The gender pay gap affects all women -- even high-profile actresses like Sharon Stone.
At a Nov. 6 Funkshion Fashion Week event in Miami, the actress spoke with People.com about how she's personally been impacted by the wage gap and why the issue is so important for all women.
"After 'Basic Instinct,' no one wanted to pay me," Stone said. "I remember sitting in my kitchen with my manager and just crying and saying I'm not going to work until I get paid," later adding that she "still got paid so much less than any men."
The 57-year-old is not alone in her experience, both in Hollywood and outside of it. In recent months, A-list actresses such as Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain and Amanda Seyfried have all spoken up about getting paid less than their male co-workers.
Stone told People.com that the wage gap is not just an issue in Hollywood, but across all industries. She said that change "has to start with regular pay, not just for movie stars, but regular pay for the regular woman in the regular job."
"More than 50 percent of marriages end in divorce and the women are working and taking care of their kids and that's how it goes and you have to say 'yes' because you have to feed your children," Stone said. "It's a sort of economic blackmail."
Equal Pay For Women
Average Home(01 of11)
Open Image Modal1970: $26,000 2013: $193,000Rise in cost: $167,000Rise in Equal Pay for Women: 13 cents (credit:AP)
Average Car Price(02 of11)
Open Image Modal1970: $3,9002013: $31,000Rise in cost: $27,100Rise in Equal Pay for Women: 13 cents (credit:AP)
Gasoline(03 of11)
Open Image Modal1970: $0.362013: $3.55 per gallonRise in cost: $3.19 per gallonRise in Equal Pay for Women: 13 cents (credit:Alamy)
A Dozen Medium Eggs(04 of11)
Open Image Modal1970: $0.252013: $1.39Rise in cost: $1.14Rise in Equal Pay for Women: 13 cents (credit:Alamy)
Tube of Toothpaste(05 of11)
Open Image Modal1970: $.0.772013: $5.25Rise in cost: $4.48Rise in Equal Pay for Women: 13 cents (credit:Alamy)
Pair of Jeans(06 of11)
Open Image Modal1970: $18.002013: $55.00Rise in cost: $37.00Rise in Equal Pay for Women: 13 cents (credit:Alamy)
Ticket to the Movies(07 of11)
Open Image Modal1970: $1.552013: $8.00Rise in cost: $6.45Rise in Equal Pay for Women: 13 cents (credit:Alamy)
Porcelain Kitchen Sink(08 of11)
Open Image Modal1970: $9.882013: $319.00Rise in cost: $309.12Rise in Equal Pay for Women: 13 cents (credit:Alamy)
Beanbag Chair(09 of11)
Open Image Modal1970: $19.992013: $59.00Rise in cost: $40.00Rise in Equal Pay for Women: 13 cents (credit:Alamy)
Dog Food(10 of11)
Open Image Modal1970: 12 cans for $1.002013: 12 cans for $28.00Rise in cost: $27.00Rise in Equal Pay for Women: 13 cents (credit:Alamy)
Median Household Income: (11 of11)
Open Image Modal1970: $8,7342011: $ 50,100 Rise in cost: $41,366Rise in Equal Pay for Women: 13 cents (credit:Alamy)