Wondering How You Can Get Equal Pay? Here Are 3 Steps to Economic Empowerment

As a woman reading this article, you’ve probably asked yourself the question, “How do I get equal pay?” more times than you can count. With the rise of feminism and movements like #MeToo, women everywhere are looking to feel empowered, especially in the workplace.

The problem is, however, there are no clear instructions on how to get there. Who do you need to talk to? How do you start the conversation? Thankfully, we’ve got you covered on that front.

Enter Patricia Arquette.

In 2015, Patricia Arquette delivered a significant acceptance speech at the Academy Awards, where instead of celebrating her accomplishments, Arquette used the opportunity to put out a call to action on pay inequity.

This speech made its way into the homes of working mothers and on the laptop screens of women entering the workforce. And today, it continues to be a significant moment of advocacy for women in America.

ENTITY sat down with Patricia Arquette at the ENTITY Academy Kickoff Brunch to get more advice for the future leaders of our generation.

But first, here are the realities of pay inequality.

The mere existence of a wage gap has affected women’s morale everywhere. Devaluing their hard work by not rewarding them accordingly only makes them feel discouraged, which can, in turn, affect productivity and harm a business in the long run.

“Where there is real or perceived discrimination, employee performance suffers,” explains Alison Konrad, professor of Organizational Behavior at the Richard Ivey School of Business in London, to Financial Post. She cites a study in Sweden, where the public health system allows doctors to negotiate higher salaries. Male doctors generally make more than female doctors, which has affected attitudes. “Women that had male supervisors felt less supported by their organization,” she adds.

In addition, a Harvard study of women executives said that women “often felt unappreciated for what they did and were unfairly squeezed out of promotions.”

So what happens as a result? “The less fair a person sees a situation, the less satisfied and committed they are to their jobs, and the less trust they have in their organization or leadership,” Konrad explains. “More likely than not, they’re trying to find another job. That’s really bad for motivation and retention.”

So what are we, as women supposed to do?

According to Patricia Arquette, the name of the game when it comes to equal pay for women is “economic empowerment.” Economic empowerment, as defined by UN Women, is the practice of valuing individuals’ contributions at work and making it possible to negotiate a more fair wage.

As educators, healthcare professionals, strategists, influencers, etc., the work women do makes the world go round. So we should be treating ourselves as such by fighting for true economic empowerment.

So, here’s what you can do to help women achieve economic empowerment, as outlined by Patricia Arquette.

They may sound simple, but they’re they’re difficult to put into practice. So go easy on yourself and get a community of other women to do it with you!

1. Be confident in the work that you do.

The first step to economic empowerment is to acknowledge your worth. The work you do is essential and you do a darn good job at it. If you have to keep repeating this to yourself in the mirror to believe it, do it.

This is incredibly important because a study done at Cornell University outlined the dramatic differences between the confidence levels of men and women. This study found that men greatly overestimate their abilities while women are complete opposites. Although performance, quality of work and competence don’t usually differ between the two genders, there is a large confidence gap.

And guess what? Lack of confidence isn’t just stopping women from going after a job they want or going for a promotion, it’s slowing them down. Studies have shown that most women apply for promotions only when they meet 100 percent of the qualifications, as reported by The Atlantic. Men, on the other hand, were happy to apply once they thought they could meet 60 percent of the qualifications. If you spend too long waiting until your perfect, you may just miss your opportunity.

As women, it’s time to get past the psychological barrier that’s holding us back from going for exactly what it is.

2. Do NOT be afraid to talk about money.

Various personal stories shared on AAUW reveal women’s experiences of working for their respective companies for years, without knowing that they were being paid less. Many of these women lost thousands of dollars because they didn’t know they could negotiate.

Yes, it can be awkward at first but it will be better for you in the long run. After discovering inner confidence in the work you do, it’s time to talk about money.

Before even landing the job, do your research on how much you should be making at the position you will be working. Then, come prepared with a list of reasons you are bringing value to the company and why you should be paid a higher wage.

Really, the number employers offer you upfront is not usually the number they are looking to pay you. So what should you do? Start high. Don’t lowball yourself from the get-go (this is why confidence is important!). Start high and then meet in the middle.

If you need a little more help negotiating, there are endless resources out there now. There are even different workshops within your area or online courses you can take.

3. Engage with your community and pay attention to your representatives.

When you have the opportunity, it is always important to do research on the representatives within your community. When it comes to advocating for equal pay, pay close attention to those who have been consistently fighting for equal pay.

If the representative within your community does not believe in equal pay, do not be afraid to question them. If they are beyond convincing, the beauty of our political system is that you have the power to vote them out. Don’t be afraid to bring light to that fact.

Inform the women within your community and spread it on social media. Create or join a community of individuals willing to help you in the fight for equal pay to help you hold politicians accountable to supporting equal pay for women!

The gender pay gap has been a recurring issue in communities everywhere. The time to demand equal pay is now. Also, remember that the fight for equal pay does not start or end with you. It is an ongoing effort that warrants a community of activists working towards the same goal: economic empowerment.