... Although states are taking strides to increase base pay for workers, it is still not enough. In California, the living wage for an adult with no children is $27.32 and is $61.58 for an adult with two children. Further, the value of the federal wage is at its lowest point since 1956, although businesses are within the financial means to pay significantly more. These drastically low wages have critical effects on equality in the U.S., with women being considerably overrepresented in low-wage jobs. Not only will increasing the minimum wage help ensure all workers earn a living wage, but...