How Latinas Can Fight for Equal Pay
Written by Lorraine Nunez, WIN Staff
Latina Equal Pay day fell on October 29th this year, marking how far into the year Latinas must work in order to earn the same amount as their white, non-Hispanic counterparts in 2019. This means, Latinas have had to work 10 extra months to earn what white men make in only 12.
In 1989, Latina women were paid just $.52 for every dollar paid to white men. In 2020, that number has only risen to $.55 per dollar, according to the National Women’s Law Center. Hispanic women face the widest gap of any group of women and the gap is narrowing at the slowest rate. Latina women stand at the intersection of racial discrimination and sexism, a dangerous cross-section.
Latina women are estimated to lose $1,163,920 over the course of a 40-year career. This means they will have to work until the age of 92 in order to earn what her white male peer earned by age 60.
We wanted to know more about the causes of this discrimination, and what Latina women can do to combat bias in the workplace. We invited 4 compelling female-founders to discuss the wage gap and how Latinas can fight for equal pay in the workplace and help narrow the wage gap. Because fifty-five cents just isn’t enough.
Mariela Dabbah
Founder and CEO, The Red Shoe Movement
Mariela Dabbah is originally from Argentina and has lived in New York for the last thirty years. Her career began with a company selling books to schools. From founding her own medical interpretation company to blossoming to an inspiring writer and public speaker, Mariela has worked in a number of industries. After witnessing a lot of inequalities for the Latino community in the workplace and working with women for many years, she launch the Red Shoe Movement.
Q: As a Latina woman. What do you think has been your biggest professional barrier? And how have you overcome that?
A: One of my barriers has to do with the fact that I grew up in a house with very traditional values. So my dad was the person who worked. He was the head of the household. My mom, even though she had a professional degree, stayed home and raised her three kids. So I didn't grow up knowing that I needed to learn to negotiate.
I wasn’t prepared to make any financial decisions because I never thought that was a role that women played. Another barrier was that when I arrived here as an adult, I did not have that professional network. Most people develop a network during their years in college. In the US, you go to college in a certain state, and then your friends move around, and you end up having friends and colleagues all over the map working in different organizations. I didn't have any of that. I had to start from scratch in terms of developing my own network.
Q: What role does negotiation play in your career?
A: So negotiation plays a key role in everybody's career and everybody's lives, and particularly for women, for whom, sometimes, the word negotiation inspires butterflies and nerves. We need to first recognize that we grew up negotiating all the time in our lives. First, with your siblings about things like who's going to hold the remote. So we're constantly negotiating. As you grow up, the same happens, as you have a partner, as you have children, and as you decide what kind of life you want to have. So, it's just transferring those skills to the workplace and learning some extra skills specific to the workplace.
Men are still making more money than women for the same jobs and the same roles. Latinos are the group that makes the least compared with white men. Negotiation has taught me that I can’t ask another Latina how much she's making for this role. Instead, I need to ask a white man how much he's asking for the same role so that I can ask for the same amount he’s asking.
Q: If you could go back to when you first began your career, what would you tell your younger self?
A: I would tell myself to surround myself with people who are at the places where I aspire to be -- the people who have already achieved the things that I value and that I would like to achieve for myself. I don't want to take anybody else's career path or life path for that matter because I'm a unique individual with unique desires, unique challenges, unique things. When you learn about the people who “made it” you can pick things that you would like to emulate or that you would like to see in your own career. So, I would try to surround myself early on with the people that I genuinely admire. Tap into their networks. Talk to them, try to get them in my corner as mentors and sponsors so that I can learn from their mistakes, and avoid them if possible.
Q: What do you hope to teach young Latina women who aspire leadership positions?
A: I would like to teach them what I would have told my younger self, which is to diversify your network. Have people who come from completely different backgrounds and particularly people who are from the majority groups of those industries or spaces where you would like to be.
Know the unspoken rules of the game, who has whose ear, and who can be a great sponsor for whatever you want to achieve. So, not only diversify in terms of how people look in your network, but also the roles people have in your network. So you need to have not just mentors, you need to have sponsors, advocates, champions advisers, all these different roles that are going to play a key role in helping you advance in your career and answering any questions you might have.
Q: What do you think we can do to lift the Latinx community and encourage others to follow along?
A: My biggest concern right now is that we continue to think that we need to lift the community up and not that we need to change the structure, obstacles, and barriers that are making it so hard for our community. Because there are amazingly talented and knowledgeable individuals in any industry, but that doesn't mean that when you're trying to succeed inside an organization the doors are open to you. So, we need to work with organizations to remove those obstacles. That has to do with a very deliberate and intentional redesign of the policies and the procedures that are in place and that always favors a very homogeneous hiring and promotion track.
