Women

As a father of two daughters in college, I couldn’t have been more disappointed to learn that today is Equal Pay Day--a day that represents how far into 2012 women must work to earn what men earned in 2011.

That means that this year, a woman will have to work an additional four-and-a-half months just to earn what a man does in a year.

Thankfully, in Maryland we’ve been able to reduce the wage gap between men and women to the fourth-lowest in the nation - and we were recently named the 3rd best State in the US to be a woman.

In 2009, I signed a law that builds on the federal Lilly Ledbetter equal pay law, extending the period of time for individuals to seek back pay for unlawful discrimination and unequal pay to two years.

Together, we’ve appointed nearly 2,800 women to judgeships, cabinet appointments and boards and commissions. We’ve increased awards of state contracts to women-owned firms by nearly 59% over 2007. And every day, we’re working to expand access to women’s health services and combat violence against women and children.

We will continue to fight as long as inequality exists.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of gender discrimination in the workplace, please call this toll-free number: 1-800-637-6247.

Together, we will keep moving forward, close the wage gap and end discrimination for everyone.

Thank you,


Martin O'Malley