Wage Against the Machine: How Women Took on Workplace Inequality

Abstract

This paper focuses on the life and work of Esther Peterson, a key figure in the fight for workplace equality, particularly for women. It explores her significant contributions to labor legislation, including the Equal Pay Act of 1963, and her efforts to empower women in the workforce. The research traces Peterson’s career path through the historical context of women's labor participation from the 1940s through the 1960s, highlighting her impact on creating policies aimed at gender equality in the workplace and her lasting influence on generations of women striving for economic justice.