Women deserve to be paid equally for their work, and that’s no secret.
But even though it's 2019, women in the United States still earn just 80 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts. Over the past year, women's rights movements aroudn the world have gained traction, yielding several anthems of female empowerment and inspirational speeches, but actions speak louder than words.
And at the end of the day women are saying, “I’d Rather Get Paid” — that’s the message of Secret deodorant’s eponymous new campaign.
The company, a Procter & Gamble brand, recently launched the campaign with a video featuring cameos by well-known gender equality advocates — including, actress and activist Sophia Bush, actress Samira Wiley, and soccer legend Abby Wambach.
Take Action: Inspire Women to Advocate for Themselves at Work!
The “I’d Rather Get Paid” video, intended to ignite a conversation about closing the gender wage gap, is directed by Raine Allen-Miller and features several women of color, highlighting a group of people for whom the wage gap is even wider.
Black women in the US earn just 63% of what white men are paid, while Latina women are paid 46% less than white men.
With its new campaign, Secret has a bold message: “Equal work. Equal sweat. Equal pay.”
The company’s products protect against sweat, but “there are some things women shouldn’t have to sweat — like getting paid what they’re worth,” says Sara Saunders, associate brand director for Secret. “As a brand for women by women, we want to build on the conversation around closing the wage gap, and give women the strength, tools and inspiration to stop sweating the issue.”
As part of the campaign, Secret has also joined forces with Ladies Get Paid and The Wing to empower women to become equal pay advocates for themselves and others. A free toolkit has been made available with tips for negotiating salaries and supporting other women in the workplace available. And next month a series of workshops focused on closing the wage gap will be held at The Wing locations across the US.