1. Is gender discrimination in the workplace still a big problem in the United States? Why or why not?
2. Is there anything the government can or should do about gender discrimination or is it up to the private sector to change their hiring practices? Explain your reasoning.
3. Do women have a tougher road to success in the workplace in America?
4. Should private companies have "affirmative action" policies in place to make sure more female candidates are interviewed for open upper management positions? Why or why not?
5. Why is diversity considered a valuable asset in the workplace?
76 comments:
I do not think that Gender discrimination is a serious problem in the workplace; however, I do not have a first hand look at it because I do not have a job. That doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. I believe that some people, typically men, have a problem with women being in charge. That definitely doesn't make it okay to give women a smaller pay. The govermmment should pass a law saying that everyone must have an equal pay if they're working the same job. Diversity is an important aspect in the work place because everyone has something to bring to the table. Lilly Ledbetter wouldn't have been successful if it weren't for a woman on the Supreme Court justice. Diversity can come in handy in all cases. I do believe that women have a tougher road to succeed because there are so many stereotypes where women should be housewives and stay home and take care of the children. However that just gives women more motivation to be as successful or even more successful than men.
I feel like diversity in the workplace is a valuable asset especially when making big decisions. Obviously if you we're doing a scientific experiment you would want a diverse population so that you can get more accurate results. The same idea applies in the workplace. Making decisions based on only some of the perspectives in a population is flawed. A system like this can easily leave out the perspectives of othe people such as women, minority's or even people in the gay community. Should something be done? Yes, but since this is still going on after all these years of reforming civil rights I'm not sure what is left to do.
Seeing as how I don't have a job I can't say first hand that gender discrimination is a huge problem but from what I saw in the documentary as well as what I read from the articles it seems to be a huge problem even today. The wage gap even today seems to be huge and this is partly because of what I call "Different names, different pay." This is where companies will give the same job a different name or give it one different property than another extremely similar job to serve as a loophole in Equal Employment. Because the jobs are similar but not equal they are not required to pay the same wages. Also it seems unfair that women get payed less because a lot of research suggests that women in higher positions make their companies more profitable. Without these women those companies wouldn't be making as much money so if I were them I would be doing anything to keep them satisfied and working hard to make the company even more profitable. Overall it just comes down to the laws being enforced and our society becoming more equal in terms of the workplace.
Gender discrimination is clearly still a major issue in the workforce in the United States. The article about woman not being on the senior leadership board to me was striking in the fact that 50% of the population was represented by only 17% in major companies in the U.S. unfortunately I do not think it is up to the U.S. government to change these practices, but rather to the companies. The article provided evidence that companies with more woman on their senior leadership boards were actually more successful, and once companies start to noticeably profit because of women I believe that more woman will reach employment equality. Like I said before government regulation through something like affirmative action is not the way to go on this issue, the government should be left out of the decision making of the private companies and leave it to them to hire the best people for the job. Diversity has proven to be important in the workplace because of the fact that it allows multiple perspectives on one certain issue. This can be extremely valuable to the decision making process as every possible solution or problem is voiced and heard.
Gender discrimination still seems to be a problem all around the workforce . A good point made in the second article was that women may bring a perspective that men might not . This ultimately could be an advantage for a company because if a staff is full of males then you have only one outlook on a certain problem but add a woman too it and you will get a different opinion . As far as the whole equal pay conflict I find it unfair for people doing the same job for the same amount of hours do not get paid the same amount , whether they are male or female should not matter . If they are able to produce what the company needs and what the company wants then they should get paid a fair amount for their labor . Although this can be argument for hours gender discrimination will always be around I believe simply because some people have not changed along with the times . Some still live like it's the past and they won't change .
Due to a set precedent women have always had a rougher time than men to earn the same positions along with the same salary. This precedent has made the people in charge mindset to view women as inferior to men and therefore not have the same advantages in the work force as men. It does not mean it is impossible for women to be in charge or have higher position than men, it just has made it harder for women who have the same experience, abilities, and education as men competing for the same position to obtain that position along with have equal pay. There should be a law that mandates all businesses and agencies to have equal salaries for men and women, along with people of different races, in the same position. It takes time to attain equality, but society seems to be drifting towards it.
