The Amount of Money You’d Lose Over Your Career Because of the Wage Gap Is Straight Up INSANE

Let’s talk about the wage gap, y’all. It’s real and it sucks. Celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Charlize Theron have helped bring the issue to light over recent months. The POTUS has even recently commented on the issue and noted that it needs to be addressed and amended. And while the wheels are beginning to turn, we’re still a long way from offering up totally equal pay between sexes. However, after discovering just how much money you might lose because of the wage gap over the course of you career, we’re guessing you’ll be advocating for a change sooner rather than later.

Based on today's wage gap, women would lose a whopping $430,480 over the course of a 40-year career. For Latinas those losses would come to $1,007,080 and for African American, women the total comes out to $877,480. We'll give you a minute to really process those numbers.

The National Women's Law Center has calculated these shocking totals and has even created an interactive map of the US that will show you where your state falls in regards to a lifetime wage gap total. In California, women are expected to lose $322, 120 over the course of their career. In New York it's slightly lower at $271, 960. However in states like Louisiana, Utah and Wyoming the sum is appalling high coming in well over the $600,000 mark in all three places. It should also be mentioned that in every state the gap is currently almost twice as high for minorities.

Okay ladies, who else has their picket signs ready? It's time to make some serious moves.

What has your experience been with the wage gap? Share with us on Twitter @britandco.

(Photo via Getty)

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Therise Edwards, founder/CEO of Teshley Solutions, an education consultancy firm that helps students and families navigate the complexities of the education system K through 12.

What is an unexpected business challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?

I wouldn't call myself a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) expert, but I ended up having to know a lot more about it than I ever anticipated. FAFSA is what administers Pell Grants, which is what a lot of colleges base their financial aid on. I knew about the application changes, and some were excellent, but they made a series of critical errors and a lot of parents were scrambling. It was not my intent to have this as my area of focus; it just became a necessity.

What's a recent small win for your business?

Recent small wins are my collaborations. I formed partnerships with one organization that focuses on students with special needs. I hosted a webinar with the executive director of that organization. I formed a partnership with members from an insurance company on planning and paying for college. That was my first corporate sponsorship. And I've got a series of events coming out because others actually reached out to me. One of them I met through another networking platform, but I got to that platform from one of the sessions that I did with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.

How did you start to collaborate with external partners?

Just changing my strategies and my approach, and just being more secure and more emphatic in making connections. It ends up being this continual cycle.

Is there a woman in business that you admire or that you look up to?

I have two. Leontyne Anglin, who runs a nonprofit called Beyond Expectations. She works with a small pool of students, but she just gives them enormous exposure and opportunity. She's brilliant with collaborating with individuals and businesses and really bringing the students what they need. And then the other on a bigger scale is Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, who taught her Business Plan Bootcamp through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. She is just a dynamo. She is just so supportive of women entrepreneurs. She's awesome.

How did the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program help propel your business forward?

All of the collaborations and partnerships with the exception of one all came from joining the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. I’ve taken all of the free classes and the one on projections and pricing, something every entrepreneur struggles with, was very helpful. There have been so many of them. Sometimes you're completely ignorant in a category so you take the class and it's like, okay, that's good to have. But then sometimes you sign up for it and it's like, oh, yeah, I did know 90 percent of that, but this other 10 percent is going to be very, very helpful.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Teshley Solutions.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces


People love to say "curiosity killed the cat" without mentioning that "satisfaction brought it back" — hence my love for celebrity books and memoirs. Apart from their superstar status, celebs are still humans who have other interests and lives outside of what's made them famous. Celebs are oftentimes placed on a pedestal, so reading their memoirs, novels, and otherwise helps humanize them. If you want a better picture of your fave celebs, here are the 36 best celebrity memoirs and books you can add to your bookshelves today.

Celebrity Memoirs

Beyonce/Instagram

Matriarch: A Memoir by Tina Knowles (April 22, 2025)

Beyonce's mom, Ms. Tina Knowles, is throwing her hat in the book ring with her upcoming memoir Matriarch and I don't know what to do with myself! She's made it more than clear that she's not only her daughters' biggest supporters, but Ms. Knowles has also proven she's just as business savvy as they are. This makes the term, "They get it from their mama" super appropriate. But, who is Ms. Celestine Knowles beyond that?

Matriarch is her way of introducing readers to the childhood experiences, grief, love, heartbreak and so much more that have shaped her into the woman she is today.

The Woman in Meby Britney Spears

The Woman in Me peels back all of the mysterious layers of Britney Spears but this time, her recollections are in her voice. She introduces us to her rocky childhood, acquiring fame and so much more in this moving memoir. It's Britney like we've never read about her before.