Q: What advice do you have for Latinas that currently find themselves in the process of negotiating their pay?
A: Try to get a colleague, preferably a white male colleague, because if your organization is like most organizations, that's going to be the person who's most likely making the most. Try to find out how much people in your same position are making and how much men in your same position are making. Try to use websites like Glassdoor to gauge what are the salaries for an equivalent position to yours (with a number of years of experience that you have) etc. So have a comparative number. At the same time, be very, very prepared, bring to the table what your accomplishments are.
Let your interviewer know what your accomplishments are and what you bring to the organization. Make the case for why it is that you deserve the amount that you're asking for. Come very prepared with very concrete numbers attached to your accomplishments. Use comparative numbers from people in comparable sales positions within your industry and if possible, get exact numbers from colleagues who are working in your organization, or the majority group in that organization.
Naibe Reynoso
Multi-Emmy Award-Winning Journalist + Author + Founder of Con Todo Press
Naibe Reynoso was born and raised in Los Angeles and has been a journalist for over 25 years. With extensive experience in media, Naibe has worked for local, regional, and international companies including CNN Espanol, France 24, Ora TV, NBC Telemundo, and Fox News Latino. She’s won 3 Emmys for her work in journalism. In 2018 she launched Con Todo Press, a publishing company that creates books to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities. Her first children's book, “Be Bold, Be Brave: 11 Latinas who made U.S. History,” was an Amazon #1 best seller, and highlights 11 women who excelled in medicine, science, sports, the arts, journalism and politics.
Q: As a Latina woman. What do you think has been your biggest professional barrier? And how have you overcome that?
A: I think as a Latina, one of my biggest professional barriers has been finding a network of people with the same challenges as a Latina. Most of us are first-generation, and most of us don't have that established network of family members that had these brilliant companies and careers and went to colleges. Some of us are starting that legacy now from scratch. So, kind of just finding your tribe that is also on the same path. And I feel like you need to find other Latinas that have walked that path with you. We have different cultural nuances that we have to deal with that other cultures don't have to deal with. I think that the biggest challenge was just realizing that I had to find my tribe. But I don't know if it was necessarily a challenge. It was more of a realization that I would get the most help and the most inspiration from other Latinas in this.
Q: What role does negotiation play in your career?
A: Well, I think negotiation is something that I always keep in mind because I think part of the culture of being a Latina has been to just be grateful, right? But I think we have to change that mentality and say no, they should be grateful that I'm offering a service or offering a product of value.
And I always keep in mind, whoever your employers maybe , they are always going to give you a lower number. You always have to know that 100% of the time, they're always going undervalue you because that's just part of negotiation. That's just part of the business culture. I always keep in mind whatever number they give me is the bottom of the barrel, and I can negotiate up. I should negotiate up because then I’m also sending a message that I value my work. And then you reach a number that both parties are comfortable with.
Q: What do you hope to teach young Latina women who aspire leadership positions?
A: I hope to teach other Latinas who aspire leadership positions to not look at or quote other people. We have to understand that every generation brings new people, new nuances, and we bring so much to the table, especially here in this country where we're almost 20% of the population. This is important because if a company wants to capture the entire market, it will need our help. We have an insight into the overall likes and dislikes of the Latinx population. We have to see that what we bring to the table is so valuable. Every time I've interviewed for a reporting position, I make sure I bring that up. So we have to use being a Latina as our superpower; we have to use being a Latina as an asset and be confident in that asset.
Q: If you could go back to when you first began your career, what would you tell your younger self?
A: I would tell myself to believe in myself. I was working at Warner Brothers, as a production assistant and there was like a job opening for a promotion from production assistant. I asked my boss if I could interview for the position. She told me that my type of people usually are just relegated to working on stage, meaning handy jobs like handyman jobs, craft services, or audience coordination.
It devastated me, but luckily I had the wherewithal to be like, okay, I'm not going to believe those messages, and I'm going to educate myself. I'm going to find resources to educate myself to not believe in something negative. I think you always have to go to the basics and say if there's something negative thrown at me -- whether it's someone not believing you could do the job, someone thinking you're not talented enough, someone you feel is being discriminatory against you -- I will not take it personally.
Q: What do you think we can do to lift the Latinx community and encourage others to follow along?
I think what we can do to help other Latinas is create a safe place for people to ask questions, a place where we can talk about issues that are relatable. For us, specifically.
