Lilly Ledbetter gave Patricia Arquette’s Oscar speech a run for its money when she tackled the equal pay battle in her keynote address for the SMU Women’s Symposium’s 50th Anniversary on Wednesday afternoon.

Ledbetter is a luminary for gender wage equality. Her 10-year fight for equal pay began as a manager Goodyear Tire and Rubber plant in Gadsen, Ala., where she received an anonymous letter informing her that she was paid 40 percent less than men doing the same job.

She took her lawsuit against Goodyear to a federal court, and later to the Supreme Court. After the Court ruled against her, she lobbied on Capitol Hill until finally, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which nullified the Supreme Court decision and restored employee’s rights to challenge pay discrimination.

But Ledbetter’s situation is not unique. In fact, she described how for every dollar a man earns doing the same job, white women earn 77 cents, black women 62 cents, and Hispanic women 54 cents.

One’s pay dictates life—and not just during employment. Ledbetter explained how her smaller pay continues to affect her today, because her salary back then determined her Social Security, 401K, and retirement plan.

Prior to the Ledbetter Act, an employee would lose the next paycheck if caught discussing his or her pay.

“Women are behind in wages because we can’t afford to speak up. We can’t afford to miss a paycheck,” Ledbetter said.

Following the speech, Ledbetter held a Q&A, as well as a book signing.

The audience included SMU and community women, and even a few men. As Ledbetter said, “Our fight is everyone’s fight.” Even the Democrats and Republicans agreed on passing her bill.

Junior Shelley Knutson was among those who braved the rain to listen to the speech.

“She wasn’t just an actress who spoke vaguely about equal pay during her Oscar speech,” said Knutson. “She’d experienced the discrimination, and fought for change. She’s the kind of woman we should be listening to.”

Ledbetter’s keynote kicked off the 50th Anniversary of the Women’s Symposium. The Symposium was established in 1966, making it the longest running event of its kind, and Ledbetter’s message carried the tune of the Symposium’s vision:

“We women have to stick together,” she said. “We have to support each other. We have to mentor each other.”

Needless to say, Ledbetter no longer purchases Goodyear tires.