The U.S. Labor Department says women make $.81 for every dollar men make.
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama pushed equal pay for equal work Tuesday. Republicans pushed back, saying many young moms choose to work at lower pay for more flexibility.
Here in San Diego, the Lawyers Club held its second annual Equal Pay Day Leadership Luncheon downtown.
Speakers addressed gender wage disparity and its impact on women in the workforce and their families.
The keynote by U.S. Labor Department Women's Bureau Program analyst Kelly Jenkins-Pultz says there are things women can do to bridge the wage gap.
"Women need to arm themselves with information, they need to be able to talk freely about their salary, they need to be able to network, and understand how what they're earning compares in the marketplace," she said.
Jenkins-Pultz says the gap is caused by many complex factors including differences in education, work experience and hours worked.
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But she says there's a portion that makes no sense except for a worker's gender.
