Lilly Ledbetter, Gender Pay Equality Icon, Dies at 86: A Legacy of Equal Pay Advocacy
Lilly Ledbetter, the trailblazing advocate for gender pay equity whose fight inspired the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, passed away at age 86 due to respiratory failure, her family announced on Sunday.
Ledbetter’s journey to becoming a symbol for equal pay rights began in the 1990s after discovering she was earning significantly less than her male counterparts during her 19 years as a manager at Goodyear. This revelation led her to file a gender discrimination lawsuit in 1999. Although she initially won the case in 2003, securing $3.8 million in backpay and damages, Goodyear’s appeal led to a reversal of the decision. The case ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 2007, where a 5-4 ruling stated that Ledbetter should have sued within 180 days of her first discriminatory paycheck, thereby dismissing her case.
Despite the setback, Ledbetter continued her fight for equal pay. Her efforts culminated in President Barack Obama signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as his first piece of legislation in 2009. This landmark law expanded workers’ rights to challenge unequal pay.
Reflecting on that moment, Ledbetter told CNN in 2018, “That was the most awesome emotion I think that I have ever had. I’ll put it behind having a son and a daughter.” Her advocacy continued well into her retirement, as she became a national symbol for pay equity.
Paying tribute to Ledbetter, former President Obama said, “Lilly did what so many Americans before her have done: setting her sights high for herself and even higher for her children and grandchildren.” He added, “Michelle and I are grateful for her advocacy and her friendship.”
Other prominent figures also honored Ledbetter’s legacy. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called her fight for pay equity “heroic,” and AFL-CIO described her as a true champion for workers’ rights.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff credited Ledbetter with changing his perspective on pay disparities, noting how her advocacy exposed the systemic inequalities present even in large corporations. “There can be no true equality without pay equity,” Benioff said.
Despite legislative progress, Ledbetter remained vocal about the ongoing gender pay gap. In a 2019 op-ed for CNN, she emphasized the need for stronger laws to protect workers from pay discrimination, especially women of color who continue to face the most significant wage disparities. As of 2024, women earn just 84 cents for every dollar earned by men, a gap that widens further when part-time workers are considered.
Rep. Chuy Garcia highlighted Ledbetter’s continued relevance in the fight for equal pay, particularly for Latinas and Black women who earn significantly less than their white male counterparts. “Lilly’s fight is not over,” Garcia stated.
Ledbetter’s life story was further immortalized in the film Lilly, which premiered at the Hamptons Film Festival, highlighting her pivotal role in the push for pay equity and gender justice.
Ledbetter’s legacy lives on through the ongoing fight for equal pay, as her work continues to inspire generations to come.
Source : CNN