Willby Will Smith

Instead of letting the media continue speculating about his life, Will Smith also penned a moving memoir. From his days growing up in a sometimes volatile household to securing the title of one of the biggest superstars, Smith points out the cracks in his foundation.

Worthyby Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith is on a mission to reclaim her narrative with Worthy. Her recollection of her upbringing and various experiences leading up to being in the spotlight are eloquently penned in a way only she's capable of.

Thicker Than Waterby Kerry Washington

When an event prompts her parents to unearth a secret they never intended to tell her, Kerry Washington begins recounting her life from childhood trauma to discovering the acting world. Throughout the book, Washington takes readers on a journey that helps her answer a question she's always asked herself — will she get the answers?

We're Going to Need More Wineby Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Union's prolific retelling of her life's stories are both hilarious, agonizing and heartfelt at the same time. Each page feels like you're sitting across from an old friend, drinking wine and catching up on life. Throughout We're Going to Need More Wine, Union introduces us to moments she's doubted herself, experienced sexual assault, and even talks about her first marriage. It's a must-read.

Love, Pamelaby Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson is finally getting her flowers — as she deserves — and it's beautiful to witness. Instead of letting everyone else tell her story in order to fit their narrative, she dives into who she really is in Love, Pamela. She also weaves in poetry she's written

Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Storiesby Kelly Ripa

I grew up watching Live With Regis and Kelly so I was excited to dive into Kelly Ripa's Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories. She takes her notable on-air personality and pours it into each page whether she's recounting motherhood or things she's experienced in her career.

Paris: The Memoirby Paris Hilton

If you grew up saying, "That's hot," every five minutes, then you were probably bit by the Paris bug. Made famous by her rich girl persona, she was able to market herself and carve a lane apart from the Hilton name. But her book Paris: The Memoir paints a different picture than the public came to know. In her own words, she describes who she truly is, the struggles she's faced and the beautiful life she is creating for her family now.

Finding Meby Viola Davis

Reading Viola Davis' Finding Me tore my soul open and lovingly put it back together again. It's a memoir that details her traumatic childhood and the things she's had to face in Hollywood. At the same time, tales of love and resilience are weaved throughout Finding Me that readers will be able to see that she did in fact find herself.

Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Upby Selma Blair

Actress Selma Blair takes readers behind the scenes as she remembers her upbringing that was shaped by being labeled a mean baby. She pulls back the layers of herself in Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up and relates them to the woman she is today.

I'm Glad My Mom Diedby Jennette McCurdy

At first glance, Jennette McCurdy's I'm Glad My Mom Died immediately catches your eye and makes you exasperatedly ask "What?" But once you begin reading about McCurdy's fraught and toxic relationship with her mother, you realize the title is just one complicated peek at everything she's endured.

Scrappy Little Nobodyby Anna Kendrick

Anna Kendrick's impeccable timing in movies is all attributed to who she is off-screen. In Scrappy Little Nobody, she details going to school while still pursuing an acting career and various awkward moments she's had. It's a fun read when you're looking for a boost of dopamine and a little second-hand embarrassment.

You Should Sit Down For This: A Memoir About Life, Wine, and Cookiesby Tamera Mowry-Housley

Watching Sister, Sister was like a rite of passage for me, so it makes sense that reading a book by one of the Mowry twins brought a smile to my face.You Should Sit Down For This: A Memoir About Life, Wine, and Cookies is a mix of memories, her favorite snacks, and nuggets of wisdom written by Tamera Mowry-Housley.

The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were Thereby Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey

Calling all The Office fans! Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey wrote a book that details the beautiful friendship they built as a result of this classic TV series. They detail key moments from the set of The Office and all the inner workings of mom life in The Office BFFS: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There.

Born to Runby Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen is a *legend* in the music industry with a more than a memorable career. In Born to Run, he gives a readers a peek into his life leading up to the musician he became and everything that's shaped his life thus far, leaning into his innate storytelling ability and painting a poetic picture of life on the road to fame.

Bossypantsby Tina Fey

Tina Fey's longstanding comedic career has taken her from SNL all the way to the big screen but it's all a part of the dream she had as a little girl. Bossypants takes a look at Fey's life as she recalls various moments from her past and present.

Yes Pleaseby Amy Poehler

Before her own long stint on SNL, Amy Poehler appeared on Comedy Central and has ultimately created a career that's filled with her memorable comedic timing and goofy persona. She brings that same energy to Yes Please, and it'll remind readers why they fell in love with her in the first place.

Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes, and Growing Upby Naya Rivera

The late and ever-lovely Naya Rivera may have captured hearts during her time on Glee, and her book Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes, and Growing Up is sure to keep them. It details all the things she's learn to apologize for, and what she chose to be unapologetic about.

Open Bookby Jessica Simpson

Singer-turned-entrepreneur Jessica Simpson is known for hits like "With You" and "I Belong To Me" but she's also an author. Written in 2020, Open Book cracks open the parts of Simpson's life she's kept hidden from view.

