November 6, 2025 • 13 mins
Join us for a powerful conversation with Kim Villanueva, the newly elected President of the National Organization for Women (NOW). As a bi-racial lesbian and the first Asian American woman to lead the organization, Kim shares how her passion for social justice fuels her fight for economic equity.In this episode, Kim unpacks NOW's bold "Kitchen Table Agenda," which directly addresses the pressing economic issues and systemic discrimination faced by women today. You'll hear Kim discuss:
To learn more about the National Organization for Women (NOW), visit https://now.org/.
- The Core Issue: Why the wage gap cannot be separated from racial justice and reproductive freedom. Kim argues that discrimination, racism, and the disproportionate burden of caregiving on women deepen economic inequities and restrict full participation in the workforce.
- Legislative Priorities: Despite gridlock in Congress, NOW is relentlessly pushing for critical national legislation, including the Paycheck Fairness Act, stronger protections within the Equal Pay Act, the Healthy Families Act(for paid sick leave), and the recently reintroduced FAMILY Act (for paid caregiving leave).
- Underrepresentation and Accountability: Why women remain underrepresented in high-paying jobs and the necessary steps to enforce accountability against pay discrimination.
- Her Personal Story: Kim tells a compelling story of recognizing her own value and successfully advocating for a salary increase at her company, offering a real-world example of how to tackle workplace pay inequity.
To learn more about the National Organization for Women (NOW), visit https://now.org/.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Across the board, women continue to earn less than men.
White women make about eighty cents to a man's dollar,
Black women earned sixty six cents, Native women and latinas
just fifty eight cents, and Asian American women, though often
(00:24):
reported higher earnings, still face wide pay gaps depending on
ethnicity and industry. The numbers tell a story about the
urging need for change. I'm Juline Allen, and this is
Conversations or Equal Pay, where we talk with leaders, innovators,
(00:51):
and change makers about closing the gap and uplifting women
of color in the workplace. Listening to Conversations for Equal
So we're talking to Kim Villa Nueva today, the president
(01:11):
of the National Organization for Women or NOW, a tireless
advocate for women's rights and a bold leader driving initiatives
to advance economic justice, equity, and opportunity for women and
women of color. Kim, congratulations on becoming the new president
(01:33):
of NOW. What do you see as your biggest priority
in this new role, especially as it relates to economic
justice for women?
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Well, thank you for the congratulations first of all, and
your support. I think one of my top priorities is
making economic justice central to Now's mission. It's one of
our core issues and obviously it's key to everyoneman's survival
begetting first of all, with closing the gender wage gap,
and sadly the wage gap is starting to widen. We noticed. Yeah,
(02:06):
it's very eye opening to know that the average woman
who works full time and year round, in last year
it was paid just eighty one cents for every dollar
for a man, and that's down from eighty three cents
in twenty twenty three and eighty four cents in twenty
twenty two. So we're going in the wrong direction. Yeah. Yeah,
So for women who are starting their careers today, that's
(02:28):
probably a loss of half a million dollars in earnings,
and that just strengs down the economy. So we want
and women are underpaid, not because they're not because they're underqualified.
That's not true, because there's more women in college, more
women earning college degrees, more likely to hold graduate degrees.
(02:48):
But it's because of segregation and the occupations and discrimination
and just the general devaluation of women's work. So yeah,
so we want to prioritize our grassroots strengthen now to
fight for more solutions for women in the workforce, and
we need to start advocating at the state and a
local level especially. Yeah, those are important.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Yeah, and as you stated that if women are not
paid that fairly, it brings down the economy. They can't
contribute to the economy if really not getting paid adequately.
