VOA慢速英语2015 Activists Aim – Again – To Pay Women and Men Equally

Activists¹ Aim – Again – To Pay Women and Men Equally

Activists gathered in New York City this week to call attention to a problem that has existed for a long time: the pay difference between American men and women.

The United States Congress² took steps to fix the problem back in April 1963, when it passed the Equal Pay Act. The law requires US businesses to pay women and men the same wage for equal work. But on average, women today still earn 22% less than men.

For women of color, the difference is even greater. African-American women earn 36% less; Latinas earn 44% less.

The difference in pay costs women nearly $450 billion a year in lost wages.

Improving economic fairness

Beverly Neufeld set up a group called PowHer NY to improve economic fairness. She says the average woman has to work 15 months every year to make what an average white man makes in 12 months. That difference is, in her words, “a lot of bread” – another word for money.

Activists point out economic fairness is not an issue that concerns only women. Martha Kamber is head of the Young Women’s Christian³ Association⁴ in Brooklyn, New York. She says if women cannot earn enough money to support their families, the whole community suffers.

And in the United States, where single mothers lead one fourth of all homes, the pay difference has an especially big effect on children.

Last January, President Barack Obama asked Congress to pass a law that strengthened economic fairness between women and men. But the federal⁵ government has not been successful in that aim. So some state governments are taking action.

The New York State Assembly⁶ is expected to pass the Equal Pay Bill this year. It will protect employees who discuss their earnings⁷ with others. Representative Michelle Titus proposed⁸ the bill. She says the protection is important because employers⁹ usually bar workers from comparing how much money they make.

Robert Cornegy, a New York City council¹⁰ member, is also urging change. He tells his daughters every day that if they work and study hard they can achieve anything and be recognized fairly. He says he does not want to tell them a lie. 

Words in This Story

wage – n. an amount of money a worker is paid based on the time he or she has worked

single mother – n. a parent who takes care of a child alone

achieve – v. to become successful; to reach or get something by hard work

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 Congress   

n.(代表)大会；(C-:美国等国的)国会，议会

参考例句：

• There were some days to wait before the Congress.大会的召开还有几天时间。
• After 18 years in Congress,he intented to return to private life.在国会供职18年后，他打算告老还乡。

3 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

4 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

5 federal   

adj.联盟的；联邦的；(美国)联邦政府的

参考例句：

• Switzerland is a federal republic.瑞士是一个联邦共和国。
• The schools are screaming for federal aid.那些学校强烈要求联邦政府的援助。

6 assembly   

n.集会(不可数)；会议(可数)，装配(不可数)

参考例句：

• He took his seat in an unobserved corner of the assembly room.他在会议室一个不为人注意的犄角坐下来。
• It was very quiet in the assembly hall.会场里静悄悄的。

7 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

8 proposed   

被提议的

参考例句：

• There is widespread discontent among the staff at the proposed changes to pay and conditions. 员工对改变工资和工作环境的建议普遍不满。
• an outcry over the proposed change 对拟议的改革所发出的强烈抗议

9 employers   

雇主( employer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Employers must consider all candidates impartially and without bias. 雇主必须公平而毫无成见地考虑所有求职者。
• The onus is on employers to follow health and safety laws. 雇主有义务遵行健康安全法。

10 council   

n.理事会，委员会，议事机构

参考例句：

• The town council passed a law forbidding the distribution of handbills.市议会通过法律，禁止散发传单。
• The city council has declared for improving the public bus system.市议会宣布同意改进公共汽车系统。