This column originally appeared in Michigan Advance on March 25, 2021
Infrastructure is important for everyone. We need a strong public system for roads and transportation, for drinking water, for energy. And when that system is neglected, we all bear the burden as a society.
The nation’s caregiving infrastructure is heavily reliant on women — and not just because women often play the role of “mother.” Women also play an outsized role as teachers, child care workers, health care providers, care workers for the elderly, domestic workers and other caregiving positions — positions that are often underpaid and undervalued.
Over the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen these workers referred to as “our nation’s heroes.” Cards and posters and social media posts tout the value of their work.
But at the end of the week when payday comes, women working in these fields are not receiving the benefits a hero deserves. They’re not even receiving the benefits most males receive. And at the end of the workday, caregiving doesn’t stop for most women. Despite shifts in gender roles, women still provide the majority of care for their own children and elderly parents — a role that has caused many women to leave the workforce altogether as the COVID-19 crisis continues. According to the National Women’s Law Center, women’s labor force participation in the United States is back to the level it was in 1980.
We’ve been relying on an outdated, inequitable caregiving infrastructure for decades, and it’s no wonder that it has failed us when we need it most. Just as we look to repair our crumbling roads and bridges and modernize our outdated energy system, we need to rebuild the systems that hold women back.
Wednesday, March 24, was Equal Pay Day, meaning the average woman must work this far into the new year to earn what the average man earned by December 31. It is based on 2019 U.S. Census data on median earnings for full-time, year-round workers.
“Equal Pay Day” fluctuates based on demographics:
- Asian-American and Pacific Islander Women: March 9 (85 cents for every dollar white men make, although the wage gap varies greatly. Vietnamese women earn 67 cents for every dollar and Burmese women earn only 52 cents, making them some of the lowest paid people in the nation).
- All Women: March 24 (82 cents for every dollar paid to men)
- All Mothers: June 4 (Mothers are paid 70 cents for every dollar paid to fathers)
- Black Women: August 3 (63 cents for every dollar white men make)
- Native American Women: September 8 (60 cents for every dollar white men make)
- Latinx Women: October 21 (55 cents for every dollar white men make)
Not all women work as caregivers or serve as caregivers in the home. But the caregiving infrastructure is so reliant on women that we must factor it in when we think about how to close the wage gap.
The federal American Rescue Plan signed this month is addressing some major needs of women, including expansion of the Child Tax Credits and the Earned Income Tax Credit, increased payments to child care providers, funding for education, funding for food access, expanded healthcare access and affordability, and funding for child care costs and housing assistance. The Michigan League for Public Policy and national partners are pushing to build an even stronger infrastructure by making many of these temporary relief measures permanent.
Another promising policy when it comes to strengthening the nation for women is the federal Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help close the wage gap for women and people of color by eliminating loopholes in the current Equal Pay Act, cutting down on pay discrimination and making workplace protections stronger. The Paycheck Fairness Act was introduced in the U.S. House on Jan. 28 and advocates like the American Civil Liberties Union are encouraging folks to contact their members of Congress to urge passage. A variety of pay equity legislation continues to be introduced at the state level, as well.
Check out the League’s county and legislative district fact sheets to see what the gender wage gap is in your community. Talk to your employer about how they promote wage fairness. Talk to your state lawmakers about what they’re doing to help make child care affordable and accessible. Get updates from Think Babies Michigan to see what can be done to help working mothers with young children. Follow along as the Michigan Legislature crafts its Fiscal Year 2022 state budget and decides how to appropriate federal funds — and hold them accountable if they’re not making equitable decisions.
Fixing the infrastructure for women and caregivers won’t be easy. But it starts with knowing what’s broken.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
