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Sarasota Skyline, found here.

A recent article came out from USA Today, ranking the 10 best-paying cities for women. April 9 was Equal Pay Day, marking the day where women – who make an average of $0.77 to every $1.00 a man makes – finally earn enough to keep pace with men.

However, in the article marking the 10 best-paying cities for women, there was an area that stood out – South Florida. As a native Floridian, I am happy to say:

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater came in at #10, with women making (on average) 84.8% of what men make.
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach came in at #9, with women making (on average) 85.4% of what men make.
And the Sarasota-Bradenton-North Port area came in at #3, with women making (on average) 87.5% of what men make.

There are many reasons why south Florida may be more equitable than most areas (I, personally, think that it has something to do with the large retiree population here), but it’s really interesting that half of the major metropolitan areas in the state of Florida rank in the top 10 for equal(ish) pay.

The pay gap is a serious issue, but it has some funny sides, too: my favorite finding from Equal Pay Day is this great video from Switzerland, where a bank and a women’s equality non-profit teamed up to show men what it’s like to get 80% of what you should.

Why do you think southern Florida ranks so high for equal pay for women?

You may have heard the story recently: Marissa Mayer, one of the first Google employees, was named as the CEO of Yahoo earlier this week. At 37, she is the youngest CEO ever of a Fortune 500 company. Awesome for women and awesome for young leaders.

The kicker?

She’s six months pregnant, too – she’s the first woman to be named CEO of a Fortune 500 company while pregnant.

Awesome for women, awesome for young leaders, and awesome for Yahoo.

There seems to be a constant story in the media of how women can’t have it all: in fact, it’s on the cover of the Atlantic this month. Many people are commenting on the “lack of ambition” among young women, because they “can’t have it all.” This lack of ambition is (supposedly) why there’s a dearth of women in high positions at many companies, particularly those in the Fortune 500.

Well, as a young(ish) woman, I have to say: I don’t know these young women the media is speaking of. Yes, I will admit that I’m ambitious myself, but I’ve had this conversation more than once with similarly ambitious women and even if you don’t have children, women – and increasingly, men – understand that both are large responsibilities.

What’s really important? The recognition by Yahoo that Marissa Mayer is a smart and savvy woman who is fully capable of understanding that she will need help (nannies, family members, etc.) to take day-to-day care of her child but that this does not make her any less of a CEO – nor does it make her any less of a mother.

It also doesn’t hurt to point out that this is a discussion that is largely conducted by those who can afford to have it; many women do not have the choice of choosing to “have it all.” My mother was one of those women and in my discussions with her about this topic, she told me, quite honestly, that you have to admit you need support with child care, no matter where it comes from. (And if this comes from family members, like mine did? Your child builds great relationships with their extended family, and no one can say that’s a bad thing.)

As a young girl, having a mother who worked was a great role model for me and I think it made me as ambitious as I am. It also made some things very clear for me: I wanted a partner who recognized that my ambitions were just as important as his and who supported me in those (and vice versa). I also know that if I have children that his support, the support of my family and/or the support of a nanny is key – and it wouldn’t make me any less of a mother.

And if Marissa Mayer can turn around Yahoo? Her son will have a heck of a role model and someone he can look up to – as a mother and a CEO.