And it's inspiring to hear your centering economic justice at
the center of your work.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yes. Yes, In fact, we're thinking about an extra studying
a campaign called the Kitchen Table Agenda really really talk
about those the economic issues that women face. I mean,
that's if you have to choose between you know, feeding
your children or paying your medical bill. You know, those
are the issues that we're facing now. So we want
to make sure people that those issues are centered and
(03:53):
that we're discussing them, and that we're trying to find
solutions for those those issues.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
So, Cam, what is now doing to address the specific
challenges of women of color Faiths' you've just pretty much
stated that in the workplace, particularly regarding the persistent wage gap.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Sure, well, I mean, as we know, women of color,
especially black and Latina women, are the hardest hit of
Black women are paid about sixty five percent of what
my white men earn and Latin has earned just fifty
four percent. So we, as I said before, we can't
explain that because of education or experience. It's structural racism
and sexism. So now we're trying to center women of
(04:35):
color by building up leadership pipelines. We're encouraging our chapters
to demand employer pay audits, and we're also partnering with
women of color organizations, you know, and we're also calling
out the fact that women are underrepresented in high paid
jobs and then in some of the occupations such as
nursing or engineering, men are still paid more. So we
(04:57):
need to address these challenges and expose the discrimination where
it occurs and push for accountability.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
You really highlighted the importance of how centering voices that
the most marginalized is important to advance equality, right right, So,
are there any legislative or policy changes that now is
currently focused on to advanced pay equity on a national level.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Absolutely. Yeah, It's a little difficult to push legislation at
the national level right now because of the gridlock in Congress,
but there are some bills that we are focusing on.
One is the Paycheck Fairness Act. Should we get much
easier to find and challenge pay discrimination issues, and that's
designed to have to add additional protections to the Equal
(05:47):
Pay Act and the Fair Pay Act. We're also supporting
the Healthy Families Act, which would provide paid sick leave,
and since women are the primary caregivers, that would help
women stay in the workforce, be able to take time
away from the workforce to address their own health care
needs or their family's needs. And just on September twentieth,
(06:07):
the Family Act was reintroduced and that would allow for
paid leave again for caregiving. So we are pushing those
types of issues.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
And just to clarify for my audience, the Paycheck Fairness.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Act would.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Prohibit employers from asking about past salary history.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Exactly right, right, They couldn't retaliate from people who are
trying to check on salary ranges.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
So, the fight for equal pay, especially for women of color,
is often linked to racial justice and reproductive rights. Can
you explain that connection in a simple way for our listeners.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Sure? Well, we believe that equal pay cannot be separated
from racial justice or reproductive freedom. You know, when women
of color earn less and white men even in the
same jobs, that's that's systemic racism and when women are
denied control over their reproductive choices in their bodies, they
don't have the ability to participate fully in the workforce
(07:12):
and to plan on their own economic futures. And when
the caregiving responsibility is false mostly on women, you know,
that deepens those types of inequities. So those these fights
are one fight. We are We're about turning the isms
into Wazisms, and it's about ensuring that all women, especially
women of color, can exercise freedom and economic security. And
(07:35):
I did want to point out it now that we
are very proud that for the first time ever, our
organization is READ is led by a team of women
of color, myself and my vice president, Rose Brunache, and
I'm also the first Asian American woman elected as now president.
So we're bringing a true intersectional lens to our work
(07:56):
for equal pay and equal rights.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
So you really are showing how these issues are interconnected.
You can't fight for one without fighting for the.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Other, exactly right. We have to fight for everyone, you know,
and sometimes you know, people attack the most marginalized communities,
but we are out there, we are trying to support
everyone because it's the idea of you know, rising tide
lifts all boats. So if we help one community, all
the communities are helped.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
I like that sphraise right tide lifts all boats.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Can you share an example of a recent campaign or
initiative by NOW that has had a tangible impact on
workers' rights or thear pay Oh?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Yes? Well, one powerful example is our equal Payday campaigns,
and each year we highlight the dates that women and
then women by race have to work into the new
year so they can catch up to one men aren
For instance, on August twenty eighth we marked Native Hawaiian
and Pacific Islander Women's Equality Day or Equal Pay and
(09:01):
then next week on October eighth, we're going to raise
awareness of the page wage gap as part of the
Latina Equal Payday. So when we do these campaigns, we
put post things on social media and send out information
to our members, and we try to combine the storytelling
with actual data to show the impact and it's these
(09:22):
type of campaigns have pushed lawmakers to act and in
several states some of our NOW chapters have been able
to win transparency laws, such as what pushing with the
Paycheck Fairness Act. So, I mean these types of campaigns
and reforms make a tangible impact for workers, and it
helps people with information and hopefully combating discrimination.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Absolutely, absolutely, from your own experience, what is the most
important piece of advice you can give to a young
woman of color who is navigating her career and fighting
for fair compensation.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
So, yeah, great question. Just from my own experience, I
can share that you should know your worth and don't
internalize the wage gap as a reflection of your value,
because that's not it at all. I know when I
was starting in my career as a young professional, I
found out that my organization was going to hire someone
at a higher rate of pay than mine, even though
(10:22):
that position didn't require a college degree and it didn't
require as much professional experience as I my job had.
