Women Still Earn Less: St. Mary’s County Declares Equal Pay Day As Wage Gap Still Persists

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — In a chamber often reserved for budgets and policy debates, voices rose Tuesday morning with a shared message: fairness in pay remains unfinished business.

At the March 24 meeting of the St. Mary’s County Commissioners, Commissioner Mike Alderson delivered a proclamation recognizing Equal Pay Day 2026, a date meant to underscore how far into the new year women must work to match what men earned the year prior.

“The principle of equal pay for equal work is a fundamental tenet of justice and fairness in our society,” Alderson read, standing before county staff and community advocates. He continued, “an unacceptable gender pay gap persists, wherein women, particularly women of color, continue to earn less than their male counterparts for the same work.”

The proclamation cited federal data showing that in 2025, women earned 81% of what men earned, a disparity that compounds over a lifetime, affecting retirement savings, pensions and overall economic stability. Equal Pay Day, Alderson noted, represents the point in the calendar “when the average woman’s earnings catch up to what the average man earned in the previous year.”

“We must reaffirm our commitment to eliminating the gender pay gap and ensuring that all individuals are compensated fairly for their labor, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic,” he said before formally declaring March 24, 2026, as Equal Pay Day in St. Mary’s County.

For those in attendance, the proclamation was more than ceremonial. It was personal.

Lori Jennings Harris, director of the county’s Department of Aging and Human Services, emphasized the real-world impact of wage disparities on families, particularly those led by women.

“Thank you, Commissioners, for recognition of the importance of pay equity,” she said, adding that the issue is especially critical for women who serve as primary earners or heads of household. Everyday expenses from groceries and fuel to rent and mortgages “are the same for women as it is for men,” she noted, underscoring the imbalance many face.

Standing alongside fellow advocates, Elizabeth (Liz) Mildenstein, with the Commission for Women, framed the issue in a broader, global context.

“The gender pay gap, the disparity in earnings between men and women, remains a significant global issue, reflecting deep-seated inequalities in labor markets worldwide,” Mildenstein said. “Women are still paid less than men for the same work, and the gap is even wider for women of color, mothers, disabled women and LGBTQIA+ workers.”

She pointed to recent census data, noting that women earn about 81 cents on the dollar compared to men among full-time, year-round workers, a figure that drops to 76 cents when part-time and part-year workers are included.

“Pay equity is not just about fairness. It’s about economic security for families and communities,” she added, calling for continued legal enforcement and societal commitment to closing the gap.

Also addressing the commissioners, Cynthia Brown, manager with the Human Services Division, highlighted the role of local volunteers in keeping the issue at the forefront.

“I’d just like to thank them for their continued diligence in highlighting this issue and others that impact women and families,” Brown said, referencing the ongoing work of the Commission for Women.

As the proclamation concluded, the message lingered: while progress has been made, Equal Pay Day serves as both a benchmark and a call to action; a reminder that equity in the workplace remains a goal still being pursued in St. Mary’s County and beyond.

You can watch the full proclamation below at 7:05.

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