Had an interesting conversation Saturday with my sweets. She asked about the wage gap and if I believed that it was a real thing...
So I went back (mentally) to this article:
http://www.vox.com/2016/8/1/12108126/gender-wage-gap-explained-real
and this video:
We discussed how this is a fairly complex thing - that as a society, women earn much less than men - something like 78 cents on the dollar, and that in the same profession (assuming the same level of experience and education) women earn 94 cents on the dollar. We talked about the fact that society views jobs traditionally occupied by women (teacher, nurse, secretary, etc) as being less valuable and that this contributes to part of the large-scale problem. And we talked that irrespective of the job - that is, people in the exact same position and functioning in exactly the same way - women earn less than men FOR NO GOOD REASON. Now, I understand that women have other responsibilities that they feel responsible for, including child care, for which there is no compensation. And women are biologically responsible for the birth of children, which can and does interrupt a woman's career. But there's just no good reason for women in parallel career tracks to make less. As I read somewhere - if I were in a position to hire people, I'd hire all women because I'd know they would work for less. Which is stupid.
She said - but there are things that men can do that women cannot because men are stronger and bigger. I said that that's true - that I can reach higher places than mom, for example, and most men do tend to be stronger and bigger than most women, which is just a biological fact. This means that men are generally better positioned to be baggage handlers and stevedores, better at lifting and moving heavy items... But that doesn't mean that those positions are necessarily more valuable, and it doesn't mean that they should be paid more or less...
So, interesting conversation. I love so much that she's thinking about these things. I told her that the reason I feel that I'm a feminist is not because I think women are better than men, but because I think women deserve to be treated the same as men - especially when it comes to pay and choice. I said that the feminists who view men as truly evil are really actually very few (although we strongly dislike the patriarchy that continues the subjugation of women). But what feminists really want is an equal chance for all, for every choice that a person (woman or man) to make is up to that person, and not some artificial societal construct. That these choices afforded to all help make up the rich tapestry of our society and provide strength, opportunity, and richness. Thus, all are celebrated for their choices, and all are supported and receive benefits based on their contributions, and not on their gender.
Because I don't want to win something because I'm a dude. I want it to be because of merit and experience and expertise. Biology was determined when I was conceived... My destiny should be determined by my own hopes and dreams and aspirations and actions towards them.
So I went back (mentally) to this article:
http://www.vox.com/2016/8/1/12108126/gender-wage-gap-explained-real
and this video:
We discussed how this is a fairly complex thing - that as a society, women earn much less than men - something like 78 cents on the dollar, and that in the same profession (assuming the same level of experience and education) women earn 94 cents on the dollar. We talked about the fact that society views jobs traditionally occupied by women (teacher, nurse, secretary, etc) as being less valuable and that this contributes to part of the large-scale problem. And we talked that irrespective of the job - that is, people in the exact same position and functioning in exactly the same way - women earn less than men FOR NO GOOD REASON. Now, I understand that women have other responsibilities that they feel responsible for, including child care, for which there is no compensation. And women are biologically responsible for the birth of children, which can and does interrupt a woman's career. But there's just no good reason for women in parallel career tracks to make less. As I read somewhere - if I were in a position to hire people, I'd hire all women because I'd know they would work for less. Which is stupid.
She said - but there are things that men can do that women cannot because men are stronger and bigger. I said that that's true - that I can reach higher places than mom, for example, and most men do tend to be stronger and bigger than most women, which is just a biological fact. This means that men are generally better positioned to be baggage handlers and stevedores, better at lifting and moving heavy items... But that doesn't mean that those positions are necessarily more valuable, and it doesn't mean that they should be paid more or less...
So, interesting conversation. I love so much that she's thinking about these things. I told her that the reason I feel that I'm a feminist is not because I think women are better than men, but because I think women deserve to be treated the same as men - especially when it comes to pay and choice. I said that the feminists who view men as truly evil are really actually very few (although we strongly dislike the patriarchy that continues the subjugation of women). But what feminists really want is an equal chance for all, for every choice that a person (woman or man) to make is up to that person, and not some artificial societal construct. That these choices afforded to all help make up the rich tapestry of our society and provide strength, opportunity, and richness. Thus, all are celebrated for their choices, and all are supported and receive benefits based on their contributions, and not on their gender.
Because I don't want to win something because I'm a dude. I want it to be because of merit and experience and expertise. Biology was determined when I was conceived... My destiny should be determined by my own hopes and dreams and aspirations and actions towards them.
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