California Adopts a Salary Equality Law

On average, Californian women earn 84 cents per each dollar earned by a man. The national average is 79 cents.

On Tuesday, California equipped itself with a law considered one of the most progressive in the United States to defend salary equality between genders. The measure was praised in Hollywood.

“Sixty-six years after passage of the California Equal Pay Act, many women still earn less money than men doing the same or similar work,” noted California Gov. Jerry Brown, who ratified the law. The new legislation is among the strictest in the nation and received support from both Democrats and Republicans.

The former legislation already guaranteed salary equality between women and men in equal jobs, but the new text will go further. It guarantees equality for “substantially similar work.” It also prohibits reprisals against employees who invoke legislation to demand pay equality and protects those who want to question their salary, among other things.

Sixteen Percent Less

Sen. Dianne Feinstein remarked that Californian women earn on average “84 cents for every dollar earned by men. While better than the national average of 79 cents, the California wage gap totals nearly $40 billion each year in lost wages.”

Comedian Geena Davis, a fighter in the battle for salary equality and president of the California Commission on the Status of Women, noted the passage of the law as a “key priority” that will lead to a “stronger” California.

Patricia Arquette, recipient of the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2015, estimated that the new law had benefited from bipartisan support because “women support families and drive our economy.” She stated, “Women also have large political power.”

When receiving her Oscar in February, she made a vibrant speech in the defense of salary equality, warmly applauded by her colleagues Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez. Gwyneth Paltrow and Hillary Swank also denounced the wage gap.

According to Forbes magazine, the best-paid actor in Hollywood earned $80 million last year, nearly $30 million more than the best-paid actress, Jennifer Lawrence, who earned $52 million.