Patricia Arquette On The Gender Wage Gap: 'We're Living Like We're In 1915'

Recently, actress Patricia Arquette has been both celebrated and challenged for her statements on gender equality. Last night, she talked about the gender wage gap -- and this time she used powerful statistics to back up her argument.

During an appearance on "The Late Show With David Letterman" on March 11, Arquette broke down how problematic the wage gap is for women in the U.S. “It’s just strange in 2015 that we’re living like we’re in 1915," she told Letterman. "Why women aren’t making the same wages as men is unimaginable."

Arquette spoke to the effects of the pay gap in a broader context. "The reality is 40 percent of the families are female-headed, there’s millions of relationships where both parents are working -- they’re all getting affected by this gender inequality," she said.

The Oscar-winner also broke down the pay inequality all women face and how gender and race affect one another when it comes to pay. Arquette discussed the fact that Latina women make 55 cents to every white man's dollar. On average, black women make around 64 cents to every white man's dollar.

“Clearly women are not being paid fairly,” she said. “At this rate... it’s going to take until 2058 [to achieve wage equality]."

In her Oscars acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress in February 2015, Arquette made a bold and powerful statement about gender inequality that brought many to their feet in support. Sadly, the Oscar-winner followed up her momentous speech with a cringeworthy comment that left many shaking their heads in disappointment. "And it's time for all the women in America and all the men that love women, and all the gay people, and all the people of color that we've all fought for to fight for us now," she said backstage after her acceptance speech.

Thankfully, Arquette did her homework and now seems to be versed in the issues affecting wage inequality. "I’ve had material success in my life and I’m grateful, but that doesn’t mean I don’t notice that 51 percent of my population, of my gender, that is suffering… It’s not acceptable.”