A film depicting the life of Lilly Ledbetter, the namesake of Congress’s , is set to premiere in theaters on May 9, seven months after her passing.
Lilly, a biopic starring Patricia Clarkson, portrays Ledbetter’s experience as a Goodyear employee who discovered pay disparity with her male counterparts and her subsequent legal fight that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. The movie highlights the significant 2009 enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
Here’s a look at the real-life figure behind Lilly.
Lilly Ledbetter’s Struggles
Ledbetter’s impoverished upbringing was crucial in building the resilience needed to withstand a prolonged legal battle.
Born in Alabama in 1938, she grew up during a time when women had limited professional opportunities.
Lanier Scott Isom, who assisted Ledbetter in writing her 2012 memoir, Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond, noted that she grew up without basic amenities and limited education, and her clothes were made from simple materials.
She was known for her work ethic, even working at a chicken processing plant to support her family.
In 1979, already a married mother, she took on a supervisory role at Goodyear’s plant in Gadsden, Alabama.
While her husband supported her career, she faced opposition from men who felt intimidated by her presence.
Ledbetter was always candid about the sexual harassment she endured at work.
Isom recounted an incident where a supervisor suggested a promotion in exchange for a sexual encounter.
Rachel Feldman, the writer and director of Lilly, shared examples of the harassment Ledbetter faced, including inappropriate comments about her clothing and general discomfort with women in the workplace.
Beyond work, Ledbetter also faced sexism in healthcare when a doctor suggested she earn money for her son’s surgery by participating in a program involving hysterectomies for training surgeons.
After 19 years at Goodyear, she discovered she was earning less than a younger male colleague she had trained. She received an anonymous note revealing the salaries of her male counterparts, showing a disparity of up to $2,000 per month.
Lilly Ledbetter’s Fight for Equal Pay
Jon Goldfarb, a young lawyer portrayed by Thomas Sadoski in the film, took on Ledbetter’s case, and Lilly largely depicts their legal battle. Although she initially won in federal court, Goodyear’s appeal overturned the decision. In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against her, citing the requirement to file claims within 180 days of a discriminatory act.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg addressed Ledbetter in her dissenting opinion, suggesting that she could continue her fight in Congress. The film incorporates genuine interviews and speeches by Ginsburg about Ledbetter.
Ledbetter’s fight for legislation was further complicated by her husband’s battle with cancer, which included jaw removal surgery. Despite these challenges, he wholeheartedly supported her efforts and trips to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the bill.
President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law on January 29, 2009, early in his first term. Ledbetter also had the opportunity to dance with Obama on Inauguration Day, fulfilling a lifelong dream rooted in her childhood love for ballroom dancing.
The law stipulated that pay discrimination claims must be made within 180 days of an employee’s most recent paycheck, rather than 180 days after the initial discriminatory paycheck. However, as the New York Times noted, Ledbetter was not entitled to back pay from Goodyear because the discriminatory paychecks predated the law’s enactment.
Lilly Ledbetter’s legacy
Ledbetter passed away on October 12, 2024, at the age of 86. Lilly serves as a fitting tribute to her, as she was a film enthusiast who enjoyed movies starring and Fred Astaire. Feldman highlighted Ledbetter’s understanding of film’s impact, noting that it could affect people on an emotional and intellectual level.
Feldman consulted Ledbetter throughout the script-writing phase, often seeking her input on dialogue. For example, when trying to create a line for the fictional Ledbetter to say at a press briefing, the real Ledbetter suggested that her character should express her dream of winning the lottery as a way to calm her nerves.
Marc Benioff, owner of TIME and producer of the film, recalled his first encounter with Ledbetter in a , and how she inspired him to address pay disparities at Salesforce. By 2022, the company had invested $22 million in achieving pay equity, emphasizing the importance of ongoing efforts to uphold equality as a core value.
Feldman conveyed her hope that viewers recognize “the importance of male allies.”
While the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is a , it hasn’t completely eliminated the . According to the , women in 2024 earned an average of 85% of what men earned.
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