Inequality in our state

As a young woman, I’m proud to live in a state represented by two female senators. Until recently, I was under the impression that Washington was more progressive toward women than other states. After researching equity issues between men and women in the U.S. and Washington, I realized that we are far from being equal. At issue is the disparity between men and women in pay.

The Economic Opportunity Institute reports that women in Washington continue to earn dramatically less than men, and the gap is growing. In 2011, Washington women earned 63 cents for every dollar made by men. The ratio is actually worse for women than 20 years ago, when women earned 65 cents for every dollar made by men. This is true for every education level, and it worsens over time as annual earnings increase, with three times more men than women earning over $100,000 a year. In Washington, women can earn an average of $5 an hour less than men.

We must begin modifying actions in our own communities to promote equality and increase the well-being of people all around the world. By working together, we can transform the notion that pay inequality is acceptable.

Alaina Jacobsen

Spokane Valley