Lilly Ledbetter, the legendary icon for women’s rights and equal pay, died at 86. She is perhaps most famous for her involvement in the Supreme Court case that ultimately became the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. Her legacy has been a tireless commitment to advocating for wage equality and fair treatment in the workplace.
A Legacy of Justice
Ledbetter’s case became a catalyst of the equal pay movement. She was experiencing pay discrimination at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., where, although she had worked for many years and did nearly the same work as many of her male peers, she received very low wages. Millions of women across the country suffered the same fate due to systemic pay discrimination by gender.
In 2007, Ledbetter’s case, Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.,did reach the U.S. Supreme Court, but that court ruled against her, holding that she had brought her claim too late under the statute of limitations. She was personally hurt by this ruling, but it helped spur a national discussion about pay discrimination and proved to be a catalyst for Ledbetter to continue her fight for justice.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
She promised a change, working and even lobbying with lawmakers and the women’s rights groups to try to alter the legal landscape of wage discrimination. Her efforts were fruitful when she signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act with President Barack Obama as the first bill passed in 2009; the act retroactively restored workers’ rights to file claims in discrimination under the statute of limitations every time they received a paycheck that was discriminatory.
It has been the basis for equal pay advocacy efforts and protected workers, but especially women, from forms of wage discrimination since it was passed. Ledbetter continued to be an outstanding advocate for fair pay, equality between genders, and justice in the workplace until her death traveling throughout this country speaking out for these policies.
Tributes Pour In
Tributes poured in from all sections of politics and activism, inspired by news of her death. Former US President Barack Obama said, “Lilly Ledbetter’s courage and perseverance changed the course of history. Her fight for equal pay inspired a movement and made America a more just place for all working people.” Women’s rights organizations, labor unions, and political leaders have acclaimed Ledbetter the ultimate woman of revolution as her work influenced future generations in pushing forward for equality in the workplace. Her inspiring story continues to inspire activists around the globe who fight for economic justice through the eradication of the gender wage gap.
A Champion to Working Women
Lilly Ledbetter’s legacy is more than just a law; it stands as a testament to the power of determination in one person that makes lasting change. Her work has helped millions of women receive equitable compensation for their work, and her story reminds us that the fight for equal pay is anything but over. She will be remembered as a voice of unrivaled advocacy for justice, a passionate advocate for women’s rights and as an inflammable symbol of the unfinished work toward the attainment of equity at the workplace.
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