The Other Side: Unequal pay: Mississippi still has large gender, race pay gap | Ep. 414

Mississippi’s Wage Gap Persists Despite 2023 “Equal Pay Act”

Mississippi’s gender and racial wage gap remains severe, even after the state passed an “Equal Pay Act” in 2023. Cassandra Welchlin of the Mississippi Black Women’s Round Table argues the law ultimately legalized or enabled forms of discrimination and weakened workers’ ability to challenge unequal pay.

Equal Payday and the Size of the Gap

Welchlin defines “equal payday” as the point when women catch up to what white non-Hispanic men earned the previous year.

• Women overall: Equal Payday is March 26, meaning women must work about three extra months to match last year’s male wages.
• Black women: the catch-up is in July, reflecting a much larger delay.
• Widening disparities: Welchlin also reports that as the year progresses, the gap grows further for Black, Latino, and Native American women.

What Went Wrong With Mississippi’s 2023 Equal Pay Law

Welchlin argues the legislature did not “solve” equal pay. She describes the measure as “one of the worst in the country.”

Key criticisms include:

• Gender addressed, race ignored: The law focused on gender but not race, which Welchlin says overlooks how wage inequity disproportionately affects Black women and other women of color.
• Discriminatory provisions: She says the law includes provisions that allow discriminatory practices.
• Waiver requirement: To bring equal pay claims in state court, workers had to waive rights, which she says is illogical given federal protections.
• Negotiation rules and caregiving penalties: She also criticizes how the law relates to wage negotiations and affects workers who take time off for caregiving, arguing it effectively penalizes caregivers—most often women.

Discrimination Compounded by Family and Health Realities

Welchlin connects wage gaps to broader conditions, particularly insufficient support for caregiving.

She emphasizes Mississippi maternal and infant health concerns, including:

• High infant mortality
• Increased risk of Black maternal deaths

Her point is that paid leave matters for both health outcomes and economic stability.

A Better Policy Win: Paid Parental Leave for State Workers

Welchlin highlights a partial success tied to the Mississippi Women’s Economic Security initiative:

• The state won paid parental leave for about 30,000 state employees
• The benefit is six weeks

She also notes the policy is portrayed as beneficial for employers—such as improved morale and reduced turnover—not only employees.

K–12 Teachers Left Out

• Welchlin says K–12 teachers were excluded, with districts allowed to opt in but many lacking resources.
• She reports teachers may end up planning childbirth around the school year, and some are forced to return earlier than expected due to financial pressure.
• The issue is being pushed again in the current legislative session in coordination with education unions/associations.

Reported Wage-Gap Figures

Welchlin provides specific wage comparisons for Mississippi:

• Black women: 53 cents on the dollar (February 2025), considering both full-time and part-time work.
• Women overall: women make 72 cents on the dollar at the “overall” level.
• At the “equal payday” point (July for Black women): the gap remains 53 cents on the dollar compared with white non-Hispanic men.

She explains that part-time work is included because many women work multiple jobs, often because they cannot access enough full-time opportunities or resources.

Why the Gap Persists: Politics and Power Dynamics

Welchlin attributes disparities to gender and racial discrimination, and she also points to representation:

• Mississippi has only 27 women in the legislature, among the lowest proportions in the country.
• She argues research shows women legislators tend to prioritize family- and community-centered policies, and that current leadership demographics contribute to undervaluing women’s labor.
• She notes Mississippi’s minimum wage is $7.25 and says many bills aimed at women and children “died” during the session.

Workforce Participation and Training for Higher-Paid Trades

In response to concerns about low labor force participation, the discussion links paid leave and job stability to worker retention.

The workforce strategy includes encouraging women into:

• Career/technical and trade education (including construction, trucking, electrical work, and HVAC-related pathways)

Welchlin argues Mississippi needs investment in recruitment, apprenticeships, and training funding so women can enter higher-paying fields—framing it as a way to reduce poverty.

Other Legislative Priorities Discussed

Maternal and Infant Health

• A midwifery bill came close.
• Another bill targeted reducing maternal mortality and infant mortality.

“Diaper Tax” and “Period Tax”

• Welchlin supports eliminating taxes on diapers and menstrual products to protect household budgets.
• The transcript notes the diaper tax is 7%.

Childcare Funding

• Even if not all wins occurred this session, Welchlin says there is still an opportunity to appropriate $60 million toward a childcare payment plan.
• She frames childcare subsidies as essential for workforce participation.

Presenters / Contributors

• Jeff Pender (host)
• Katie Lynn (business and development reporter)
• Cassandra Welchlin (guest; Executive Director, Mississippi Black Women’s Round Table)