Pay equality

Posted by Lizzie on Sep-5-2008

There’s a lot of talk about women’s issues this election cycle. Thanks to Hillary Clinton, and now Sarah Palin, we’re back in the spotlight. In that vein, Congress is pressing for a revote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which failed to pass previously. McCain has come out again it:

“I am all in favor of pay equity for women, but this kind of legislation, as is typical of what’s being proposed by my friends on the other side of the aisle, opens us up to lawsuits for all kinds of problems,” the expected GOP presidential nominee told reporters. “This is government playing a much, much greater role in the business of a private enterprise system.”

I’ve recently engaged in a half-hearted IT job search - in anticipation of my eventual graduation from the Tech program. There seems to be a little available, but I’ve heard that women are not treated favorably in the IT industry. It would please me, and thousands of other women, tremendously if this actually became law. Would I know that my male counterparts were making more than me? Probably not. But this act would give me recourse should I find out about a pay discrepancy after the fact. As a woman hoping to work in a male-dominated field, I would feel just a little better knowing I had a safety net.

There was some talk that this law isn’t necessary. I beg to differ. I worked with a company (unrelated to the tech field) that cut me a mystery check. When I inquired to what the purpose of the check was, I was told that it was to make up for a pay difference between me and my male counterparts. I had no idea that the men were making that much more per hour than I was, but there was a lawsuit and the settlement agreement was that this company would pay the hourly difference to each female for whatever period of time they agreed to (I think it was 3 months, even though I’d been there for over a year at that point). I left that company not long afterward, but my eyes had been opened. The reasoning for the lower pay was that women are mothers and so are prone to miss work because of their sick children. Men, on the other hand, are more reliable and should be rewarded. Really?

At a time when a major political party has nominated a self-proclaimed “hockey mom” to be vice president, there should be no more “she should get less because she’s a mom”. This woman is seeking a job while parenting 5 children (and potentially helping parent a grandchild) so the reason listed above would apply to her and her pay should be cut significantly. Right? No. Wrong. Her husband will be able to tend to the children while she runs for office and he can tend to the children while she continues to govern Alaska (except that he’s got a full-time job plus an extra job on the side in the summer, but that’s not this issue). It’s only fair that the rest of American women enjoy the same equality in pay as the women who govern them.

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Getting Sick of Doctors

Posted by Lizzie in Living with Pain, irritations

Wow! It’s been 10 days since I’ve posted. Hmmm, terrible.

Actually, I’ve been very sick and haven’t felt like doing much of anything. I haven’t submitted any new articles or did any proofreading. I suffer from chronic pain and sometimes it just knocks me off my feet. I almost did an article about that but I couldn’t tighten it up and it was all over the place. That, I think, is what happens when you try to write while you’re lost in frustration.

My problem is that I’ve been to three different doctors since I’ve become ill. The first one was my pcp for a while, but when he said “You’re too young to have these problems so I’m not going to run tests” I ran for the hills.

The next doctor ran a few tests, but it wasn’t extensive. Instead she relied on her experience and good hearing. She declared that I have a heart valve problem as well as a sleep disorder- neither of which needed a test for diagnosis, according to her. When I developed more symptoms she prescribed an antidepressant- after I told her I cannot take those specific kinds (too long of a story). She then decided that I have gastroenteritis, because I answered “Have you ever had heartburn” with “yes”. Hello! I’ve been pregnant 3 times. I decided it was time to move on.

This third doctor has run more tests. My heart valve problem was non-existent, according to the echocardiogram. I don’t have sleep problems, according to the sleep study I did, and I didn’t even bother with the gastroenteritis. That was just stupid. Still, there’s no diagnosis. I tested high for ANA, which helps with a Lupus diagnosis, but he declared me healthy because I don’t have the “butterfly” rash. The rash that I do have, bumpy and red that only flares when I’m in the sun and/or sick, was diagnosed as rosacea. The cream he prescribed for that doesn’t work- at all. He gave me an antidepressant for the pain- Cymbalta (of course, it’s a newer SRI, so I’d be willing to try it…heh). I took it for 3 days and threw the rest away. I have issues with SRIs. Bad issues. I told both doctors this. I’ve tried them before and I won’t try them again. Sorry. Anyway, he’s decided that I have a mild case of osteoarthritis. Mild meaning that occasionally I actually have to use a cane to walk from my livingroom to my kitchen. He prescribed some Ultram, which is a new pain killer (new meaning kick-back for him, I’m guessing) and that’s been that with him. The Ultram only works for me, though, if I’m having a mild episode (not bad enough to use the cane) and if I add an acetaminophen to it. So, I’m hunting for a fourth doctor. I’m not at all pleased.

The last couple of days haven’t been too bad though. So, I’ve been playing with the family and trying to get some house stuff done. I worked on an article. Hopefully I won’t have another big episode for a while.