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Equal Pay Day: Why Pay Equity Matters for Domestic Violence (DV) Prevention 

March 24, 2025

March 25 is Equal Pay Day- this day marks how far into the year women must work to earn what men made in the previous year. For women of color, this gap is stretched further. Black women, Latina women, Indigenous women, and other communities whose identities are marginalized must work months longer before reaching the same earningsi. This is reflected in the different Equal Pay Days, which mark how much longer women of color must work to catch up: 

2025 Equal Pay Day Calendar:  

On Equal Pay Day, we talk about pay inequity, the cents on the dollar that women, especially women of color, earn in comparison to White, non-Hispanic men. But what often gets lost in the conversation is how pay inequity can expose someone to cycles of abuse. Pay inequity is much more than an unfair paycheck; it is a systemic barrier that traps survivors in abusive relationships and prevents someone from leaving. It’s not just about fairness; it’s about survival. 

The Connection Between Pay Equity and Domestic Violence  

Financial abuse is one of the most common, yet least recognized, forms of control in an abusive relationship. Financial abuse occurs in 98% of domestic violence relationships, and it can look like sabotaging a survivor’s job, restricting access to bank accounts, or running up debt in their name, among other tactics.ii  

Economic insecurity is one of the biggest reasons survivors stay in or return to their abusers.iii Imagine trying to leave an abusive relationship. If you aren’t earning a living wage or if you are earning less than your male counterparts working the same job, your ability to afford housing, childcare, legal fees, and basic necessities is already compromised—let alone the impact of leaving and losing a second income or losing your job.  

For women of color, immigrant women, and single mothers, that gap is even wider, which further worsens their financial well-being.iv When survivors can’t make ends meet on their own, they are forced into an impossible choice: stay in danger or face homelessness, hunger, and poverty. 

Pay equity isn’t just a women’s issue—it’s a public safety issue. When women are paid fairly, they have options. They have more resources to leave abusive situations. They can build stability for their children. They can reclaim their futures. And importantly, they would be able to build a secure financial foundation, protecting them from the cycles of poverty, exploitation, and dependence that compromise their safety and well-being in the first place.  

Moving Beyond Awareness to Action 

Equal Pay Day is more than a date on the calendar; it is a reminder that economic justice and gender-based violence are deeply connected. It’s about recognizing that pay equity can be a lifeline. If we truly want to prevent domestic violence, we must address the systemic inequities that keep survivors financially trapped.v Research shows that when women have access to fair wages and economic opportunities, the risk factors for domestic violence decrease.vi Some key solutions to address pay inequity include: 

As we recognize this year’s Equal Pay Day, let us move beyond awareness and toward action. When women are paid fairly, they are not just earning a paycheck; they are securing their future.  

Let’s start by having a conversation about pay equity. Here’s our pay equity landing page for more information. Feel free to reach out to Aishwarya at as****@***dv.org or Kristen at  kh*****@***dv.org to talk more.  

Endnotes