So I was able to talk with my board colleagues
and my female board president to convince my director that
I needed a raise too. So I was given a raise,
and thanks to the advocacy that I learned how to
(10:42):
do instead of organized, instead of agonizing, I organized and
I was able to boose my salary. So I would
encourage young women in the workforce today to advocate for yourself,
and you don't have to do it by yourself, you know,
talk to your co workers, talk to people in the community,
find a mentor or wo mentor, and get involved in
(11:03):
networks organization side now and you can start fighting to
change the structures that create these inequities. So, you know,
we have the idea that grassroots action equals collective action,
So that way you strengthen your own path and you're
also helping the women who are going to come after us.
So I really appreciate the female board chair who took
(11:25):
my side and advocated for me. So I tried to
do that in my own work with now.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Couple of things you highlighted the importance of community, yes,
and how critical peer support is.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Absolutely, Also, through our research, we've learned that most women
who've asked for a specific amount, they've gotten that amount.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
So you have nothing to lose, absolutely, right, Yeah, do
your research, find out how much you were actually worth
and ask for it.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
What gives you hope for the future of the equal
pay movement?
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Well, I'm hopeful because I think most people are waking
up to the reality that the wage gap isn't just unfair,
it's unsustainable. I mean, most people recognize that women are
treated unfairly in the workforce and that the wage gap
is a driver of discrimination. And especially young women. They've
grown up with a different understanding than those of us
(12:32):
who came before, so they, you know, they they expect
to be treated equally and to receive the equal pay.
So they're demanding the transparency and they're talking to their
employers and organizing in their communities, and so we're hoping
to tap into that as well at now. So every
time that we pass a law you know that looks
wages or expands childcare or protects caregivers, you know, we're
(12:55):
shipping away at those barriers.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
So it underscores that the progress is possible. Yes, absolutely,
if we continue to fight for change, progress is possible.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Absolutely. Yeah. We need to be looking forward, not backward,
and working together and we will get there. It may
take the long haul though, but we will get there.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
We will get there. Well, Kim, that's all the questions
I have for today. Thank you for joining me.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Okay, well, thank you for asking. It was a very
good conversation.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
That's it for this episode of Conversations for Equal Pay.
To tune into more episodes, lock onto our website at
Conversations for Equalpay dot org. You're listening to conversations for
equal pay
Across the board, women continue to earn less than men.
White women make about eighty cents to a man's dollar,
Black women earned sixty six cents, Native women and latinas
just fifty eight cents, and Asian American women, though often
(00:24):
reported higher earnings, still face wide pay gaps depending on
ethnicity and industry. The numbers tell a story about the
urging need for change. I'm Juline Allen, and this is
Conversations or Equal Pay, where we talk with leaders, innovators,
(00:51):
and change makers about closing the gap and uplifting women
of color in the workplace. Listening to Conversations for Equal
So we're talking to Kim Villa Nueva today, the president
(01:11):
of the National Organization for Women or NOW, a tireless
advocate for women's rights and a bold leader driving initiatives
to advance economic justice, equity, and opportunity for women and
women of color. Kim, congratulations on becoming the new president
(01:33):
of NOW. What do you see as your biggest priority
in this new role, especially as it relates to economic
justice for women?
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Well, thank you for the congratulations first of all, and
your support. I think one of my top priorities is
making economic justice central to Now's mission. It's one of
our core issues and obviously it's key to everyoneman's survival
begetting first of all, with closing the gender wage gap,
and sadly the wage gap is starting to widen. We noticed. Yeah,
(02:06):
it's very eye opening to know that the average woman
who works full time and year round, in last year
it was paid just eighty one cents for every dollar
for a man, and that's down from eighty three cents
in twenty twenty three and eighty four cents in twenty
twenty two. So we're going in the wrong direction. Yeah. Yeah,
So for women who are starting their careers today, that's
(02:28):
probably a loss of half a million dollars in earnings,
and that just strengs down the economy. So we want
and women are underpaid, not because they're not because they're underqualified.
