Let’ s Talk About
After reading an obscene CBS article, titled“ A Salary Gap Between Men and Women? Oh, Please.,” that mocked women in the workplace, and having found out said article was written by a woman, gender typing in the workforce became even evident to me. Work inequality and unequal pay is so prevalent that it has become the norm. As a Black woman who has been payed less on two accounts, based upon my race and my sex, it disturbs me that the U. S. government does not recognize that women deserve equal pay for equal work. It frustrates me to the core that employers and corporations around the country do not find credible the credentials and accomplishments that are beheld by a person of my same appearance. However, if it is a person of a different sex or race, the odds of obtaining the job, job mobility, benefits and pay are increased. It is a fact that women receive less pay than men, and at the current rate of change on this issue, unequal pay will likely not be resolved until approximately 50 years from now. These numbers are unacceptable. The U. S. does not recognize the unequal pay of women as illegal. Thus is nothing holding employers accountable to improve the way they are paying female employees. What is even more unsettling is that there are still illegal hiring practices done on the behalf of many employers, and some acts go without punishment. According to the book, Gender Roles A Sociological Perspective,“ it is illegal for employers to overtly use marital status or age of children in hiring, but such decisions are routinely made covertly”( Lindsey).
Lindsey also explains in the text,“ an employer often interprets marriage and children as making a women less reliable, dedicated, and permanent.” Employers feel that“ women are more likely to take advantage of workplace flexibility and family leave policies than are men.” The issue must first be resolved by the law making administration of the U. S. However, how can we expect to make this change for women when 90 % of our lawmaking body is made up of men? What seems to be necessary is if more men were more forward thinking and supported this effort things would begin to change. We must also recognize the harsh reality that there should be more women invested in this issue. Unequal pay is one of those injustices that we all know exists, but overwhelmingly we feel there is nothing that can be done to improve it. Again, Trunk’ s article goes to show that some women really are not for a cause that betters the wellbeing of themselves and other women. Rather than highlight the blatant issues and discrimination that is present in the workplace for women. Trunk’ s article was sarcastic, rude, sexist, and suggest respectability as a solution for women to get same pay and overall labor equality. Trunk suggests that women“ Don’ t dress like a guy by wearing boring suits. Show some cleavage... because guys like working with women they are attracted to.” A woman should never have to feel like she has to look a certain way to attract men or gain respect at work. Trunk also suggests that women“ show some leg” because if you dress feminine you’ ll“ move up the ladder faster because men think those women are smarter.” This kind of talk is dangerous; these comments seem like they came from someone who has a sexual harassment charge. Trunk says nothing of doing the best at your job or networking your way to the top, rather she instructs women to physically appeal to men to gain success, and is outright false when she said,“ women negotiate less, but it doesn’ t mean they earn less.” The numbers do not lie. I can only wonder if she herself adheres to these bullet points of‘ advice’ she presented. What Trunk seems to miss or not care about is that men do not have to follow a specific list of guidelines to adhere to, that is simply expected of men. Women with the same credentials are seen as a possible liability, being that they are women and can get pregnant, take leave, etc. Unequal pay is discrimination, and the root of this problem is an overall lack of respect for women as a whole. Providing men and women with an equal amount of paid childcare leave is a start to solving this problem of work equality. A system that would no longer single out a woman as a liability or a lesser employee because she can get pregnant.
An Editorial Piece By Vania Brown
101 Magazine • Fall Edition • Page 7