Latina Equal Pay Day Discussion - Season 2 Episode 9

The economic status of women in Tennessee has made considerable advances in recent years however women of color still face inequities that often prevent them from reaching their full potential. Unfortunately, Tennessee still ranks in the worst third in the nation for both women’s Employment & Earnings and Poverty & Opportunity.

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That’s why we had this conversation with three local Latinas from different industries, Arielle Garcia-Hayes, Nahomi Ortiz and Veronica Perro focused on awareness, advocacy, and structural change to build true equity for Latina women in Tennessee as we navigate inequality through the covid-19 crisis and beyond.

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Let’s start by clarifying what is Latina Equal Pay Day, is the approximate day Latina’s must work into the new year to make what White non-Latino men make at the end of the previous year. Latinas nationally earn only .55 cents for every dollar earned by a white, non-Hispanic man and must work nearly 23 months to earn what white men earn in 12 months. That means it takes Latinas almost two years to earn what white men earn in one.

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Many people assume that Latinas face a pay gap because they're concentrated in lower-paying roles. But even in the same job, Latinas are paid less than white men. For example, Latina nurses earn 28% less than white men nurses, on average. This hurts Latinas and their families, making Latinas, many of whom are single heads of households, at risk to experience poverty. For those listening, you can be an ally and advocate for us by talking about the many contributions we are making as a community and telling our stories.