Public Policy

Join AAUW members from across the state for
AAUW TEXAS LEGISLATIVE DAY
MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2025, 2 pm to 6 pm
Texas State Capitol Legislative Conference Center, Austin, TX

Meet with Kate Kuhlmann our Lobbyist.
Go with other members to meet with your legislators and their staff.

The AAUW Texas Public Policy Team will be providing additional information, via Zoom meetings, including training for talking with your legislators.
Contact Georgia Kimmel gwkimmel@juno.com for more information.

Tuesday, March 25th is Equal Pay Day 2025

Each year, this symbolic day is used to raise awareness around and combat the impact of pay inequities. The current state of the gender pay gap for women is 83% for full-time, year-round workers and 75% for all workers (including part-time and seasonal).

It serves as a stark reminder that despite legal protections, a significant gender pay gap persists, with women still earning significantly less than men for comparable work, highlighting the need for continued action to address systemic inequalities and ensure fair compensation for all genders across all sectors. This day should be used not only to raise awareness of the issue but also include to push for policy changes, increased transparency in pay practices, and robust enforcement mechanisms to close the gap, particularly for women of color who face even greater disparities.

Unequal pay significantly impacts women’s economic stability, limiting their access to essential needs and contributing to wealth disparities. To effectively address the pay gap, policymakers should prioritize legislation promoting pay transparency, strengthening enforcement of equal pay laws, and implementing policies that support working mothers, such as paid family leave.

AAUW promotes workshops where women learn to be proactive in negotiating salaries, seeking career advancement opportunities, and utilizing available resources to understand their market value. We must continue to work toward a future where everyone receives fair compensation for their labor, regardless of gender.

A new AAUW Pay Equity Resource, The Not So Simple Truth 2025 supplement https://www.aauw.org/app/uploads/2025/02/The_Not_SoSimple_Truth_Gender_Pay_Gap_2025-1.pdf includes AAUW’s analysis of gender pay gap data by race/ethnicity and by state in 2023.

Georgia Kimmel, Public Policy Chair