Greenlightsby Matthew McConaughey

Confession — I immediately fell in love with Matthew McConaughey's southern drawl when I watched The Wedding Planner in 2001. Ever since the first moment he appeared onscreen, my young mind added him to my list of favorite actors. Reading Greenlights was a ride I wasn't ready to get off because it dared to expose every crevice of McConaughey's life in a way he's learned to make peace with. It reads like a masterclass in accepting every moment of life and I can't recommend it enough!

Pageboy: A Memoirby Elliot Page

Despite a stellar performance in Juno, Elliot Page couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't living in his full truth — and then it happened. After a memorable moment of PDA, Elliot knew it was time for him to start making changes. Pageboy: A Memoir peels back all of the layers that covered Elliot — some doused with harm — to unveil who he really is.

Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

Stanley Tucci's incredible career as an actor allowed us to learn more about his equally impressive chef skills. After releasing The Tucci Cookbook and The Tucci Table: Cooking With Family and Friends, Stanley Tucci shared his memoir Taste: My Life Through Food with fans in 2021. It details his Italian-American background — the origin of his love for food — and the beautiful ways his life has revolved around cooking ever since.

My Name is Barbaraby Barbra Streisand

Simply put, Barbara Streisand is a living legend. Her career is as expansive as it impressive, and we love that. For the first time, she's telling her own story in My Name Is Barbara. From the streets of Brooklyn, NY to the big stage, Barbara's life is riddled with highs and lows that have shaped who she is today.

Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestonesby Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton's unforgettable style is well-known and has transcended generations. In Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, she dives into when she fell in love with fashion and how she's made sure it's evident throughout her career.

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop (Available September 17, 2024)

From her role in Dirty Dancing to playing the memorable grandmother in Gilmore Girls, Kelly Bishop's career has been full of highlights and she's ready to talk about it in her upcoming memoir The Third Gilmore Girl. Readers will learn more about the experiences that have shaped her — from marriage to career choices — and the way she chooses to move through life with optimism in sight.

Celebrity Cookbooks

Whiskey in a Teacupby Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon is the kind of actress (and person) I wanna sit down and reminisce on growing up in the south with. Since we can't have a face-to-face conversation, reading Whiskey in a Teacup is the next best thing. She talks about everything from having a book club to making the best southern biscuits ever.

Cooking from the Spirit: Easy, Delicious , and Joyful Plant-Based Inspirationsby Tabitha Brown

Known as the internet's vegan auntie, Tabitha Brown is the epitome of joy and making vegan food look absolutely delicious. For all the people who wish they could taste the recipes she shares with us on Instagram, Cooking from the Spirit: Easy, Delicious, and Joyful Plant-Based Inspirations is a great alternative.

Rebel Homemaker: Food, Family, Lifeby Drew Barrymore

Hollywood's darling Drew Barrymore brings readers into her home and kitchen where she shares tasty recipes, photos and more in Rebel Homemaker: Food, Family, Life.

Cravings: All Togetherby Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen has proven she's more than R&B singer John Legend's wife with her modeling career and larger-than-life internet presence, but she's also a *skilled* cook. With Cravings: All Together, Teigen shares her favorite comfort food recipes that she turns to time and time again.

Whole New You: How Real Food Transforms Your Life for a Healthier, More Gorgeous Youby Tia Mowry

I personally love this cookbook written by Tia Mowry because she shares how learning about the root of her painful period cramps — caused by her struggle with endometriosis — led her to start making healthier food choices. It's filled with recipes that helped me transform my own cycles and create yummy meals that I still rely on today.

Amazon

I Love You: Recipes from the Heart by Pamela Anderson

After releasing her heartfelt memoir, Pamela Anderson's ready to share her yummy recipes with the world! I Love You: Recipes from the Heart will be a real treat because she's diving into what can be best described as comfort meals. People shared a portion of her press release that talks about why this cookbook means everything to her. She said, "This book has been a labor of love — from my heart, spilling out to the universe...with all my favorite things from my life of food and whimsy...inspired by my travels but mostly from the island I grew up on, a rainforest that deserves all the glory."

Our mouths are already watering!

Celebrity Children's Books

Big Words for Little Peopleby Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis has graced the big screen for decades, but she's since added celebrated children's author to her resume. Big Words for Little People helps young kids embrace bigger words even when they look intimidating.

Busy Bettyby Reese Witherspoon

Instead of writing another memoir or cookbook, Reese Witherspoon penned a tale about a little girl who has big energy with a personality to match. Perhaps the sweetest thing about Busy Betty is that our titular character is being celebrated for these things, even while learning to relate to the world around her.