If you find yourself in a leadership position -- whatever position that may be -- create safe spaces for other Latinos, encourage other Latinos. I do coaching for Latinas writers that want to write. I provide that service because I used a Latina mentor when I wanted to start writing for children. I hired her because I felt like she understood the nuances of the stories that I wanted to tell, which is Latino stories. And that was very, very helpful and very encouraging because when I expressed my story, she understood the nuances of those culturally. So, I think we have to just be supportive and always encouraging in a society that often is so critical of others.
We have to be a little softer with ourselves and speak to each other with encouragement, compassion, with empathy. That could go a long way.
Q: What advice do you have for Latinas that currently find themselves in the process of negotiating their pay?
A: You need to do the research. You need to ask because power comes from a place of knowledge. If you are negotiating and have no idea what the average salary for that position is, you're negotiating from a weak perspective. You would not know if you need to push back further or how much you need to forcefully negotiate.
Do not, under any circumstances, settle for anything less. You have other assets to bring to the table, whether you are bilingual or bringing that cultural nuance to the table. That's very valuable for so many different reasons. Once you accept that salary, it's going to be hard for you to get a raise. But if that job appreciates you and wants you enough, they will give you what you asked for. I always have a rule of asking for the average plus 10%. On top of that, you also need to be ready to walk away because when one door closes, another door opens.
Q: Why should we be having conversations about money, or why should we be financially savvy?
A: With money comes power. And I think of us as Latinas and Latinos; our community has been relegated to being treated like second class citizens. Fortunately or unfortunately, the only way to change that is through attaining more power. The way you attain more power -- whether its political power or financial power -- is by creating more wealth.
The only way we're going to dig ourselves out of this hole is to negotiate for better salaries. If we look for jobs that have better salaries, we value our work, and we create the generational wealth that will keep making our future generations more and more wealthy. If we have these conversations about the importance of negotiating, the importance of saving, and investing, we will become more and more powerful as a community.
Alex Tabar
Founder of Yucalab and Latinas in Media
Alex Tabar is a Dominican Media & Content Producer who was adopted by NYC in 2008. With 15+ years of experience, she has developed a diverse portfolio of projects, from entertainment to education, creating content for digital mediums, television, and publications. In 2015, she founded Yucalab, a boutique content marketing agency that specializes in connecting brands and companies with the Hispanic Market and LATAM. Alex is also the founder of Latinas in Media, a bilingual community for female entrepreneurs and women in media.
Q: As a Latina woman. What do you think has been your biggest professional barrier? And how have you overcome that?
A: When I started my business, I didn't know where to find clients or how to connect with brands and companies that I could offer my services. The way I overcame that was through two essential words: networking and community. I decided to create my community, which opened a lot of doors to other professional Latinas, and networks. I joined more online communities. And aside from getting great friendships, I also got many referrals from them and a lot of big opportunities for my business. Networks and communities are very important.
Q: What role does negotiation play in your career?
A: Negotiation plays a big role because, as a small business owner, it's my responsibility to consistently develop business opportunities that align with our services and offerings; and that will also portray the value we bring to our new clients. I'm constantly learning about new negotiation. I'm always trying to surround myself with other women who know their worth as entrepreneurs. I didn't go to business school, I was new. When I started this business, I was starting from zero, and I've been learning everything from scratch. For that reason, it has been very important to surround myself with these entrepreneurs and to learn how to negotiate, not only in employment and getting a job but also getting clients and making proposals.
Q: What do you hope to teach young Latina women who aspire leadership positions?
A: What I would tell them and tell my younger self, which is to save money. It's very important to be surrounded by people and resources like books. I love books, and I'm always reading and learning. The thing I value the most is growth. So, I'm still trying to learn and get all the information I didn't have before. We can learn about everything -- from managing our money savings and investments to investing money and giving us options in life. Financial literacy is critical for everybody, and we need to start talking about money.
I'm in the middle of a financial mentorship program where I'm learning so much about the money mindset, the importance of emergency fund savings in the short term and long term for retirement plans, as well as investing. I wish I had taken this forum before starting my business, or even better, before high school. It's so important and so basic.
Q: What do you think we can do to lift the Latinx community and encourage others to follow along?
A:. The first thing we need to do is invest, not only in Latinx businesses but also in Latinx professionals. If you're in a position to buy a product or service. If you are going to try Latino vendors, make sure you're supporting them, getting their service or product, and promoting them online. If you're on social media, go to Instagram, go to LinkedIn and promote that business, and promote that professional. If you are a business owner, hire Latinx professionals. That's what I do in YucaLab, and as I said, it's part of my mission. I want to create new jobs and opportunities for Latinx professionals, not only in the US but also in Latin America. Collaboration is very powerful.
Q: What advice do you have for Latinas that currently find themselves in the process of negotiating their pay?
