As someone who always had a passion for going into the education field this issue is something that sticks out to me. Being a teacher is more than just a job, they help shape children's futures. Knowing that women get paid less simply because of their gender is unfair and they dedicate their lives to educating children. When I become a teacher I want my work to be equally valued and that I will have access to mentorships and support that will help me to grow professionally without facing hidden barriers.

Women in the education field earn less than men over the corse of their careers. This begins with unequal starting salaries and over time grows due to the limited access to mentorships. In fact, “Women make up nearly half of the global workforce but earn 20% less (on average) than men.”  Women and men teachers often perform the same teaching responsibilities like lesson planning and managing a classroom.   

In the study that Cigna did reports, “Data collected from Cigna indicate that 70% of women attribute their career success to having a mentor or network of support, and 81% agree that to succeed as a woman one must receive support from and give support to other women in the workplace.” The women in this study say how important it is for everyone to have mentorship programs so they can be supported through the barriers. 

We must change this gender pay inequality and ensure mentorships for every women teacher. Addressing this issue to school districts, boards of education and teachers unions will help future educators. Please sign this petition if you think there should be a stop to gender pay inequality and stronger mentorships for women.