I do believe that gender discrimination is a problem in the workplace and it should be treated as a problem and not ignored. Instead of continuously ignoring it and pushing it to the side the government should pass the Fair Pay Act to reduce the discrimination in the workplace by making sure people doing the same job get paid the same amount regardless of what gender they are. Although this will not solve the gender discrimination in our country, it is one of the only things the government can really do about it. There is a positive correlation between the number of women on their boards and returns on equity and higher growth. This is because women provide a new viewpoint which expands diversity which is good for companies.
Michael Nichols-
I agree with Mackenzie, I do believe that gender discrimination is a major problem in the U.S. I too believe it does exist, but from the information I have read from the second article, I have come to conclude that not all gender inequalities are purposely aimed to shut women out of a fair society. The second article says companies with board members are looking for experience over ability. I don't think they say this to limit the job opportunities of women (since many women do not always have experience on a board), but they feel that experience is more necessary than ability. Many companies probably fail to realize the potential that women have rather than going with an experienced male.
In response to question 2, I also believe that the government should pass a law which does enforce the idea of equal payment for people (men and women) who work at the same jobs AND perform the same activities.
For question 3, as I stated previously, big board companies look mostly for experience and since many women are still new to these companies and jobs, they are certainly at a disadvantage.
Rachel Morgis
Period 1A
1. Gender discrimination in the workplace is a big problem in the United States because it still exists. On average, women still earn about $0.77 cents to every dollar a man makes. Although legislation such as the Equal Pay Act requires that people of similar merit doing the same task must be paid the same salary, the truth of the matter is that minorities - especially women - are not paid equal salaries. This inequality still exists today.
2. The government can enact more legislation favoring anti discriminatory policies, such as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; to influence the private sector. The government may also offer incentives for corporations that have diversity in their workforce and for those who prove that their that employees do the same work earn equal base salaries. Although the government cannot force the private sector directly, it can influence the private sector with their legislation and incentives.
3. Yes, women do have a harder road to success in the workplace in America. A small percentage of women hold positions in upper management in corporations. In a study of 500 companies, only about 17% of the seats on board of directors are filled by women. Even lower percentage of women are in senior executive positions. For whatever reason, women are often underrepresented in positions of higher hierarchy.
4. Companies should have affirmative action policies in order to make sure minorities such as women are interviewed for positions of upper management because it would allow for more promotional opportunities for minorities and increase diversity in the workplace. This would benefit the company and the potential employees by creating a more fair environment.
5. Diversity is considered a valuable asset in the workplace because it creates a fair environment with new and unique perspectives. A diverse workplace will be more representative of the total population. Therefor, different opinions, concerns and ideas may be represented in the different levels of a corporation. This would benefit the company's business as well as benefitting the minorities hired by the said company.
Gender discrimination is still a serious problem in the workplace because women still tend to make less than men. Many employers state they provide equal employment opportunities for women and leave the issue alone. Employers should go further and ensure that women are payed just as any of their male colleagues who have the same qualifications. Government can help fix this issue and should because government has the responsibility to promote equality and fairness, just as it has done in the past. The government already reaches into the private sector through regulation, and should add equal pay as another regulation for employers.
The current state of the workplace makes it more difficult for women to take management jobs. Experience is a normal requirement for management, and women have been denied the opportunities to gain experience. Affirmative action would allow women to make an easier transition into better jobs and to gain more experience so that more management jobs are open to them. The increase in diversity in the workplace would be beneficial because it allows employers to have employees with a greater range of skills. Equality for women in pay and employment even benefits society by promoting fairness.
I do believe that women have a tougher road to success in our society. As I was reading the articles, it just stood out to me that the examples of women not being successful in big job corporations, and not being paid as much as men; these are just constant setbacks to the success of a woman. For example, according to Tom Falk, "We often say we want ability, but we promote experience, or we select for experience...We want someone who's actually done it."
This is fine, and I understand what he's saying, however, the possibility of finding a woman who excels in that area will be hard, since there's such a prejudice against women working in large companies.