A: Know your worth, and embrace it. When we're starting a business, we're so desperate to get new plans and projects that we fall into the big mistake of attempting anything at any price. That's what I did for a while. And I can tell you how much that can harm your self-worth. Prepare yourself. Be the best. Then go ahead and ask what's fair, not only in terms of money but also in terms of time. Everybody has 24 hours a day, that's the only thing we all have in common, and how you manage time is your most valuable asset. And we tend to forget that. Don't give away your time for free. Don't lower your prices. If your client doesn't have the money to pay you, then negotiate. If the client has $5,000, see what you can do for $5,000, no more or less. Negotiation is a game. And you have to forget about emotions; you have to get prepared, you have to research your market. Prepare, practice your value statement, and then take a deep breath and play the game with your best confidence.
Lola Dweck
Founder and Recipe Developer, Lola's Cocina and Lola's Mercadito
Lola Wiarco Dweck is the founder and publisher of Lola’s Cocina, a food and travel blog dedicated to sharing Mexico’s rich culinary traditions and cherished family recipes. Lola develops original recipes for national brands and teaches themed cooking classes while educating her audience about Mexican culture.
She also launched Lola’s Mercadito, an online marketplace specializing in gourmet and personally curated items that celebrate Mexican food and culture. It is rated a top shop for gifts on Etsy and her Salsa Negra was named one of the best jarred salsas in the country by Mexican food experts in Thrillist.com.
Q: As a Latina woman. What do you think has been your biggest professional barrier? And how have you overcome that?
A: I would say that one of my biggest professional barriers was getting over the idea of what I thought success was initially. When I graduated college, I thought success meant working for a big global corporation, dressing up in a suit every day, and having a fancy car. And it wasn't until I started my own business that I realized success is what we define it to be. As you get older, as you start a family, all how you define success change. So for me, it was starting my own business. I feel like I'm able to live the values that are important to me every day. Getting over the idea of what success initially meant to me fresh out of college and defining my success has been important. For me, it's being a business owner and creating the environment that I want.
Q: What role does negotiation play in your career?
A: Negotiations have played a role in my career since day one. One of the most important classes that you can take in college, regardless of what you're studying, is a business negotiations class because everyone in every walk of life has to negotiate for something. If a company isn't offering what you want, you may need to negotiate other things such as benefits, or days off, or vacations. I negotiate every day with vendors, suppliers, my local print shop, and my husband. What I've learned is everything in life is negotiable. I negotiate on a personal level and a professional level every single day. We have to learn how to be comfortable in that situation because growth involves negotiation.
Q: What do you hope to teach young Latina women who aspire leadership positions?
A: I feel that sometimes people don't necessarily see that there are opportunities for advancement or for leadership, but you can create these opportunities. Creating leadership opportunities for yourself, being proactive about what can be impactful, and having access to people you may not have had access to in your day-to-day role are good places to start. Senior members like VPS and other employees will add the cake for you when there is an opportunity for promotion. So if leadership opportunities don't exist, create them for yourself.
Q: If you could go back to when you first began your career, what would you tell your younger self?
A: When I started my career, I got my first job out of college by applying through monster.com. And I think that was back when there weren't as many people applying to online jobs. But what I didn't realize at the time was how important making use of your professional and personal network can be. After getting my first job, every other opportunity that I've had in life has been because of my professional network and relationships that I've established throughout that time. So I will say, just to really harness, really cultivate positive working relationships, but also use those to ask for what you need from people. You need to tap into your personal and professional networks to get what you need. Another thing I would say is to have an emergency fund and to establish yourself financially.
Q: What do you think we can do to lift the Latinx community and encourage others to follow along?
A: I would say first and foremost, you have to invest in yourself, whatever that means to you. For me, it's always been investing in my education and investing in my community. So just keep doing whatever makes sense to you. It also uplifts others regardless of what role you play in an organization or within your own business. You can always help someone somehow. Regardless of whether you can do it financially or just volunteering, try to uplift whoever you can. Try to mentor, promote, and advocate for people when you are in a leadership position.
Q: What advice do you have for Latinas that currently find themselves in the process of negotiating their pay?
A: Always advocate for yourself. Know your worth. Do your homework because there's so much information out there regarding every position in every industry. So when you're going into a negotiation, know the little ranges for salary you're going into. If budgets are tight and a salary is set, and there's no room for negotiation, you can always negotiate for other important things, like paid time off or working remotely. I mean there are a lot of things you can negotiate. You have to identify the value that you bring to the organization, verbalize it, or write it down. If you're writing some sort of proposal and you're asking for what you think you deserve, don't be humble about it.
