Reflecting the wage gap, store charges women 76 percent of men's price
With for every dollar men make, what would happen if they also got to pay that percentage?
One small pop-up store in Pittsburgh has made that a reality, charging women customers less than men proportionately to the wage gap. Creator Elana Schlenker dreamed up about a year ago, and said the goal is to bring the not-for-profit pop-up store to different cities around the US and charge women based off the wage gap in that location.
鈥淲e鈥檙e only at 76 percent right now in Pennsylvania. I want people to come into the shop and talk about that. I want to raise the visibility of the project locally so people see it鈥檚 still an issue,鈥� Schlenker said,
The store sells ceramics, textiles, prints, publications, and stationery, all made by women artists from around the US. Most items fall under $50, with all sales going towards featured artists. The pop-up store also holds events throughout the month that aim to empower and connect local women and girls in the community. 聽Since the project is not-for-profit,.
The gender wage gap in Pennsylvania, 76 percent to every dollar, is reflected in the store鈥檚 name: 76<100. , the store will be open until the end of April. Schlenker then has plans to hit the road and take the store to New Orleans this fall.
Louisiana falls in the bottom three states for the wage gap, with women making about 66 percent to every man鈥檚 dollar. The store will then take on the name 66<100, and women will pay 66 percent of the full retail price.
Schlenker said that while women will be charged under this 鈥減ay what you鈥檙e paid鈥� pricing model, the actual payment is meant to be tongue-in-cheek. She said that more than being a store, the purpose of the project is to provide a platform to address and talk about the wage gap.
鈥淚've read article after article about the wage gap and the ways in which women are perceived (and undervalued) in the workplace,鈥� 鈥淎nd when I had the idea to do a shop with this 'pay what you're paid' pricing, I felt like it could be a really powerful, positive and fun way to approach this issue and also connect with other women whose work I admire.鈥�
罢丑别听Bureau of Labor Statistics聽released a report in 2012, and found that nationally, full-time wage and salaried women earn 82 percent what men make. The other statistic 鈥� 78 percent 聽鈥� is also correct, but includes self-employed women and excludes seasonal workers. Regardless, the number聽has increased significantly from the 64 percent that was cited in 1980.
The pay gap has narrowed significantly for younger women, those between the ages of 25 an 34 were at 92 percent of what men earn聽in 2012. However, as women get older, the gap continues to widen. The US is one of the few countries in the world that does not have guaranteed paid maternity leave or subsidized childcare costs, making a difficult decision for women in the workplace trying to act as both worker and mother. Women are also more likely to stay at home with sick children or family members, impacting their role in the workplace. There has been progress, but there are still challenges.
So far, Schlenker said the project has been well received. Critics have argued that charging women and men separate prices is sexist in and of itself, but she points out that shopping at a location is a choice, not institutionalized like pay inequality. Multiple men have come into the store, some unaware of the purpose of the project.
鈥淭hey are more than willing to pay full price,鈥� 鈥淎 few men who鈥檝e come in individually and weren鈥檛 aware of the project until I explained it to them have responded by telling me about the women in their lives 鈥� mothers, sisters 鈥� who they value and respect.鈥�
If the US continues on its current trajectory, by one estimateto disappear. By pushing the conversation in a unique way, Schlenker said she hopes the store will encourage society to find ways to speed up closing the gap.
鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible how deeply unconscious biases still permeate the ways in which we perceive (and value) women versus men,鈥� . 鈥淚 hope the shop鈥檚 pricing helps to underscore this inherent unfairness and to create space for people to consider why the wage gap still exists.鈥�
