Pay equality
Posted by Lizzie on Sep-5-2008There’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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I completely agree..and for someone that you trust to just blatantly say your a hypochondriac is really just being a selfish person; they need to realize not everything is black and white. Some illnesses or problems can’t be seen by others but that doesn’t make them any less real…it’s the people who claim everything is okay most of the time that are hurting the most on the inside.
I think that assuming someone is “faking” it or simply imagining illness is about as careless as assuming that someone who gained a little around the waist is pregnant. Talk about pissing somebody off.
I will say one thing, I do have to (i do not want to say agree) but echo the commentary of your inlaw witch by saying this; do be careful using narcotics to treat the pain. I have had much experience with friends who have suffered chronic pain due to migraines and car accidents and the end result was an addiction that I think was probably worse then the original issue. I hope you do not misunderstand me that I think in anyway that you are not aware of the risks. Just putting it out there, because it seems to happen with almost no warning.
Chronic pain is no way to live. I do hope the docs find out exactly what is going on a a way to help you more permanently. As for your hubby, kick him in the arse for me.
LOL
What the hell? Does no one in your world give you support in a time of need or what?
I shall keep you in my thoughts and pray that something better comes to your aid.
Much Respect~d
Hi, Dan, and welcome!
Thanks for the kind words. It’s hard to explain to people what it’s like to hear them say things like that. I’m not a good enough person to be so understanding. I have a tendency to hold it in until they have a complaint then I pounce! I just wish some people would think “What if..?” before they open their traps.
Hi, D,
Thank you too. I appreciate it.
I get a lot of my support online. I try not to go public with this situation, but at the time I posted this I was literally up to my eyeballs irritated with the world.
My doc did prescribe me the narcotics after the other meds didn’t work like we wanted. And because of the level of stress in my life right now it’s hard for me to do other pain management techniques. He did, though, tell me that tramadol was non-habit forming and through my own research I found out he was wrong. Grrr!
I’m very careful with my meds and try to take them only when absolutely necessary to function. Hopefully we’ll find alternative treatments and I can finally sweep all of this nonsense under the rug.
By the way, I moved your comment from the other post. I thought maybe you posted it there accidentally. I hope that’s ok with you.