The wage gap for disabled women is 50 cents for every dollar paid to a nondisabled man

WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 18, 2024 – Today, a coalition of gender equity organizations, think tanks, disability rights advocates and policy organizations will commemorate the first-ever Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day. This day draws attention to the wage gap itself – disabled women workers overall are paid 50 cents for every dollar paid to a nondisabled man, according to a new analysis – along with the many causes of the wage gap disabled women experience, fueled by a legacy of ableism, sexism and their compounding effects.

For disabled women of color, the history and prevalence of racism in the U.S. further widens the wage gap. The new analysis, from the National Partnership for Women & Families, looks at wages for all workers, including part-time workers, and shows that for every dollar paid to a white, non- Hispanic nondisabled man:

• Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) disabled women workers are paid 55 cents;
• American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) disabled women are paid 45 cents;
• Black disabled women are paid 45 cents; and,
• disabled Latinas are paid 44 cents.

Congressional leaders and advocates, led by Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton and the Democratic Women’s Caucus, will highlight this new data analysis at a press conference today at 2 pm ET, calling on leaders to take action in three ways:

• End segregated workplaces and subminimum wages for disabled women
• Eliminate extreme public benefit eligibility requirements that disincentivize work
• Expand funding for disabled women to live and work in their communities instead of institutions.

Members of the coalition commented on the first-ever Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day:

“The stakes are high for disabled women and their families, and to close the harrowing wage gap we need better, more inclusive policies that value disabled women’s work, invest in adequate supports, and allow disabled people to care for themselves and their loved ones,” said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day is an opportunity to shed light on the deliberate policy choices that prevent disabled women from surviving and thriving, whether or not they work.”

“Disabled women, particularly disabled women of color, are often overlooked when we discuss economic policies, workplace protections and fair pay,” said Marissa Ditkowsky, policy counsel for disability at the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day centers and uplifts our voices and perspectives. If we want to support all women, we cannot exclude disabled women from the conversation.”

“The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is proud to be a partner for the National Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day. Due to policy decisions, inequitable designs in our nation’s public benefit programs, and systemic barriers to substantive employment and fair wages, women with disabilities are paid lower wages when compared to their male, non-disabled counterparts. And this is especially true for disabled women of color,” said Ashley Burnside, senior policy analyst with the Public Benefits Justice team at CLASP. “This data is critically important for making the case to implement policy solutions to address the income gaps that disabled women face.”

“Equal Pay Today is thrilled to be a partner on the first-ever Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day. The intersectional impact of discrimination against women with disabilities exposes the egregious wage disparities they face,” said Noreen Farrell, executive director of Equal Rights Advocates & chair of Equal Pay Today. It is vital we join together to raise awareness about the barriers faced by the disability community, which have been ignored for so long, and to call for policy solutions that would promote wage justice for all workers with disabilities.”

“Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day is so important in order to call attention to the long history of ableism, institutionalization and workplace discrimination that has created barriers, trapping disabled women in poverty and perpetuating their egregious wage gaps,” said Deborah J. Vagins, national campaign director, Equal Rights Advocates & director of Equal Pay Today. “We must end segregated workplaces and subminimum wages, end draconian rules for public benefits, and expand funding for disabled women to live and work in our communities, instead of shut in institutions. All of these policy choices have forced disabled women into poverty and drive one of the widest wage gaps experienced by women. It is time to end this disgrace.”

“Forced poverty, subminimum wages, a broken care economy and outright discrimination have all led to disabled women being paid just half of what non-disabled men are paid in a year,” said Meier Galdblum Haigh, executive director of the Disability Culture Lab. “So, while the first-ever Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day is a historic day for our community and movement, it is also a call to action. We must do better for disabled women, and especially disabled women of color, across the U.S.”

“Despite working at higher rates than ever, disabled women still work at far lower rates, and for far less pay, than nondisabled men, with disabled women of color facing the greatest disparities. Closing the wage gap is an important first step to ensure equitable outcomes for disabled women and for our economy generally,” said Maria Town, president and chief executive officer of the American Association of People with Disabilities. “However, it is not enough to guarantee equitable outcomes: both policy decisions and cultural attitudes facilitate this inequality. It is critical that ableist attitudes and barriers that force disabled people into poverty are removed, and systems that perpetuate the wage gap faced by disabled women are transformed. AAPD is proud to honor Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day with our partners and community, with whom we work towards this necessary, urgent transformation all year long.”

Press interested in attending the press conference may click here to register on Zoom to be admitted to the event.

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