Early last week, Elana Centor broke the news that research by American Association of University Women indicates that the pay gap is alive and well and thriving in the U.S. On Tuesday, Nordette Adams wrote about the backlash surrounding Leslie Bennett's book that posits that stay-at-home moms suffer serious economic consequences. These facts coupled together should unite women and encourage us raise our voices loudly when it comes to be treated equally, shouldn't it?

April 24 was actually National Pay Equality Day. Did you know that? I didn't. Odd how it didn't garner that much attention. My friend, however, did get the good word and went to a clever event, The Taste of Disparity, in Worcester, MA organized by her veterinarian, Dr. Karen Fine. My daughter enjoyed the free cookies that had a "bite" taken out of them to represent the 23% difference in pay... She had a fantastic time eating cookies and showing off her hair. I tried to explain the event to her, but she just looked at me blankly. Why would there be a difference in the way men and women are paid mommy? Ahhh...the wisdom of youth. If only everyone thought like!

One might argue that the lack of equality in pay is precisely a good reason for moms to leave the workforce. Why battle with work and juggle child care under those terms? Yesterday I was leaving work (I am a part-time consultant to the government agency that oversees the subsidized child care system in New York City), and the elevator had a little infortainment screen in it. I was taken aback by its announcement that the average stay-at-home mom provides $138,000 worth of services/work every year, up three percent from last year. There was no source or methodology cited, so I have no idea where that number came from, but it floored me. Bennets argues that the long term consequences of leaving the workforce that hurt women and children. Is it better to earn 77 cents to every dollar that men earn or get nothing for your work? No matter what we do women tend to get screwed.

As Nordette argued, we should take information like this and use it to advocate for a better world for all women, not launch personal attacks on one another.