It has long been the case that women are paid less than men for the same amount of work. Fortunately, Iowa State is coming to terms with the inequities that women professors face in the salary department. Last Friday, a report detailing ISU’s response to this problem was made public, showing that women received a higher average percent raise than men.

By giving women professors at ISU a higher percentage pay raise than their male counterparts, ISU is assuring females that their work is valuable and just as important. Female faculty, on average, are receiving a 4.5 percent pay hike compared to 3.99 percent for male faculty members. At the professor level, which registered the greatest difference, women received a 4.7 percent pay raise while males got a 3.77 percent pay hike.

This action is a step in the right direction, but it also begs the question: When will women’s and men’s pay be equal? In the end, it is this goal which must be achieved.