Page 24 - Urban Kapital Magazine Autumn 21

BLACK WOMEN’S

EQUAL PAY-DAY:

BLACK WOMEN ARE STILL BEING UNDER-PAID

COMPARED TO OTHER COLLEAGUES
SAY’S PR EXPERT RONKE LAWAL

Black Women’s equality pay- der-values them. Ronke agrees
day took place on August the with this and has said: Although days like Black
3rd this year. The reasoning Women’s equality pay day
behind it is that on average it “Black women’s labour is exist to spread awareness of
takes a Black woman, working dishonoured because quite the disadvantages Black
full-time, all year-round, an ex- often people think that they women face constantly, the
tra 8 months to earn what the have the right to it without intentions can be questioned
average white non-Hispanic paying for it fairly. People feel as not much has been done as
man makes in a year. entitled to Black women’s many Black women are still
labour but they don’t think being under-paid. Therefore,
Ronke Lawal is the founder of Black women are worthy of days like this can come off as
successful PR firm, Ariatu PR, more”. performative.
but she has also experienced
organisations and potential In order to fix this problem, Ronke has mixed-feelings
clients who have attempted to there are many things that about this, she said:
undercut her. She believes that need to happen in order to
this is very prominent for oth- create change. Ronke believes “I think they can serve as
er black women in business as that: active reminders of what needs
well. to be done to address change,
“Society upholds some of the but unfortunately society gets
Ronke says it is unfair that individual examples of success excited about glamourous
Black women’s efforts have to show us what is possible but news stories about favourite
been under-appreciated time until structural and celebs becoming billionaires
and time again. She said: “It’s institutional changes are made rather than critical issues like
frustrating and annoying. We this problem cannot be this. So, whilst days like this
live in a world in which Black resolved easily. Black women are important, we also need to
women are told to “work twice have to advocate for them- make a collective effort to seek
as hard” and yet we’re basical- selves and also discuss change and hold organisations
ly paid half as much”. money/research pay levels/ accountable”.
fees actively”.
Although Black Women’s equal Thanks to Tim Evers and the
pay-day is an American initia- However, Ronke believes it wonderful body of veteran
tive, it is very relevant to black should not just be up to Black volunteers that keep the
women across the world. It is women to fix a problem they charity’s services running on
also applicable in the UK as did not create, she said: a 24-hour basis, no solider will
highlighted in the latest ethnic- be forgotten or left behind. The
ity pay gaps report by the Office “But the organisations that lives of individuals that keep
for National Statistics (ONS). they work for and clients they us safe can be kept safe, too.
interact with have to make it
Black women being under-paid safe for Black women to
reflects on how society un- negotiate and discuss pay”.
MAGAZINE // 24