The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is the nation’s leading voice promoting equity and education for women and girls. Since our founding in 1881, AAUW members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political.
Our Purpose
Gender Equity & Economic Security
AAUW advances equity for women and girls by championing success in higher education — a vital pathway to economic security. For over 140 years, AAUW has led the fight for gender equity through advocacy, funding, and collective action.
Strategic Priorities
1. Fund Higher Education
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Provide grants and fellowships for women in underserved communities and underrepresented fields like STEM.
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Support women in academia and research.
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Build networks for alumnae to lead and expand AAUW’s impact globally.
2. Remove Barriers to Success in Education and the Workplace
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Champion legislation supporting paid family and medical leave, paid sick days, pay equity, and workplace harassment protections.
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Promote inclusive, safe, and accessible educational environments through enforcement of Title IX and other civil rights laws.
3. Strengthen AAUW’s Reach
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Support an effective network of states and branches through aligned
strategies and initiatives like the Five-Star Program. -
Grow organizational sustainability through member engagement and impact evaluation.
A Legacy of Empowering Women
AAUW’s story begins in 1881, when a small group of female college graduates banded together to open the doors for women’s career advancement and to encourage more women to pursue higher education.
We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. In many ways, the fight for gender equity is just getting started. Join us!
Over the past 140 years, AAUW has evolved to become the leading voice in advancing gender equity in education and workplaces everywhere. Through research, education and advocacy, we’re committed to ensuring that everyone gets the same opportunity to learn, earn and lead. Our programs aim at moving women forward—and we fight for policies that support our goals.
For more information about the AAUW Aurora Area Branch, email aauwaurorail@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook at AAUW Aurora – IL Area Branch.
Our branch’s programs, from the monthly Bookin’ It Study Group and Movie Group, to the monthly General Meetings, focus on the AAUW Mission:
Removing Bias from Education
Fighting for Fair Pay
Advancing Women in Leadership
Learn more about branch activities in our Highlights newsletter.
The Fight for Fair Pay
The gender pay gap remains a glaring inequity, undermining both women’s earnings and savings over their lifetime, as well as the strength of our economy. In 2023, women working full-time year-round earned just 83% of what men earned—$55,240 compared to $66,790. The gap is even worse when we include part-time and seasonal workers, which increases the pay gap to 75% —leaving women and their families at a financial disadvantage.
The wage gap cannot simply be attributed to differences in education, occupation, or time out of the workforce. It is also a result of gendered expectations that shape people’s paths, influencing their educational and career opportunities. Once in the workplace, pervasive biases and discriminatory practices further cement these disparities. Advancing comprehensive and inclusive strategies at the federal and state level to address this multifaceted issue can support economic opportunity
for all.
The challenges grow even more complex for women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and women with disabilities, who face compounded structural and social inequities.
Here are the dates that each demographic of women achieve equal pay to their male counterparts in the following year:
March 25, 2025: Equal Pay Day
April 7, 2025: AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) Women’s Equal Pay Day
May 6, 2025: Moms’ Equal Pay Day
June 17, 2025: LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day
July 10, 2025: Black Women’s Equal Pay Day
August 28, 2025: NHPI (Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) Women’s Equal Pay Day
October 8, 2025: Latina Equal Pay Day
October 23, 2025: Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day
November 18, 2025: Native Women’s Equal Pay Day