Maryland Democratic Party Commemorates Women’s History Month

Annapolis, MD— Today, the Maryland Democratic Party is proud to commemorate Women’s History Month by recognizing the many women working for low wages, especially those who are tipped workers. Women are 67 percent of all tipped workers in the U.S. and women represent more than six in ten minimum wage workers across the country. Women of color are disproportionately represented, comprising nearly four in ten female minimum wage workers.

From lack of benefits and small paychecks to harassment in the workplace and poverty, working women who are tipped workers face socioeconomic insecurity across the board. The cost to families and our society are great: these women often work multiple jobs, have more health problems, and have less time to spend with their children among other negative societal effects.

Though working women have continued to persevere in the face of many challenges, it’s clear that these legislated barriers to opportunity must be eliminated.

Following this announcement, Maryland Democratic Party Chair Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings released the following statement:

“Tipped workers operate at the extremes of economic vulnerability in Maryland and nationwide. Women who are tipped workers do not receive the protections of the state minimum wage and they suffer from gender pay disparities which locks them into a cycle of poverty that undermines their economic security over a lifetime.

Working women deserve much better. Which is why the Maryland Democratic Party is committed to advancing policies that strengthen Maryland’s economy by helping create new pathways for women working in low wage jobs to enter the middle class.”