That's not true, because there's more women in college, more
women earning college degrees, more likely to hold graduate degrees.
(02:48):
But it's because of segregation and the occupations and discrimination
and just the general devaluation of women's work. So yeah,
so we want to prioritize our grassroots strengthen now to
fight for more solutions for women in the workforce, and
we need to start advocating at the state and a
local level especially. Yeah, those are important.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Yeah, and as you stated that if women are not
paid that fairly, it brings down the economy. They can't
contribute to the economy if really not getting paid adequately.
And it's inspiring to hear your centering economic justice at
the center of your work.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yes. Yes, In fact, we're thinking about an extra studying
a campaign called the Kitchen Table Agenda really really talk
about those the economic issues that women face. I mean,
that's if you have to choose between you know, feeding
your children or paying your medical bill. You know, those
are the issues that we're facing now. So we want
to make sure people that those issues are centered and
(03:53):
that we're discussing them, and that we're trying to find
solutions for those those issues.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
So, Cam, what is now doing to address the specific
challenges of women of color Faiths' you've just pretty much
stated that in the workplace, particularly regarding the persistent wage gap.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Sure, well, I mean, as we know, women of color,
especially black and Latina women, are the hardest hit of
Black women are paid about sixty five percent of what
my white men earn and Latin has earned just fifty
four percent. So we, as I said before, we can't
explain that because of education or experience. It's structural racism
and sexism. So now we're trying to center women of
(04:35):
color by building up leadership pipelines. We're encouraging our chapters
to demand employer pay audits, and we're also partnering with
women of color organizations, you know, and we're also calling
out the fact that women are underrepresented in high paid
jobs and then in some of the occupations such as
nursing or engineering, men are still paid more. So we
(04:57):
need to address these challenges and expose the discrimination where
it occurs and push for accountability.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
You really highlighted the importance of how centering voices that
the most marginalized is important to advance equality, right right, So,
are there any legislative or policy changes that now is
currently focused on to advanced pay equity on a national level.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Absolutely. Yeah, It's a little difficult to push legislation at
the national level right now because of the gridlock in Congress,
but there are some bills that we are focusing on.
One is the Paycheck Fairness Act. Should we get much
easier to find and challenge pay discrimination issues, and that's
designed to have to add additional protections to the Equal
(05:47):
Pay Act and the Fair Pay Act. We're also supporting
the Healthy Families Act, which would provide paid sick leave,
and since women are the primary caregivers, that would help
women stay in the workforce, be able to take time
away from the workforce to address their own health care
needs or their family's needs. And just on September twentieth,
(06:07):
the Family Act was reintroduced and that would allow for
paid leave again for caregiving. So we are pushing those
types of issues.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
And just to clarify for my audience, the Paycheck Fairness.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Act would.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Prohibit employers from asking about past salary history.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Exactly right, right, They couldn't retaliate from people who are
trying to check on salary ranges.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
So, the fight for equal pay, especially for women of color,
is often linked to racial justice and reproductive rights. Can
you explain that connection in a simple way for our listeners.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Sure? Well, we believe that equal pay cannot be separated
from racial justice or reproductive freedom. You know, when women
of color earn less and white men even in the
same jobs, that's that's systemic racism and when women are
denied control over their reproductive choices in their bodies, they
don't have the ability to participate fully in the workforce
(07:12):
and to plan on their own economic futures. And when
the caregiving responsibility is false mostly on women, you know,
that deepens those types of inequities. So those these fights
are one fight. We are We're about turning the isms
into Wazisms, and it's about ensuring that all women, especially
women of color, can exercise freedom and economic security. And
(07:35):
I did want to point out it now that we
are very proud that for the first time ever, our
organization is READ is led by a team of women
of color, myself and my vice president, Rose Brunache, and
I'm also the first Asian American woman elected as now president.
