Latina Equal Pay Day: closing the gap.

Understanding the disparities and advocating for ourselves.

October 3, 2024 was Latina Equal Pay Day. According to the 2023 Census, on average, Latinas working full-time earn only 58 cents for every dollar their white male counterparts make. When also accounting for part-time and seasonal workers, the number is bumped down to 51 cents per dollar. That means that over a 40-year career, a working Latina would lose over $1.2 million because of this wage gap. Roadblocks such as discrimination, immigration status, and language barriers cause Latinas to be overrepresented in low-paying jobs and underrepresented in high-paying jobs. Not only does this disparity affect the worker herself, it also fuels the cycle of systemic inequality and loss of opportunities for future generations. 

At Chica Project, one of our goals is to support young Latinas and Women of Color so that they feel empowered to rise above the stigmas placed on them. We seek to create opportunities for them to develop skills that will propel them towards their goals and break the cycle of inequality. Last week, we hosted our 3rd Annual Negotiation Skills Workshop in collaboration with Working 4 Women and ZS Consulting in honor of Latina Equal Pay Day. This workshop taught chicas how to advocate for themselves in the workplace, their communities, and their relationships. With every piece of our programming, we strive for a future in which Latina Equal Pay Day does not need to exist because every Woman of Color gets her fair share. Join us in this fight for equality.