What really intrigued me was the fact that the Fair Pay Act had yet to be put into action. I would think that many people (regardless of background, position, etc.) would agree to this Act being passed.
-- Brielle B.
Gender discrimination is no longer as substantial in the workplace as it was many years ago. Women should be paid the same salary that men are paid as long as they are performing the same jobs and tasks. Although, people need to keep in mind that there are going to be certain jobs that are going to favor male or female workers more than the opposite sex. The point is that the most qualified and experienced applicant for a job is the person that should be hired, not just because they're you're friend. Women should have to work hard and earn the respect of others, just as men do to get top jobs at companies.
I don't think that gender discrimination is nearly as bad as it once was. It is still around in some professions such as sports, or even the presidency (not for lack of trying) but the greater portion of it has been solved. I believe that it is more up to the private sector to change their hiring practices, because the government cannot fix every single loophole. Eventually, the people have to take charge. "If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself." I do not believe that women struggle as much as they used to on the road to success, due to numerous professions existing and many more opportunities to exceed. I see diversity as a valuable asset in the workplace, because it makes the workplace comparable to the nation. Our nation is comprised of numerous races, numerous backgrounds, and numerous experiences that all work together to make the United States what it was always meant to be, and what it is today -- Equal.
After reading these two articles, my former beliefs were validated. I think gender discrimination in the work place is prevalent just as gender discrimination occurs outside of the workplace. Stereotypically, men and women have different "roles" in society based on what each individual did in the past. Even though these stereotypes may not be true for everyone, they do exist and transcend into the workplace where the controversial topics of equal opportunity and equal pay comes into play. The article "Women still make less than men.." makes a point that being a mother also had an impact on how women are treated or paid at work. The mere "presence of a child" could limit opportunities and vanquish hope for economic improvement. Many other countries have maternity leave policy that allow leave to take care of a child. I think that is necessary because biologically, women are made to have children and that uncontrollable factor should not squander the opportunity for job or equal pay. I don't think that they should pay women while they are not at work contributing but I do not think it is right to hire a man over a woman based on the fact that he has no possibility of having children while she does. In the second article, I strongly agree with the Catalyst group that the modern prevalence of gender discrimination in the work place is "very disappointing" but I am not sure what the federal government could do to fix this problem entirely. They prominence of gender discrimination has undoubtedly declined over the years but there is still room for improvement. I think it is the private businesses responsibility to hire employees based on merit and ability alone- excluding all extraneous discriminatory details such as gender, age, or race. As a woman who aspires to be successful, I am hopeful that the problem of gender discrimination will continue to decline and eventually disappear with changes made in the private sector.
I don't think that gender discrimination is a big issue now compared to what we saw in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company one because of the act I think some workplaces changed their ways so that there's no more discrimination and two because Lilly Ledbetter spoke at national conventions she brought a lot of awareness to everyone. When It comes to gender discrimination I think that the government should deal with those cases because it is a very delicate issue and if it were up to companies to choose it would cause more chaos and more court cases that have to be dealt with which could all be wiped out with the new acts that are implemented by the government. In some cases I do believe that women have a tougher road to success because many people have very conservative views on what the would can or should do, which makes it harder for women to reach they goals. No because this is once again a gender discrimination issue against the men, but interview men and women for upper management jobs. Diversity can bring a whole new set of perspective to the table, it shows that people think in different ways and this is just going to help a company overall.
I think that diversity is considered a valuable asset in the workplace because if a business isn't diverse (not just in gender, but in race and religion as well), they won't attract people that are different from the type of people who work at that business. For example, if a store or restaurant only has male employees, the women who go into those business may feel discourage and like they stand out. A business should represent all genders an races so that their guests feel comfortable. Personally, I do think that gender discrimination in the workplace is a problem in the United States because of the fact that on the board of directors, only 17% of seats hold women. When I go to a store of something, I will mostly see women having the "easy" jobs, such as decorating or cashiering, while the men lift the heavy things and have the more physical types of jobs that women are perfectly capable of doing.
