November 19, 2026 is Native Women’s Equal Pay Day.
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53 cents for “all earners” (full time year-round + part time and part year)
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58 cents for full time, year round workers
Native Women’s Equal Pay Day falls within Native American Heritage Month. As we celebrate and honor the rich history and culture of indigenous peoples, it is imperative that we raise awareness about the economic insecurity Native women face.
On Native Women’s Equal Pay Day, we are bringing attention to the fact that Native American women continue to have one of the most significant wage disparities in the United States. Currently, Native women who are full-time year round workers only make 58 cents on the dollar compared to non-Hispanic, white men. The gap widens to a devastating 53 cents for all Native women workers (full time year-round + part time and part year), when compared to all non-Hispanic, white male workers. These numbers do not merely serve as statistics, they reveal the financial hardship millions of Native American women experience in the United States.
The lasting impacts of colonialism, genocide, and state-sanctioned violence on Native communities continues to be felt today. Native Americans face higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and violence. Millions, including Native communities, across the county are facing an affordability crisis, causing food insecurity and difficulties taking care of other urgent needs. Even with the possibility of the government reopening, the record-setting government shutdown has impacted millions of families – food and healthcare supports are on the line. More than 41 million people are still waiting on aid from the federal government’s largest anti-hunger program, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, known as SNAP. Many families supporting children, people with disabilities, the elderly, and Indigenous, Black, and Latinx communities are likely to use SNAP. Worse still, the Administration is resisting court orders to continue funding that would extend live-saving nutrition. With Native women earning a little more than half the amount of white men and the lack of government support for many Native women, there is an economic barrier to provide necessities, like food and medicine, for themselves and their families, which can make it difficult to leave abusive situations. The long term safety of Native women corresponds directly with their financial independence.
Achieving equity, economic security, and safety for Native women involves heeding the voices and leadership of Native communities, respecting their sovereignty, traditions, and cultural practices, as well as ensuring that communities have the resources they need to thrive. Join us as we call on Congress to prioritize the economic and urgent needs of Native women by funding SNAP, healthcare, and other safety net programs. Even if Congress returns prior to this Equal Pay Day, Native families still need support for the continuing affordability crisis, so our collection calls to address these urgent needs will continue.
We hope you will join us in making equity for Native women a priority this day and always,
Equal Pay Today | Return to the Heart Foundation | Coalition to Stop Domestic Violence Against Native Women | Native Women Lead |Not Our Native Daughters| Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center