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March 25 is Equal Pay Day. Initiated by the National Committee on Pay Equity in 1996, this holiday highlights the gender wage gap. This day invites us to reflect and engage in conversations on pay equity and gender equality. 

Did you know? In the U.S., women's right to have a bank account without a male co-signer was only secured by the federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) of 1974. Before 1974, banks often required a husband's or father's signature for women to get credit cards or bank accounts, making financial independence difficult. This law granted all women, married or single, the legal right to apply for and own accounts in their own name. outlawing sex discrimination in credit. It's only been 52 years since this milestone landmark was passed. What has changed?

In 2026, the gender pay gap in the U.S. shows that women working full-time, year-round earn approximately 81 to 83 cents for every dollar earned by men, with the gap widening for the second consecutive year. The overall median wage gap for all earners is estimated at 75 to 76 cents, with significantly wider gaps for women of color. 

Organizations like Equal Pay Today () are dedicated to closing the gender and racial wage gap, promoting payroll transparency, and helping businesses implement equitable pay structures. , you can learn more about understanding the wage gap, strategies for change, and how you can help by joining the movement for Pay Equity.