What matters to me the most about
feminism is equal pay. I currently work part-time as a sales associate for
Macy’s in Monterey, California. I earn good money, and don’t complain about my
pay because I do not consider this a job I worked hard to achieve for. However,
I am also a full-time student at Monterey Peninsula College where I am
currently working on an AA to transfer over to San Diego State University to
achieve a Masters in Social Work. When I hear about women in the position I am
working so hard towards not earning sufficient and the same as men, I get
furious. Due to the fact that women generations ago fought so hard for us women
in present years to receive the same equality as men, but unfortunately we
still don’t. Equal pay may not seem like a big deal, but think about it. If we
work just as hard as men do, meaning receiving the same education and
experience, and so forth. Why do women receive less pay? I wouldn’t complain
with others if it was a quarter or even a dollar, but there is such a huge gap
when it comes to mapping out the different between men and women’s pay, it’s
ridiculous. The inequality that happens in the workplace reminds me of what happened to Sojourner Truth in Ain't I a Woman?. In this story she is looked upon a lady who is weak while men talk about women being weak as well. She states, "I have borne thirteen children." She states this because they believe women aren't tough. Furthermore, as I stated earlier women are so much stronger than men that it shocking many individuals can't see it. Therefore, this comes into women receiving unequal pay because we are looked as women who can't do the same job men can do.
At first I wasn’t curious about
the equal pay subject. However, when it started becoming world-wide news, I had
to take a peak. I learned that President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act,
making it illegal to discriminate against an employee based on gender. However,
sexism in the workplace has become one of the major issues in the country, so
why hasn’t anything changed? Therefore, feminism is such an important aspect in
my personally and social life because if unequal pay continues it will, and
currently will, affect myself and others whether they worked their butt of for
their job men will also obtain. Furthermore, when I grow older I do not want to
live in an economy where husbands earn more than wife’s just because we seem to
be a weaker link in society. I want to live in a society where your education
and or skills are based on your pay and wages, not physical appearances.
Kolmar, Wendy K., and Frances Bartkowski. Feminist Theory: A Reader. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2005. Print.
"Lilly Ledbetter Says the President Can Do More for Equal Pay: Sign an Executive Order." Washington Post. The Washington Post. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lilly-ledbetter-says-the-president-can-do-more-for-equal-pay-sign-an-executive-order/2014/01/17/3eae5e62-7e0d-11e3-93c1-0e888170b723_story.html>.
Work Cited
Kolmar, Wendy K., and Frances Bartkowski. Feminist Theory: A Reader. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2005. Print.
"Lilly Ledbetter Says the President Can Do More for Equal Pay: Sign an Executive Order." Washington Post. The Washington Post. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lilly-ledbetter-says-the-president-can-do-more-for-equal-pay-sign-an-executive-order/2014/01/17/3eae5e62-7e0d-11e3-93c1-0e888170b723_story.html>.
