By Kristen Strezo, Co-Chair of the Somerville Commission for Women

Women face a double-edged sword when it comes to salary negotiation and that’s leaving us behind in the workforce. Because of this, the Somerville Commission for Women (SCW) has partnered with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) for the AAUW Work Smart program – which focuses on pay negotiation education – on Thursday, September 28.

As 58.6 percent of the workforce is women working or looking for work, according to U.S. Department of Labor, we need to discuss salary negotiation and the gender pay gap now.

Unfortunately, statistics paint a grim picture of pay inequity. AAUW’s 2017 study found that U.S. women working full-time are paid on average about 80 percent of what white men are paid. This equates to a 20 percent pay gap, and even worse for women of color.

According to a Harvard Business Review study, women typically don’t feel comfortable negotiating their pay and raises. There’s reason for women to pause because even if women do negotiate, for there may be backlash in the office. Kathleen McGinn, Harvard professor at the Kennedy School, said that women were oftentimes penalized for negotiating: sometimes seen in a negative light or even ignored afterwards.

Luckily, there are ways for women to fight pay inequity. Salary negotiation workshops have proven to help. Participants at our AAUW Work Smart program will learn about the pay gap and how predominant it is in the U.S.  They’ll also have a chance to practice salary negotiation as well as how to respond to salary offers. Additionally, participants will learn how to research their worth based on pay scales and experience.

Join us at the Cross Street Center, 165 Broadway in East Somerville, from 6:00 to

8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 28. Our event is free and open to all Somerville women.  And, yes, we will have pizza.

Sign up online at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aauw-work-smart-in-boston-at-somerville-commission-for-women-tickets-36827552200. For questions, please contact Chris Hosman at chosman@somervillema.gov or (617) 625-6600, ext. 2406.

Kristen Strezo is the Co-Chair on the City of Somerville’s Commission for Women; however, the views and opinions expressed in this article are entirely her own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the City of Somerville.