died between 1 March 2020 and 29 November 2021, 90% were already experiencing life-threatening symptoms when admitted to hospital. Nearly 77% delivered their babies prematurely and 60% were born with low birth weight – an issue that can impact the health of a child for the rest of its life. “We must prioritize women to ensure they are shielded from the worst of the pandemic,” Dr. Etienne said. Pregnant women, in particular, are “among the most vulnerable to COVID-19, due to changes in their immune system which can put them at risk for severe disease,” she added, urging countries to urgently ramp up access to vaccines, ensure the continuation of health services that women depend on, and improve access to family planning services. These are “life-saving services that should remain open now more than ever,” added the Director. Even though most countries in the region recommend COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women, their uptake is still very low. “It is critical that health workers talk to expectant mothers about the importance of getting vaccinated to protect them, and their babies, from this virus,” Dr. Etienne said. The PAHO Director also called for greater emphasis on programs that address women of ethnic minorities, such as afro-descendants, indigenous women, and migrants who “are often at greater risk, due to the overlap of gender and social factors. Dr. Etienne also highlighted the broader impact that the COVID-19 crisis has had on women and girls, including additional caregiving responsibilities and career disruptions. She highlighted that – as the majority of the health workforce – women have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response, accounting for 72% of all COVID-19 cases among health professionals. “In a region that is rife with inequality, women have, once again, been disproportionately affected,” she said. Turning to the COVID-19 situation in the region, the Director reported that new cases dropped to 32% from the previous week, reaching 1.5 million. Countries also reported 24,650 deaths, a 10% decline. These downward trends were seen throughout much of the region, with the exception of Central America where deaths rose by nearly 16% this week.l

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Well Woman Exams

Most people know they should get an annual physical exam with their primary care physician. Women also get another annual exam, usually called the well woman exam, pelvic exam or gynecological exam. Sometimes it’s performed by your PCP, but more often it’s given by a gynecologist. Keep reading to learn more about well woman exams.

When to Start Wellness Visits It’s a good idea to get your first well woman exam between 13 and 15, Planned Parenthood says. Your doctor may just talk with you and then do a regular physical exam. If you’re worried about your period, if it’s been heavy, painful or irregular, now is the time to talk about it. The doctor or nurses may check on height, weight and offer vaccines, like the HPV vaccine. Be honest with your car providers about if you’re sexually active. This will let them know if you need STD testing. They may also talk with you about birth control.

Ages 21-39 Around 21, you should start getting regular pelvic exams and Pap tests. Pap tests look for abnormal cells on your cervix that could lead to cervical cancer. During this test, the doctor or nurse will put a metal or plastic speculum into the vagina and open it. They’ll then use a tiny spatula or brush to collect cells from your cervix. Those cells will go to a lab to be tested. You’ll also need a routine clinical breast exam every one to three years, Planned Parenthood says. During your visits, the health care provider may talk about healthy relationships, mental health, emotional health and more. Answer their questions honestly; it’s important to have good communication with your providers so they can provide you with the best care.

After 40 As you age, your provider may add more tests, such as mammograms, that are required on a regular basis. Mammograms are X-rays of the breast that can show early signs of breast cancer. Try not to get your mammogram the week before you get your period or during your period, as your breasts may be tender and the mammogram will be more uncomfortable than usual. On the day of your exam, don’t wear deodorant, perfume or powder as these products can show up white on the Xray.l

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WOMEN’ HISTORY MONTH: LEADERSHIP U.S. Vice President Hon. Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris made history on 20 January, 2020 as she was sworn in as the first woman and the first woman of color to be elected US Vice President at the US Capitol in Washington DC. Being the first to do something seems to come naturally to Harris. In 2017, she became the first South Asian-American senator in US history, and the second African-American woman elected to the Senate. She was born Oct. 20, 1946, in Oakland, California, to immigrants from India and Jamaica. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a breast cancer researcher and her father is a professor of economics. “My mother would look at me and she’d say, ‘Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last,’” Harris says. Both of her parents were activists, having met during the civil rights movement. They took young Kamala and her sister, Maya, to demonstrations and introduced diverse role models such as Constance Baker Motley. Harris is a graduate of Howard University and the University of California Hastings College of Law. She started her career in the Alameda (California) County District Attorney’s Office and was elected district attorney of San Francisco in 2003 and attorney general of California in 2010. As attorney general, Harris won a $20 billion settlement for Californians who had their homes foreclosed on and a $1.1 billion settlement against a for-profit education company. Harris also ran for Senate and served as the junior senator from California until Joe Biden chose her as his presidential running mate. As a senator, Harris championed legislation for combat hunger, improve maternal health care, address climate change and more. She served on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and authored anti-lynching legislation that became law. Harris is frequently called upon to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate because it is divided 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats. Her first tie-breaking vote was Feb. 5, 2021, to pass a pandemic stimulus package, and it was quickly followed by six more tie-breakers, setting a new record. Harris is married to attorney Doug Emhoff, who is referred to as the second gentleman. She’s stepmother to his two children, Cole and Ella. She’s written two books, “Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safer,” and “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey,” and a children’s book, “Superheroes are Everywhere.” She was the 2005 recipient of the Thurgood Marshall Award from the National Black Prosecutors Association, the 2016 recipient of the Bipartisan Justice Award from the 20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center and has several honorary degrees. Here are her quotes on leadership and women making history.

On leadership “Anyone who claims to be a leader must speak like a leader. That means speaking with integrity and truth,” Harris said in an Instagram post in 2019. On women making history “To the woman most responsible for my presence here today – my mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who is always in our hearts. When she came here from India at the age of 19, maybe she didn’t quite imagine this moment. But she believed so deeply in an America where a moment like this is possible,” Harris said during her victory speech on 7 November. “I’m thinking about her and about the generations of women – Black women, Asian, white, Latina, and Native American women throughout our nation’s history who have paved the way for this moment tonight. Women who fought and sacrificed so much for equality, liberty, and justice for all, including the Black women, who are too often overlooked, but so often prove that they are the backbone of our democracy. What a testament it is to Joe’s character that he had the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exists in our country and select a woman as his Vice President. But while I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.” l

VP Harris,Editorial credit: Daniel Hernandez-Salazar / Shutterstock.com

NEW Traf昀c Rule Now in Effect

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