It’s #EqualPayDay and women are refusing to work for free

If you’re reading this, you’re probably feeling some type of way right now. Recently, the most qualified woman in the world lost out on the biggest job in the world in favour of the least qualified, most obnoxious man in the world. Trust me, we’re a bit moody to. But whether you’re mourning or celebrating the end of the world, life goes on and there’s still work to be done.

And what better day to remind you of that fact then today. The eagle-eyed Internet users amongst you may have noticed that today is #EqualPayDay! 🎉🎊🎈

Yes, all over the world, women are acknowledging this tongue-in-cheek annual milestone which marks the day from which, due to the gender wage gap, female employees are essentially working for free.

The average women still earns an astonishing 18% less than a man for the same work, so to mark that fact, Stylist Magazine is led a campaign for all women to leave work at 3:34pm (18% early, brilliant). Here are the best tweets and Instagram posts from the ‘celebrations’…

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is on side

Today, is #EqualPayDay, and we’re leaving work 18% early to highlight the gender pay gap https://t.co/hFytEBt54O pic.twitter.com/es7PA62syk

— Stylist Magazine (@StylistMagazine) 10 November 2016

So are Labour MP Sarah Champion and leader Jeremy Corbyn

Today’s #equalpayday. Gender pay gap is 13.9%, so women are effectively working for free til 31st Dec @jeremycorbyn pic.twitter.com/8IEIXC36vS

— Sarah Champion MP (@SarahChampionMP) 10 November 2016

Even Shakespeare agrees!

It turns out Elizabeth I only made 72% of what James I made for the same job.#EqualPayDay

— William Shakespeare (@Shakespeare) 10 November 2016

Here’s Beyoncé looking flawless in support

Women earn £300,000 less than men over their working life. Some are even working for free for the rest of the year. Take a stand this #EqualPayDay 👊💪

A photo posted by Missy Empire (@missyempire) on Nov 10, 2016 at 4:52am PST

And Rihanna’s throwing some (supportive) shade, courtesy of Cosmopolitan Magazine

Today is #equalpayday – which means that thanks to the gender pay gap, women will effectively be working for FREE from now until the end of the year. Click on the link in our bio for more info ☝🏻️

A video posted by Cosmopolitan UK (@cosmopolitanuk) on Nov 10, 2016 at 7:11am PST

Here’s Rikke Koblauch’s excellent protest sign

#EqualPayDay pic.twitter.com/zkJSVxv2sM

— Rikke Koblauch (@Rikkekoblauch) 10 November 2016

And the students at Kingston Uni aren’t far behind (nice emoji use!)

@KU_Officers talking to KH students about #EqualPayDay campaign today #closethegendergap 👣for=👛 pic.twitter.com/3DSMu8PfqB

— Kingston Students (@union_kingston) 10 November 2016

I’d be pissed off too if David Dimbleby was trying to finesse me like this

A very happy #equalpayday – isn’t it nice to know women can clock off work early today…and for those who aren’t a little pissed off about it, just imagine the person next to you, doing the same job, being handed a wad of cash at the end of the day and you get a big double thumbs up. Every day from now until January 1st. Funtimes. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

A photo posted by Cherry Healey 💋 (@cherryhealey) on Nov 10, 2016 at 5:02am PST

Amen.

Today is #equalpayday thanks to the gender pay gap (women in the UK on average earn 13.9% less then their male counterparts) women will effectively be working for FREE for the rest of the year. Photo @girlboss #morewomen #girlboss #equalpay

A photo posted by Gina (@ginaarichards) on Nov 10, 2016 at 7:19am PST

It’s a sardonic but important reminder that, although we’ve made many significant strides in gender equality, all that work is still at risk and there’s lot more that needs to be done. It’s time to continue the fight, especially now there’s a dirty no-good 🐱-grabber in the White House. WAKE UP PEOPLE!

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