Wages
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Who would have ever thought that after all of the problems in the early days with racial issues and gender segregation, we would still be fighting the same problems today? Women and men all over the world are treated differently, because of their ability to do things and different body parts. Today, one of the many things that we are dealing with in the working world is that men and women at the same level positions are being paid different wages, monies earned at a rate for work done. How can that be? It should not; men and women have the same ability to do the same types of work, as well as, hold management positions. Therefore, women should be paid at the same rate as men while working at equal or higher working status.
Many people argue that women do not get paid, as much as, men because they have not been working as long, but really women have been working just as long as men just not in the actual workforce. Women were brought up to raise the family and do the chores around the house. It takes just as much energy. Interestingly, enough taking care of the house takes about the same amount of energy as working a full work day. It is like swimming a mile and having to run five miles to use the same amount of energy. The work world should be based on who gets the job done with quality and effort, not if it is a woman or a man. Unfortunately, that is not the way it works, gender is what makes it in the workforce.
So, how can it be fair that men are paid more in higher positions when they do not have the same listening skills that women have? Men and women listen for different purposes. Men listen for content while women pay more attention to the relational messages. Women are more likely to catch the feelings behind a speakers words, while men ten to listen for the facts. Debrorah Tannen states that, “all else being equal, women are not as likely to be listened to as men, regardless of how they speak or what they say (Adler).” So, with a statement like that how are women expected to raise their families or be paid more if they can not be heard. In the book, “Communicating at Work,” the author stated that, “in business meetings, it is not uncommon for an idea presented by a woman to be ignored or downplayed, while the same idea presented by a man receives more attention (Adler).” This shows that the same amount of respect is not given to a woman as it to a man. Therefore, it is harder for a woman to stand up for herself when she has an issue.
Another thing is ability. It is one of the many issues that employers have when paying a man and a woman. For example, if a woman is working on a construction project with a man, in most cases, the man is going to get paid more because of his strength, but that should not be the situation, because there are many things that women can do that men can not. This is shown in a study done by North Carolina State University (NCSU) on its faculty. “It stated that with the low representation of women in higher management positions challenge the womens authority to function under higher expectations; therefore, that is why they are paid less (NCSU).” With that much discrimination it shows where the arrogance of our working force lies. It lies with those that are not willing to give everyone an equal chance.
Not only is it the ability, but the fact is that women, in most cases, are the babysitters for households in the world. When women are paid less and they have to help raise a family it is impossible to pay bills and have a life as well. In the book, “The Betrayal of Work,” the author states that “when workers feel burned out by their jobs, they have insufficient time with their families or themselves (Shulman 93).” Therefore, working three different jobs to keep up with the average men in the same position is tiring and exhausting. A woman or a man for that sake should not have to work more than one job to support themselves and their family.
Although, a lot of times women do not get the top positions in a career; however, the percentage it going up and the pay is not. In the Austin American-Statesman (AAS) in Texas, “women held about eleven percent of the board seats in Fortune 500 companies, companies that are ranked nationally and known for its works, up from six percent the previous year. However, it is very rare to have a woman as chief executives (Bad Deal for Women).” How can society give women a chance if they place a brick wall in front of them to climb? It is impossible to expect any individual to come in and work hard knowing that they are not going to be treated and rewarded with the same respect. Another interesting fact found by the AAS in Texas was, “in 1999 women were only making seventy-five cents for every dollar that a man was making (Bad Deal for Women).” That is terrible to think that it is ok to only let someone work for three-fourths of one hundred percent of the work. That is wrong. According to President Clinton, “when a woman is denied equal pay, it does not just hurt her, it hurts the family and that hurts American (Bad Deal for Women).”