#EqualPayDay is trending on Twitter this morning but it’s not a positive thing. Equality campaigners in the UK have calculated that today marks the point in the year where women effectively stop earning compared to their male counterparts
Official figures put the hourly pay gap between men and women in the UK at women earning 14.2% less than men. In Ireland, according to the National Women’s Council, women currently earn 13.9% less. That put women effectively at earning 86c for every euro pocketed by males or, basically the equivalent of women not earning anything for the remaining 51 days of this year.
UK figures suggest the pay gap is lowest in the 20-30 age bracket, but rises to 18% for women over 50.
She isn’t exaggerating. As it stands, if nothing changes, it will take over 50 years to close the gap. Meaning that if you’re in your 20s or 30s right now, you’re likely to lead your entire adult life with the risk of earning less than your male friends, relatives and colleagues.
If you’re a woman, you’re effectively working for free for the rest of the year from today. Happy #EqualPayDay
— Tina Daheley (@TinaDaheley) November 9, 2015
I will work to restore women’s access to justice in the workplace #PayGapPledge for @fawcettsociety #EqualPayDay — WonkyEqualPayWonk (@Wonkypolicywonk) November 9, 2015
If the fact we still need #EqualPayDay wasn’t bad enough, the attitudes of those saying the pay gap is a myth makes it even worse.
— Amy / Salt and Chic (@A_daawg) November 9, 2015
It’s important to remember that #EqualPayDay isn’t just to do with gender – it includes race, social background, sexuality & religion too. — Sophie (@Filthy_Paws) November 9, 2015
Great news ladies! Due to the gender pay gap, you are essentially working for free until 2016! #EqualPayDay #WomenAgainstFeminism
— Lizzie (@blueoctober__) November 9, 2015
Women on average choose lower paying jobs and take more time off for things like childbirth, “wage gap” does not exist. #EqualPayDay — Fuckboy Frequency (@Thatdorkycanoe) November 9, 2015
If I had a euro for every time someone said we don’t need #feminism, it would actually only be worth 86c #EqualPayDay
— Cassie Delaney (@CassieLorraine) November 9, 2015
