Karen Rants: Women and The Wage Gap
What do you think about this comment?
“The “wage gap” is not so much about employers discriminating against women as about women making discriminating choices in the labor market.”
This was taken from an article that was written about 6 years ago, regarding the Wage gap, but unfortunately the information that was on the site was actually inaccurate. Somehow it stated that when women have skills or experience, or hold positions similar to men, then they face disparities of wages (only) by less than 10 Percent. I guess they thought that was a good thing?
Well, let’s tackle the latter first. Facing any wage disparity in the year of 2008 even if it were true it was less than 10 percent is sad enough… but the truth is, that women face more than that. I won’t delve too much into all the statistics today, because I had thoroughly researched the Facts behind the disparity of income, and you can click here to see all the supporting data.
As some put up the fight and loudly yell it is all a myth, I wonder, is it because they don’t see the disparity happening with their own eyes? Or are they unfamiliar with the FSLA and EEO lawsuits? Working in Construction, as a recruiter, where men definitely outnumber women, there are a few companies who take great strides to treat women equally, but, unfortunately there are that many more, which unfortunately will not. I move their employees to the much greener pastures..
Briefly though, to revisit the comment above, the suggestion that women make discriminating choices in the labor market, was truly sexist and a comment that displays ignorance. Somehow it appears that the ”research” has forgotten that more men today have become more “family friendly”, more men today have custody of their children and more men today are also working in “Pink Collared” jobs.
More Women today are making more money than their husbands, in authoritative roles… but, still not as much as their male peers and counterparts. More women today have switched roles with their husbands, as they themselves are the major bread winner, but again, they still do not make more money than their male counterparts, even though they are working harder and longer, still having to prove themselves, and trying to break through the concrete ceiling.
Women today have chosen to delay childbirth as they develop their careers, and more and more women have even made the decision to even sacrifice the notion of family and marriage. It is not as taboo today as it was in the 50’s; but still they make less than their male counterparts.
Women are outperforming men in the fields of Math, Science and Engineering. In fact our Graduation Numbers outrank that of men and yet, we still make less than our peers!
Women are making more money when they first leave school. Yes, we are making strides there. (Is that because they are trying to make their diversity quotas?) However, here is the bad news. Ten Years after graduation… well; that is when the Pay Gap really gets Huge. Women fall behind earning only 70+ percent of what men earn.
Well, if it were a matter of choice, I guess all women could choose boycotting pretty much all of the American companies, Not work, and feed their children. They could choose to allow their husbands to be the main bread winner whilst they fight the good fight.
For that matter, I guess we could call in all Handicapped Individuals and Minorities to join in the campaign and fight for equality. Maybe you were not aware that in 2007 EEOC discrimination charges jumped to highest level in five years!
We can march, campaign, burn bras, petition for equality — Wait, isn’t that not what we did back about 40 years ago?
Yes, and also whilst we are at it, let us take this whole Gas Crisis In OUR hands and boycott the Gas Companies.. Hands across the world.
Yes, indeed, I really wonder, could they be right? Could it really be the choice of a woman (and any other diversity group) to accept the low salary, or the poor working conditions?
Is that why we have had such a long struggle fighting the process? Should we simply accept our dues or, leave and go elsewhere? Is it really the fault of the Employer? Don’t they have the right to discriminate if they so choose?
Hmm… Maybe companies like Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Abercrombie, Walgreens and all the others know something we don’t and should be let off the hook. Darn, they should be allowed to discriminate if They want to right? It isn’t their fault that the person is “different” not male, white, American.. whatever the distaste of the day they choose..
I wonder why we hadn’t realized it was that simple.
Karen Mattonen
ABOUT KAREN MATTONEN, CAC, CSP
Karen is an experienced, successful recruiter who operates her own business and is actively involved in many industry organizations and activities. Her recruiting career began with Snelling Corporation. In 1998, after a successful tenure as a recruiter with Snelling, Karen struck out on her own, founding Advanced Career Solutions (ACS). ACS focuses on recruiting for the HVAC Industry. Karen has achieved accreditation as a California Accredited Consultant (CAC) through California Staffing Professionals. She has also gained her Certified Staffing Professional Certificate (CSP) through American Staffing Professionals. (www.americanstaffing.net)
Karen has a new and future-oriented vision of what recruiting can and should become: a profession we can be proud of for its ethical standing, professional conduct and ability to build great organizations. Her doing-well-by-doing-right philosophy is shaking up the status quo in an industry that needs to be shaken. She does this with conviction, leadership, and a distinctive voice that cries out for change.
Karen was a co-creator of the landmark webinar event – “EEOC Discrimination Debate.” This event featured senior members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and staffing industry experts discussing and debating difficult issues about discrimination in today’s workplace environment. Company executives, hiring managers, recruiters, and human resource professionals from across the United States were invited to participate in the free Webinar and live panel discussion. Karen also served as one of the panelists on the discussion team in the March, 2006 event.
As co-host of the popular podcast “The Recruiters Lounge,”Karen discusses her frank opinions on the recruitment industry with her co-host, Jim Stroud.
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Comments
Ravi,
thanks for your comment, and it is so right on the mark – individuals should be judged on Merit, abilities, on how well they performed on the job.
Not on their Gender, race, age. Not on their My Space profiles; not on what they do in their private life, or how they acted when they were young and dumb (another rant for another time)
It has been 44 years since the Civil Rights Act was enforced.. Time hasn’t been the answer, as discrimination continues to Rise, and not go backwards in America.
Is it possible Ravi, that we are just Plain and Simple Backwards folks here in America? That we just can’t get it, because we are just plain ignorant.. or is it arrogance?
I wonder, is it arrogance which puts America behind so many other countries, in so many areas.. but, we here in America, don’t perceive the problem, we don’t acknowledge the issues, and we are not willing to learn how to become better or stronger, because we already think we are better and stronger….
Heck, we know that due to the continual rise of discrimination, that some think they are better and stronger than their OWN FELLOW AMERICANS for goodness sake.. and rationalize their need for discrimination..
I don’t know Ravi, if time is the cure.. but I do think that it will probably end up taking much stricter regulation and enforcement, and making More PUBLIC displays of the individuals who break the laws, to get people to really get people to realize it is More Worth a Positive ROI to become less Ignorant, and more educated, and stick to practicing within the guidelines of the laws..
I bet FedEX had wished that they had.. 300 Million to 1 Billion Dollars Later
(when all is said and done – it can possibly amount to 1 Billion dollars fine due to a Fed Ex misclassification – bet that really wasn’t worth their ROI) — wonder what that H.R manager is doing today?
P.S I realize that some may think my comment is harsh, but I think that 44 Laters to have Discrimination STILL ON THE RISE, is more disturbing, especially to the individuals who are struggling every day, to be treated fairly, paid fairly, and have equal and fair treatment in the workforce..
and before anyone should consider to attack me for my use of the word Ignorant and/or Arrogant, I suggest you look up the definition of the words, you may then relate to the context of the message.
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Hi Karen,
This is a process that takes time and will not occur at once i.e. no shortcuts. Each new generation of women has benefited from previous struggles and this would continue. Here in India the current generation is at, where the previous or even earlier American generations were in the gender equality struggle. Though I would prefer merit rather than equality ie the person regardless of sex with the higher merit would be paid higher. Though how merit is defined definitely matters!
Regards