The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations
Abstract
In this article, the author argues that while the Equal Pay Act of 1963 marked an important early milestone in addressing gender‑based wage discrimination, its narrow “equal work” standard, ambiguous language, and employer‑friendly judicial interpretations have limited its long‑term effectiveness. Through policy analysis and case law, it shows how the Act’s incremental design, business‑driven compromises, and failure to address structural and intersectional causes of pay disparity have left significant gaps—particularly for women of color and workers in emerging sectors like the gig economy. The paper concludes that meaningful progress requires strengthening existing enforcement mechanisms and pursuing new, adaptive policies that confront the deeper social and economic forces sustaining wage inequality.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Dawson, Alyssa
(2026)
"The Equal Pay Act of 1963,"
The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations: Vol. 35, Article 1.
Available at:
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/political-realm/vol35/iss1/1