Beyoncé has contributed an essay to Maria Shriver's annual report on the status of women in America, stating that gender equality does not yet exist.The superstar singer wrote an article for The Shriver Report in response to its findings that 42 million American women are living in poverty, or are close to it. "We need to stop buying into the myth about gender equality," the mum-of-one stated. "It isn't a reality yet.
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"Today, women make up half of the US workforce, but the average working women earns only 77 per cent of what the average working man makes. "But unless women and men both say this is unacceptable, things will not change. Men have to demand that their wives, daughters, mothers and sisters earn more - commensurate with their qualifications and not their gender.
Maria and Beyoncé spending time together in 2010
"Equality will be achieved when men and women are granted equal pay and equal respect. "The 32-year-old added, "We have a lot of work to do. But we can get there if we work together. Women are more than 50 per cent of the population and more than 50 per cent of voters. We must demand that we all receive 100 per cent of the opportunities. "Beyoncé was not the only celebrity to contribute an essay to the report.
Eva Longoria penned a piece entitled 'Empowering Latinas' and basketball star LeBron James wrote an appreciation of the nation's working mothers.