Gina Rodriguez explains why Equal Pay Day is so important

"I was raised with women, strong women and strong men that supported one another," Gina Rodriguez tells Mashable on a spring day in New York.

The Jane the Virgin star partnered with Luna Bar for Women's Equal Pay Day to support her fellow women, as she was raised to do. "[My family] understood what it meant to be fair and equal and kind and generous and giving."

"[This campaign] is about creating awareness, it’s about championing other women, it’s not about alienating women, it’s not about separating, it’s not about dividing, it’s about coming together and uniting. Because if we’re talking about women, we are stronger together."

From April 4 - 11, Luna Bar will support LeanIn.Org's #20PercentCounts campaign by offering a 20 percent discount for online purchases and matching the money saved in an equal donation. They could raise up to $100,000 to fund salary negotiation workshops for women.

Below, Rodriguez takes us through her tips for women -- and anyone who wants to be a bit more like her.

Take care of yourself

"Work every day on loving yourself, understanding your self-worth, because you will be kinder, more generous and more giving to the people around you," Rodriguez says. "It doesn’t make you selfish, it teaches you how to be selfless because you are then so full as a human being."

"Hurt people hurt people," she adds. "But when you love yourself and you take care of yourself, you know how to do that to others, and you sure as hell aren’t tearing anybody down...that’s a small act that’s a giant act in your own life."

Support your sisters

"Standing up for them, whether that just means being by their side, listening to them, because that helps, that does, that support does help," Rodriguez says. "You don’t feel like you’re alone, the struggle doesn’t feel as difficult."

"The industry can chew you up and spit you out," she notes. "You’re constantly being stretched in a million directions, so it is important to have a pretty grounded foundation."

Rodriguez herself grew up with two older sisters ("Giants," she calls them, explaining that one is a doctor and the other in private equity), politically involved parents and a vocal activist grandmother. She's grateful for the close, loving support group and wants the same for other women.

"We can’t predict so life throws us everything we’re not ready for or expecting, so it’s nice to have good people around you," she says. "And that’s why I believe the sisterhood matters so much, because I know what it is to be alone and I know what it is to be protected and supported -- and it is much easier of a life to be supported and protected, so do it to others."

Get informed

Luna Bar partnered with the American Association of University Women, which will "equip women with the tools necessary to start having these conversations that we’re so freaking afraid of," Rodriguez says.

"I’m on that site all the damn time trying to learn as much information as possible," she says. "Get informed, be a part of any organization that will not only inform you but equip you with the tools in order to have these conversations and maybe to then give them to a woman that needs them more than you do."

"I think that’s what’s beautiful about education period: You don’t know when you’re going to use it or when you’re going to need it, so it’s good to always constantly be informed," she adds.

Fight the good fight

"Go to marches," Rodriguez says. "Go find your organizations nearby, be a part of movements like Luna Bar’s movement, contribute to Luna Bar and other companies that are doing the same thing. And information; Inform yourself. AAUW.org is a stellar website that is very informative. Read all the books on feminism so you can understand what it is to be a woman in our culture and in the past hundred years how crazy of a historical journey we’ve been on."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

"Whatever ethnicity you are, whatever race you are, whatever culture, whatever religion, we are stronger together," she says. "We are always going to be stronger together. Whether you were born a woman or decide to be a woman feel like you always wanted to be a woman, you are my sister. You are my sister, and I got your back, girl."