Released on March 14, 2023

Statement by NOW President Christian F. Nunes   

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NOW is committed to commemorating Equal Pay Day and what it means for all women. While it’s a significant occasion, it also rekindles feelings of disbelief, anger, and frustration. It’s 2023 and – inexplicably and unjustifiably – it’s difficult to reckon with the fact that women are still not paid equally to men. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research even projects that gender pay equity won’t become a reality until 2059.  

Although the gender pay gap has slightly narrowed for all workers with earnings, we still have a long way to go. Women are not just a single monolithic group, which is reflected in the unfortunate racial pay gap that further limits the economic freedoms of women of color. White women working full-time in the US make 82 cents for every dollar earned by white men whereas Black and Indigenous women earn just 60 cents for every dollar. The gap widens for Latina women who earn only 55 cents for every dollar made by white men. Not only are these numbers devastating, but they also haven’t changed much in the past two decades.  

There are already disproportionate economic burdens thrust upon women, such as shouldering the majority of unpaid work and childcare. As they say, a woman’s work is never done, and in many cases, it’s never compensated. The pandemic’s effect on women has also been incredibly harsh in what is now being called the “she-cession.” And while both men and women experienced unemployment at similar rates, since 2020, men have regained triple the jobs that women have. In addition, 80 percent of working mothers took the lead on remote learning compared to 31 percent of working fathers, an uncomfortable reassertion of outdated and unfair traditional values.  

Women everywhere deserve economic justice and without equal pay, this simply isn’t possible. There is much to gain from closing the gender and racial pay gaps. Not only would women finally be compensated what they deserve but it would decrease poverty across the country by boosting financial independence for all women. Let’s ensure that we leave the gender pay gap in the past, where it belongs. 

Contact: Press Team, press@now.org,

Released on March 9, 2023

Statement by National NOW President Christian F. Nunes 

WASHINGTON–In the eight months since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, one in three women have lost access to abortion care, and over 17 million can no longer access all the reproductive health care they need.  States are rushing to pass more bans and restrictions on abortions, as well as laws that would send women to jail for taking care of their health. 

Senate Democrats know that attacks on reproductive rights are growing crisis that must be stopped—NOW.  That’s why NOW members are excited to support the reintroduction of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify the right to abortion care at the national level. 

Women need to know that no matter your zip code, or who’s in control of your state legislature, your bodily autonomy will be respected—and protected. 

Extremist politicians say they’re protecting women’s health, but it’s really about holding on to their own power over women’s lives.  And once again, the lives that are most at risk are those already dealing with the worst inequity. States with the most restrictive abortion bans have some of the highest rates of Black maternal death—as much as 38% greater than in states without abortion restrictions. 

Women’s lives are at stake.  The Senate must pass the Women’s Health Protection Act. 

Contact: Press Team, press@now.org,

Released on February 7, 2023

Statement of National NOW President Christian F. Nunes 

WASHINGTON, DC–President Biden’s State of the Union address set an optimistic tone, full of progress and possibility.  He spoke of restoring the soul of the nation, which includes ensuring that women can make their own decisions about their reproductive health. 

NOW members know that Joe Biden is right, and we appreciate the Biden-Harris administration’s focus on protecting access to abortion, including medical abortions.   

Dr. Jill Biden invited Amanda Zurawaski, who nearly died after being denied a medical intervention because Texas’ abortion law, to join her in the presidential viewing box.  And members of Congress brought abortion providers and women who were made to travel across state lines and pay thousands of dollars to receive abortion care as their guests. 

It was uplifting to see the level of commitment on display at the speech, and we know that the work to achieve a truly intersectional feminist state of the union continues.  President Biden delivered a State of the Union address with goals that covered a lot of important ground—but we have to gain every inch of that progress through our own activism and commitment. 

President Biden wants to lead a government that has our back—that sees those who’ve been unseen, marginalized and left behind, and we thank him for uplifting those who are usually forgotten. NOW members understand that fight very well. Like President Biden, we are committed to the goals of a feminist state of the union–and we’re not turning back.   

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The National Organization for Women (NOW) is the nation’s leading membership-based advocacy group dedicated to defending women’s rights, advancing equality and combating injustice in all aspects of social, political and economic life. Through educating, mobilizing, and convening a vast network of grassroots activists across the country, NOW advocates for national, state and local policies that promote an anti-racist and intersectional feminist agenda. Since its founding in 1966, NOW has been on the frontlines of nearly every major advancement for women’s rights and continues to champion progressive values today. More about NOW’s efforts and resources is available at NOW.org. 

Contact: Press Team, press@now.org,