On August 15, 2023, advocates across the country came together to mark Moms’ Equal Pay Day—a symbolic date that highlights how far into the year mothers must work to earn what fathers earned in the previous year alone. It’s a stark reminder that motherhood still comes with a financial penalty in the U.S., and that workplace inequality remains deeply embedded in both policy and culture.

The Numbers Tell the Story

The wage gap faced by mothers is persistent and disheartening:

•All working mothers—including those working part-time or part-year—earn just 62 cents for every dollar paid to fathers.

•Full-time, year-round working mothers earn 74 cents to the dollar compared to full-time, year-round working fathers.

These figures reflect not only gender discrimination but also systemic issues that disproportionately impact mothers—particularly those from Black and Latinx communities.

A Call to Action: #MomsEqualPayDay

This year’s Moms’ Equal Pay Day campaign featured a coordinated social media storm at 2 p.m. ET, led by Equal Pay Today in collaboration with AAUW, MomsRising, and other co-leads. The goal: raise awareness and push for legislative action to finally close the wage gap and support working parents.

Three key pieces of federal legislation were at the center of the campaign’s calls to action:

1. Paycheck Fairness Act

This bill seeks to update and strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963. It would:

•Ban the use of prior salary history

•Protect workers from retaliation for discussing wages

•Codify pay data collection to uncover systemic discrimination

2. Healthy Families Act

This would establish a nationwide standard for paid sick and safe leave, allowing workers in businesses with 15 or more employees to earn up to 7 days of protected paid leave each year.

3. FAMILY Act

Designed to provide up to 12 weeks of partial income, the FAMILY Act would cover situations including:

•Birth or adoption of a child

•Serious health conditions (self or family)

•Domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking

•Military deployment-related needs

Together, these bills represent a long-overdue investment in families, equity, and economic stability.

The Care Penalty: What the Pandemic Revealed

The COVID-19 pandemic only magnified existing inequalities. According to a recent survey by Equal Rights Advocates:

•Over 50% of Black and Latinx caregivers reported struggling to make ends meet due to increased caregiving duties and debt.

•84% said childcare responsibilities would delay their financial goals.

•38% had to reduce work hours.

•17% left jobs altogether because of caregiving demands.

•31% anticipated delays in returning to their prior employment level.

•24% said caregiving would delay long-term financial aspirations.

This data illustrates how the dual demands of caregiving and employment fall heaviest on moms—especially those in under-resourced communities.

“The wage gap makes it harder for moms to put food on the table and gas in their cars, to afford quality child care and health care, to pay the rent and clothe their kids,” said Sara Alcid, Senior Campaign Director of Workplace Justice at MomsRising.

“We need policies that root out discrimination and address occupational segregation while building a care infrastructure, now.”

Building a More Equitable Future

The message from Moms’ Equal Pay Day 2023 is clear: We cannot achieve true gender or racial equality without transforming our workplaces and policies to support mothers and caregivers.

Historically, economic policies have blocked asset-building opportunities for Black and Latinx families while profiting from their labor. That legacy continues today—exacerbated by reduced reproductive autonomy and growing barriers to affordable childcare.

As white men and high-income earners regain financial footing post-pandemic, Black and Latinx moms are still fighting for basic security. If we’re serious about equality, we must invest in universal childcare, enforce equal pay protections, and remove systemic barriers to opportunity.