The Equal Pay Act of 1963 is defined as a United States federal law amending the Fair Labor Standards Act, aimed at abolishing wage disparity based on sex. The Act was signed into law on June 10, 1963 by John F. Kennedy as part of his New Frontier Program. The Declaration of Purpose set for in the law reads:
(a) The Congress hereby finds that the existence in industries engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce of wage differentials based on sex-
(1) depresses wages and living standards for employees necessary for their health and efficiency;
(2) prevents the maximum utilization of the available labor resources;
(3) tends to cause labor disputes, thereby burdening, affecting, and obstructing commerce;
(4) burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in commerce; and
(5) constitutes an unfair method of competition.
Since this law went into effect, women’s salaries rose from 62% of men’s earnings to 80% by 2004. Later, in 2005 the Paycheck Fairness Act was introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton and Rep. Rosa DeLauro. The act would ammend EPA’s prior act and expand damages. It would also call for a study of data collected by the EEOC and propose voluntary guidelines to show employers how to evaluate jobs with the goal of eliminating unfair disparities.
In regards to the history of women and work, dating back to colonial America, studies show women who had to work for a living earned their money typically from being a seamstresses or they kept boardinghouses. There was also a small handful of women doctors, lawyers, preachers, teachers, writers, and singers. The number of women practicing medicine could possibly be attributed to the fact that prior to the 1800s there were almost no medical schools, and virtually any enterprising person could practice medicine.
This changed by the beginning of the 19th century as an educational was required for those practicing medicine. This change tended to prevent many young women, who married early and bore children, from entering professional careers. If a woman was to enter the field of medicine, it was typically as a nurse. Nursing was one of the most acceptable alternatives. Hospitals at this time were ran and operated by men and the American Medical Association went so far as to bar women from their membership. But new medical schools began opening up for women and by the 1910s, women were attending them. By 1915 the American Medical Association began to admit women members.
In the 19th century, women in large numbers began working outside of their homes Jobs for women were typically in textile mills and garment shops. While labor laws were instilled to protect women and children from long work days and in harsh conditions, the laws often restricted women from particular jobs, especially supervisory positions that required overtime to do. Other laws such as those prohibiting women from lifting as little as 15 pounds of weight, also barred women from many jobs.
Today, women comprised 46.8 percent of the total U.S. labor force and are projected to account for 46.9 percent of the labor force in 2018. Women are also projected to account for 51.2 percent of the increase in total labor force growth between 2008 and 2018.
Steven Medvin is the Executive Director of SMP Advance Funding, LLC, which provides lawsuit funding to individuals who need a lawsuit loan for pending lawsuits. For more information please visit: https://www.smpadvance.com
