ELY- For more than 25 years, Equal Pay Day has helped draw attention to gender-based pay disparities by highlighting how far into a new year a woman must work, on average, to earn what a man did in the previous year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
This year, the Ely Branch of AAUW will host a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) ‘Unhappy Hour’ on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at Northern Grounds from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
In past years, the event has taken place on a designated Equal Pay Day earlier in the year that points out the average of all women’s compensation in relation to that of white men. This calculation doesn’t account for the variation in earnings based on a woman’s race, a factor that makes a huge difference.
Taken on average, women reached pay equity with men in 2022 by working until March 15 and earned 83 cents on the dollar in comparison. But for women of color the discrepancy is much more severe. For example:
Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Women’s Equal Pay Day falls on May 3 (paid 75 cents on the dollar compared to white men).
Black Women’s Equal Pay Day falls on September 21 (paid 58 cents on the dollar compared to white men).
Native American Women’s Equal Pay Day falls on November 30 (paid 50 cents on the dollar compared to white men).
Latina Women’s Equal Pay Day falls on December 8 (paid 49 cents on the dollar compared to white men).
 Historically, Equal Pay Day has been calculated using data on full-time, year-round workers.  The COVID-19 pandemic pushed many women, especially women of color, into part-time or seasonal work, or out of the workforce altogether. For 2022, the Equal Pay Day Coalition adopted a new, more inclusive methodology to determine the date each year that signifies how far into the year women need to work to attain the income that white men made at the end of the previous year.  
“The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated structural economic inequalities that have made it much harder for women of color to weather this storm.  Our nation’s history has created systems that funnel women—especially women of color—into lower- paying occupations and undervalue the work that women do,” said Pam Ransom, AAUW Ely branch public policy co-chair. “While these inequities have been magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic, the wage gap is an intentional, structural problem that demands intentional, structural solutions.” 
The Ely Branch of AAUW has been actively working to promote pay equity since the early 2000s with a primary focus on educating both high school and community college students on the issue.
In 2017, AAUW added presentations to the public and an ‘Unhappy Hour’ to help educate local residents and business owners on wage gap issues. Northern Grounds has partnered with the branch to make this event an enjoyable, social and educational experience. There will be a 32% discount on beverages reflecting the Minnesota 8th District gender pay gap.
“One of the consequences of the pay gap is that the average American woman has a net worth of less than half the net worth of a man,” Ransom added. “The long term effect means less money for retirement, less paid into social security, and there are ultimately more senior women living in poverty.”
Mark your calendar to attend ‘Unhappy Hour’ on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at Northern Grounds from 4:30 to 6:00 pm to show support for ending the pay inequity women have endured for so long.