It is insane how much this video angers me!!!! I think that my interest and anger was sparked about this issue of unequal pay when I was in my discussion class for a “gender study”. In this class the topic of why, when and how the issue of unequal pay for women is still around today was brought up. It blows my mind that although we could have the same education, the same upbringings and the same qualifications for a job, that women are still not able to receive the same salary as men. What do we have left to do that will change these unfair and sickening ways? I guess I am confused with the thought that both men AND some women seem to not be fazed by this deeming way of the working world TODAY! I think a lot of women sit back and think that there is nothing left to do to change these absurd unequal ways, but that is wrong. Like all of our history was created, it takes a group of united people to push foreword against the obstacles, to get the outcome that they want. I know personally, a lot of my girl friends and women in my own life are content with sitting back and WAITING for the change, but waiting is not going to do anything.
The video clip that I have attached to this post is a real life example, that brings tears to my eyes watching because of how personal and unfair Lilly’s story is. This video begins by Lilly saying how she would come into work an hour and a half early, to check her emails and get her mail etc. This comment she makes is even more upsetting because it shows just how hard of a worker she is and how much time and effort she puts into her job, to only find out that she is being taken advantage of. I think it interesting that Lilly could have never even realized how much less her pay was than the other men, if it was not for that little sheet of paper that fell out. It is a situation like the, where I do believe everything happens for a reason. There was a reason that that small paper fell out onto Lilly’s desk, to show her the truth behind her hard work.
Lilly continues to talk about how “overtime” was the biggest motivator at work, something that she had worked hard for so that she could get that extra pay to make ends meet. She then talks about all of the financial responsibilities that her family had (mortgage, children in college, car payments etc.). She finishes talking about these responsibilities by sharing the personal fact of how hard it was for her to make end meet. The way that Lilly talks about her realization of her unequal pay, is almost like she took a slap to her face. She is so shocked and caught off guard that she had been working as hard as possible and struggling to make ends meet, but things could have been way different had she been making the same amount as the other men.
Lilly ends this video clip by saying how much she just wanted to pack up and leave work that day, but she knew that she could not. I think there are a lot of women who would have just packed up and left that day, but like Lilly, it is important that we as women DO NOT. We cannot just walk away from this discrimination against us. We need to fight against it, and that is what Lilly did. I thought it was inspiring how Lilly went home and talked to her husband about what she had experienced that day, and how she wanted to take it to court. Lilly emphasized that if she was going to fight this in court, that she was going to be in it for the long haul, something that will take time and effort but she was ready to make a change. It is women like Lilly who are trying to speak on behalf of the woman race, but one woman can’t just do it. We should strike together, bonded and united is what has made history in the past, so lets do it again!
He said, “What time do you want to leave?”–I love this last line of her story, it makes me think there will be a happy ending:) Thanks for the reminder as to why this is such an important issue and why we need to stop “turning a blind eye” to it.
This is such an important issue. I think it’s important to ask – what can each of us do in our lives to fight against unequal pay & to bring visibility to the issue? One thing that I did was to negotiate my salary because many women don’t which impacts lifetime earning potential. Another thing is to ask & do research about others’ salaries so that it is harder for organizations to hide pay inequity. And, this isn’t just a gender issue – it’s compounded for minority women & men. The last thing is to support relevant legislation as it comes up – email your friends, post on your Facebook – but mostly use your voice!
That’s my list, what else do you do to work toward pay equality?
I think you are right that a lot of women simply take whatever is offered to them, whereas men tend to barter. I would personally feel very uncomfortable negotiating salary in a hiring situation (maybe because of my sex, maybe because any money sounds good right now!) – but maybe that’s a scenario that could be practiced? Either in primary education, college career prep, or between women in general?