We must give women the respect they deserve by giving them equal pay. Based on their current payment, women work the first two months of the year for “free”. This is absolutely intolerable for the hard work women give every day. Whether it is in sports or other types of work, women are always paid less. This must change, and we must all work together and take action to change it.

According to Payscale, “In 2021, women earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men.” Business.com also discovered that “women don’t have a higher average salary than men in any US state.” Not one state in the United States of America has been able to create change concerning the issue of the gender pay gap. It is time for our generation to rise up and contribute to a more equal society. American Progress determined that “a woman working full time, year round earned $10,194 less than her male counterpart, on average, in 2018. If this wage gap were to remain unchanged, she would earn about $407,760 less than a man over the course of a 40-year career.” Based on their gender, women all over the country are experiencing this substantial gap in pay, regardless of the work they produce. We know better than to stereotype women and pay them less money and respect than we know they deserve.

 "Male athletes in basketball, golf, soccer, baseball, and tennis [also] make anywhere from 15% to nearly 100% more than female athletes," states Adelphi Education. This “gap” in pay is unacceptable. In sports, many people argue that there are fewer spectators for women’s sports, and therefore, think this injustice is okay. However, the US Women’s Soccer team has many more spectators and is more successful than the US Men’s Soccer team, but they are still paid thousands to millions of dollars less. This is not okay and it will never be. The Washington Post states that "the U.S. Women's National Team will make about $800000 less than the U.S. Men's Team would for winning the World Cup." Please note that the Men’s Team did not win the World Cup (the Women’s Team did) and this would be the pay differential if they did. "The total prize money FIFA offered for the Men's World Cup last year was $400m, with the top team earning around $38m. For this summer's Women's World Cup, a total of $30m was available, including $4m for the winning team," according to The Guardian. The Women’s Soccer team continues to make millions of dollars less, even though they work as hard if not even harder than the Men’s Team.

 All around the world, women are working hard and doing their best work, but in return, the majority are paid less than their male coworkers. We are strong, and we can create change if we unite and work together. “At the current pace, it will take 257 years to achieve economic gender parity,” states NBC News. Sharing the message with even just one person sparks change. Every monsoon starts with a single raindrop. Be this raindrop. As alarming as these statistics are, we are passionate, strong, fighters, and change-makers. We will stop at nothing to create gender equality. Knowledge is our power, and by educating ourselves and others around us about the economic inequality women face, we, together, have the power to create change in society. We are powerful. We will be the monsoon.