Lilly Ledbetter: An Icon in the Fight for Pay Equality Dies at 86 Years Old

Lilly Ledbetter, a former factory manager from Alabama who became a figurehead of the equality movement, has passed away at the age of 86. Her dedication led to the enactment of a landmark law against wage discrimination that bears her name. After discovering that she earned less than her male colleagues at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Alabama, Ledbetter filed a lawsuit. This initially failed when the Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that lawsuits must be filed within six months of receiving a discriminatory paycheck—a deadline that had long passed in her case. In 2009, then-President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, allowing employees to file a lawsuit within 180 days of receiving any discriminatory paycheck. Obama praised Ledbetter as one of the many Americans who strive for equal pay, aiming high and thinking of future generations. Ledbetter’s commitment did not end with the legislation. Until her death, she tirelessly advocated for wage equality. A film about her life, starring Patricia Clarkson, was recently featured at the Hamptons International Film Festival. On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the law named after Ledbetter, President Joe Biden took new measures to close the gender pay gap, including a rule preventing the federal government from considering previous salaries when setting pay. Earlier this year, Ledbetter, along with Deborah Vagins, wrote in Ms. Magazine about the need for broader steps towards pay equality. A recent study released by the Census Bureau shows that the pay gap has widened for the first time in 20 years as of 2023, with women earning only 83 cents to a man’s dollar, a decline from 2022. Emily Martin from the National Women's Law Center emphasizes Ledbetter’s relentless commitment. She sees her as an inspiration for how to turn setbacks into long-term successes. Although Ledbetter lost her case, it facilitated important steps toward enforcing the Equal Pay Act.