So we're bringing a true intersectional lens to our work
(07:56):
for equal pay and equal rights.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
So you really are showing how these issues are interconnected.
You can't fight for one without fighting for the.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Other, exactly right. We have to fight for everyone, you know,
and sometimes you know, people attack the most marginalized communities,
but we are out there, we are trying to support
everyone because it's the idea of you know, rising tide
lifts all boats. So if we help one community, all
the communities are helped.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
I like that sphraise right tide lifts all boats.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Can you share an example of a recent campaign or
initiative by NOW that has had a tangible impact on
workers' rights or thear pay Oh?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Yes? Well, one powerful example is our equal Payday campaigns,
and each year we highlight the dates that women and
then women by race have to work into the new
year so they can catch up to one men aren
For instance, on August twenty eighth we marked Native Hawaiian
and Pacific Islander Women's Equality Day or Equal Pay and
(09:01):
then next week on October eighth, we're going to raise
awareness of the page wage gap as part of the
Latina Equal Payday. So when we do these campaigns, we
put post things on social media and send out information
to our members, and we try to combine the storytelling
with actual data to show the impact and it's these
(09:22):
type of campaigns have pushed lawmakers to act and in
several states some of our NOW chapters have been able
to win transparency laws, such as what pushing with the
Paycheck Fairness Act. So, I mean these types of campaigns
and reforms make a tangible impact for workers, and it
helps people with information and hopefully combating discrimination.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Absolutely, absolutely, from your own experience, what is the most
important piece of advice you can give to a young
woman of color who is navigating her career and fighting
for fair compensation.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
So, yeah, great question. Just from my own experience, I
can share that you should know your worth and don't
internalize the wage gap as a reflection of your value,
because that's not it at all. I know when I
was starting in my career as a young professional, I
found out that my organization was going to hire someone
at a higher rate of pay than mine, even though
(10:22):
that position didn't require a college degree and it didn't
require as much professional experience as I my job had.
So I was able to talk with my board colleagues
and my female board president to convince my director that
I needed a raise too. So I was given a raise,
and thanks to the advocacy that I learned how to
(10:42):
do instead of organized, instead of agonizing, I organized and
I was able to boose my salary. So I would
encourage young women in the workforce today to advocate for yourself,
and you don't have to do it by yourself, you know,
talk to your co workers, talk to people in the community,
find a mentor or wo mentor, and get involved in
(11:03):
networks organization side now and you can start fighting to
change the structures that create these inequities. So, you know,
we have the idea that grassroots action equals collective action,
So that way you strengthen your own path and you're
also helping the women who are going to come after us.
So I really appreciate the female board chair who took
(11:25):
my side and advocated for me. So I tried to
do that in my own work with now.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Couple of things you highlighted the importance of community, yes,
and how critical peer support is.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Absolutely, Also, through our research, we've learned that most women
who've asked for a specific amount, they've gotten that amount.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
So you have nothing to lose, absolutely, right, Yeah, do
your research, find out how much you were actually worth
and ask for it.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
What gives you hope for the future of the equal
pay movement?
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Well, I'm hopeful because I think most people are waking
up to the reality that the wage gap isn't just unfair,
it's unsustainable. I mean, most people recognize that women are
treated unfairly in the workforce and that the wage gap
is a driver of discrimination. And especially young women. They've
grown up with a different understanding than those of us
(12:32):
who came before, so they, you know, they they expect
to be treated equally and to receive the equal pay.
So they're demanding the transparency and they're talking to their
employers and organizing in their communities, and so we're hoping
to tap into that as well at now. So every
time that we pass a law you know that looks
wages or expands childcare or protects caregivers, you know, we're
(12:55):
shipping away at those barriers.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
So it underscores that the progress is possible. Yes, absolutely,
if we continue to fight for change, progress is possible.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Absolutely. Yeah. We need to be looking forward, not backward,
and working together and we will get there. It may
take the long haul though, but we will get there.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
We will get there. Well, Kim, that's all the questions
I have for today. Thank you for joining me.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Okay, well, thank you for asking. It was a very
good conversation.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
That's it for this episode of Conversations for Equal Pay.
To tune into more episodes, lock onto our website at
Conversations for Equalpay dot org. You're listening to conversations for
equal pay
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