Lilly Ledbetter, the influential women’s equality activist who played a pivotal role in advancing pay equity through the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, passed away on Saturday at the age of 86. Her death was confirmed on Monday by Jodi Solomon, her speaking manager.
“She was fierce, she was a crusader and just a really good friend. She will be missed a lot,” Solomon shared.
Born in Jacksonville, Alabama, Ledbetter began her career as a supervisor at a Goodyear tire plant in Gadsden in 1979. Years later, she learned via an anonymous note that her male counterparts in the same position were earning significantly more than she was.
“When I saw that, it took my breath away. I felt humiliated. I felt degraded,” Ledbetter reflected in a 2009 interview. After this revelation, she filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in Birmingham, Alabama.
This marked the start of a decade-long legal battle for Ledbetter. She retired from Goodyear about 11 months after discovering the wage gap and subsequently filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the company in 1999. In 2003, she won her case with an award of over $3 million, but this amount was later reduced to $300,000 due to statutory caps, along with $60,000 in back pay. Goodyear appealed, and in a 2007 ruling, the Supreme Court sided with the company, stating that Ledbetter could only recover damages from the 180 days preceding her claim.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, dissenting in that case, argued that Ledbetter’s situation was not time-barred and expressed that the matter was for Congress to address.
Less than two years later, Congress enacted the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which modified the Civil Rights Act of 1964, enabling workers to pursue relief, including back pay, for up to two years prior to filing a claim. This measure was signed into law by then-President Barack Obama on January 29, 2009, marking his first act as president.
Obama paid tribute to Ledbetter, stating, “Lilly Ledbetter never set out to be a trailblazer or a household name. She just wanted to be paid the same as a man for her hard work.” He acknowledged her legacy and her impact on future generations.
Ledbetter’s commitment to pay equity has been widely recognized. Recently, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Advertising Week for her contributions to the cause. Additionally, a film based on her life, titled “Lilly,” is being screened across the nation.