Sweet Child O' Mineby Guns N' Roses

This children's book is all about Maya and Natalia Rose's adventures being surrounded by love and music. It's a beautiful depiction of the song by rock band Guns N' Roses that your little ones will request nightly.

The First Notes: The Story of DO, RE, MIby Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton

Julie Andrews and her talented daughter Emma Walton Hamilton share a love of helping young children appreciate the beauty of music. In The First Notes: The Story of DO, RE, MI, they introduce readers to Italian monk Guido. He's the reason why the musical scale exists together although he was initially ridiculed for his discovery.

Sulweby Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong'o's Sulwe is an amazing children's book about accepting the beauty of who we are instead of longing to look or be like others. It's a great addition to your little one's library as you work on affirming them.

The One and Only Sparkellaby Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum penned this hilarious and sweet tale of The One and Only Sparkella to celebrate the relationship a dad has with his young daughter. When Ella is discouraged because of her classmates' response to her colorful personality and style, her dad helps her embrace who she is so she's able to walk into school as the sparkly gem she is!

Which celebrity books and memoirs are you going to read this weekend? Let us know in the comments!

Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Lead images via Amazon.

This post has been updated.

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

I didn't realize reality TV could get any juicier than Love Is Blind — and then I started keeping up with the reunions. Whew! Getting the full cast together for relationship updates and recaps? In front of a live studio audience? Messy messy. The reunion special is coming up soon, and we have everything you need to know. Grab your favorite mug because we're about to spill some serious tea.

Is Love Is Blind reunion out yet?

The Love is Blind reunion will hit Netflix on October 30. The special will be hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, and we'll finally get a DTR about all the couples from season 7.

New episodes of Love is Blind season 7 premiered on Netflix October 9.

Who will be featured in the reunion?

So far, here are the couples who are still together: Taylor & Garrett and Ashley & Tyler got married (I'm squealing!!), while Marissa & Ramses, Hannah & Nick, Alexandra & Tim, Monica & Stephen, and Brittany & Leo have called it quits.

The trailer teases some serious drama, and any Love is Blind fan will remember Ashley and Tyler started getting heat after we all found out Tyler had hidden his three children from Ashley, who can be seen saying, “Who has better insight on what’s going on, social media or me?”

There's surprise guests, there are secrets, and there's "shocking revelations," according to Nick. And in the true nature of reality TV (in Tim's words), the contestants' worst moment always seems to be "the moment everyone wants to hear about the most."

Are Tyler and Ashley together?

Netflix

Yes, Tyler and Ashley are still together ahead of the Love is Blind reunion, but their relationship hasn't been perfect. The reason everyone was up in arms over the reveal Tyler has three children is the fact he had hidden it from Ashley until episode 9. (He had previously said he was a only sperm donor for a lesbian couple). However, in Tyler's words, he doesn't "owe anyone an explanation but Ashley."

Here's Why We Can't Stop Watching Reality Shows Like Love Is Blind — and you might be in the same boat!

Shawn Mendes — and his ever-complicated love life — has been all over the news lately (hello, VMAs love triangle 👀). From Camila Cabello to Sabrina Carpenter to those rumors that he may not even be interested in women at all, there's no shortage of topics to address. And finally, Shawn decided to put the rumors to rest...sort of. Here's what the singer had to say at his Colorado concert this week!

www.tiktok.com

Shawn finally addressing his sexuality! #shawnmendes #friendsandfamily #redrock

Shawn entered the spotlight as a teenager, quickly becoming a heartthrob — and a controversial topic of conversation. For years, people speculated that he was actually gay, leading him to a lot of frustration, according to his conversation with Dax Shepard on the Armchair Expert podcast. But now, he's finally addressing the rumors head on.

During his show at Red Rocks Amphitheater, Shawn addressed the crowd pretty directly. The musician shared, "Since I was really young, there's been this thing about my sexuality, and people have been talking about it for so long." He continued, nothing that he thinks "it's kind of silly" in general that people were so focused on it because he thinks "sexuality is such a beautifully complex thing, and it’s so hard to just put into boxes."

Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV

The star elaborated, "It always felt like such an intrusion on something very personal to me, something that I was figuring out in myself, something that I had yet to discover, and still have yet to discover." Throughout the speech, Shawn played his guitar, eventually noting that writing "The Mountain" — a song that calls out the rumors about his romantic life — "felt very important" to him because he "could address it [the rumors]" in a way that made sense to him.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV

Finally, Shawn opened up. He said, "The real truth about my life and my sexuality is that, man, I’m just figuring it out like everyone. I don't really know sometimes, and I know other times. And it feels really scary because we live in a society that has a lot to say about that."

Closing the whole speech out, Shawn finished with, "I’m trying to be really brave and just allow myself to be a human and feel things. And that’s all I really want to say about that for now."

We're so happy for Shawn, and hope he feels a little more free to live his truth – whatever that may be!

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