By Stu Johnson
Richmond, KY – April 12th is national Equal Pay Day. Census figures released last September show little improvement in pay equity. Nationally, the average woman who worked full time in 2009 earned 25% less than men in similar jobs. In Kentucky, the gap was a bit wider. The executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Women Eleanor Jordan says women sometimes sacrifice higher salaries so they can take care of their families.
"When a couple is trying to decide who to stay home with the children it's usually the woman because she's making a lower salary," said Jordan.
April 12th is chosen to symbolize, on average, women must work some 15 months to equal the earnings of men in one year. Jordan says part of the debate centers on comparable worth issues.
"Why in this country do we pay child care workers what we pay child care workers, but we will pay plumbers and entry level mechanics three times more than we will pay say a child care worker," said Jordan.
Eleanor Jordan says the issue does impact some men.
"The pay equity issue actually will affect lots of males because they do work in the clerical field or service workers, or nurses or teachers," added Jordan.
Jordan says men and women are urged to wear red Tuesday to show support for pay equity and to symbolize that Kentucky women are still in the red.