A photo of Dr. Alida Avery. Circa 1873. Courtesy of Archives and Special Collections, Vassar College Library.
Breaking Barriers by Fighting for Equal Pay
Maria Mitchell and her colleague Dr. Alida Avery were the only female teachers at Vassar College and were paid far less than their male counterparts. They saw this injustice and decided to fight for equal pay. Their success broke barriers and forever changed how salaries were determined at Vassar.
"[Dr. Avery and I are] fighting for all women, for it was more the general than the special injustice that reached us."
- Maria Mitchell's remarks on the salary dispute.
A photo of Maria Mitchell. Circa 1873. Courtesy of Archives and Special Collections, Vassar College Library.
"We ask that our salaries may not only be the same in amount, as those of the other professors, but may be paid in the same way, leaving questions of domestic arrangements for separate and independent consideration."
- Maria Mitchell's response to the board denying her equal pay request.
Initial Salaries
Maria Mitchell and Dr. Alida Avery were paid far less than their male counterparts. The board of trustees tried to justify the difference but failed to recognize the large gap that remained after their generous estimations of the salaries of the two women.
"The [Female] professors each receive a salary of $1400 cash, together with furnished apartments, equal to $450, or more in money value, making the actual compensation at the lowest estimate $1850. The [Male] Professors whose compensation is regarded as unequal receive nominally $2500, but of this they are required to pay back to the College $400 or $450 per annum for house rent, their residence upon the premises being in fact compulsory as the Trustees deem the social advantages arising from the presence of the families of these several professors such as to justify them making this requirement."
- The Board of Trustees' breakdown of salaries at Vassar.
The Struggle for Equal Pay
The board agreed to pay Maria Mitchell and Dr. Alida Avery the same amount as their male counterparts. However, a few days later the board decided to charge the women $16 a week for "Lady Privileges." The two women were outraged and threatened to quit if changes weren't made quickly.
"I wish respectfully to ask for the items of the charge of $16 a week for 'house furnished apartments etc.' made on November 1st –in the hope of receiving expenses, which seem to me very great....the committee are mistaken in supposing that it [Maria's living quarters] has ever been furnished by them. I asked some year since for furniture, and the request was declined. A lounge, whose cost was $15 is the only article of furniture purchased for me. No other table or bed has ever been supplied for my care. I have made these statements, because I supposed the charge of $16 a week is mainly for furnished rooms, it is plain that it cannot be for table-board, as I have learned as of Nov. 1st. period the rate is $7.50 per week for the table board of guests. Respectfully Maria Mitchell"
- A letter sent by Maria Mitchell to the Executive Committee as a response to the $16 a week charge.
"[The charges shouldn't matter] especially when we take into view the liberal increase made at the same time to the salaries of these Professors."
- The Board of Trustees' response to Maria Mitchell asking to see how they got the number $16 a week.
Resolution
The board lowered the charge to $10 a week and decided that no professor should have to pay for room and board. They also decided that professors' salaries would be determined on factors like age and experience, not on gender. Their victory made equal pay a reality at Vassar College broke the societal idea that women were worth less.