Renardo G
1. I think it is still an big issue in the United States, mostly because it's easy to be overlooked and to fall under the radar which is why people don't see how abundant the issue really is; And as its being swept under the rug, the issue continues to rise.
2. I think the government should still hold some responsibility for this problem and therefore should continue to attempt to limit the many cases of this issue by enacting legislation such as the "Fair Pay Act". This provided a solid ground for progress and a step towards the end of this discrimination. But that task will continue to be a difficult task without the cooperation of the private sectors, which is why I think that this issue should be made a priority by the government.
3. I think that the United has reached to somewhat of a level of equality, in regards to the hard work and efforts of men and women in their journey to discover success in their respective workplaces. I just think that the treatment is different when these two parties reach success.
4. If there is a clear difference between the amount of men versus the amount of women in upper management positions, then yes, because it gives women more opportunities to excel than if that would not have been made. It also leaves less room for gender discrimination in the work place.
5. diversity allows for more ideas and aspects of the general population to be represented as exemplified by the original intent of democracy and the government.
Anusha, I have to disagree with you. Although this new legislation should improve things, there was already legislation in place which should have prevented things like this. It is shown in the video, that even today, women still only make 77 cents on the dollar to men. Therefore you can not make the argument that gender discrimination is not an issue.
I do not have a job so I don't have any field experience on the matter, but however since I'm a guy I have access to the true opinions of other guys, as my fellow males can attest to, a male is more willing to admit details to their fellow males. Gender discrimination may not be as bad as it once was, but it's still around, males don't want a female to order them around and I think that it's still being practiced in some corporations where most of the board members if that corporation are males who share what we males coin as the "man if the house" mentality.
I believe that the government can and should implement policies to help protect not only women, but other minorities as well. According to title VII, everyone is to be given equal opportunity in the workplace. If the government didn't intervene they would ultimately be doing the citizens of this nation a great disservice. It is their duty to not only protect us but to uphold rights addressed in the constitution. I think that if the government mandates that private companies refrain from discriminating, or at least have severe repercussions for those who do, women wouldn't have a tougher time in the workplace. I also don't think that companies should specifically strive to hire more women to management positions; each person should be equally considered based on talent and merit regardless of their race or gender. It should just be based on who will do the best job.
The government seems to have taken this issue as far as it can in my view, with the Fair Pay Act. It is up to the corporations now to abide by the laws. Though it may be harder for women to get to high positions, once there they have clearly thrived. Thus I think with time this issue will become less and less of a problem, as we are seeing more and more diversity every day. At my dads bank, all of his bosses are women,which may be an isolated case but also proves the distances women have already come. Clearly this has become a national issue, so as it may still be an issue, it is not as controversial as it once was, no one seems to be disagreeing that this is unfair.
I agree with you Jon even though I didn't have any job experience either because there are some place that still does gender discrimination. I had one friend that was in same situation that had gotten less payment.
Jiwon says
I agree with Leyla. Because while it is important that the private sector should make their own decisions, it is also important to not ignore the fact that they have been making these discriminatory decisions for years, even though there have been several pleads of discontent. If it were not for government interference with discrimination, no progress would be made, such as the Civil Rights Act or Lilly Ledbetter Act. But it is also important to note that men should not be discriminated against either, in hopes to equal out genders. It should be as simple as, equal work=equal pay. Both woman and men should only be hired and promoted for their skills and contributions alone, that is true equality.
Discrimination against women is an issue beyond just what goes on the workplace. Pay inequality and consideration for higher positions is just the tip of the iceberg in a culture that is currently catering to the less qualified. Statistics show that 45% of women are currently enrolled in college while only 39% of men are enrolled in these institutions. And I know from my own experience with college board statistics that there is an overall trend of more women attending better schools than men. What this means is that women are no longer the minority at universities, men are. On a large scale women are acquiring better qualifications than men are and are still being payed less and passed over for jobs that they are absolutely better qualified for. Pay disparities and less job opportunities are just the examples of discrimination that can be proven. Other types of discrimination occur everyday in the workplace and are never brought to attention. Americans like to consider ourselves progressive and open minded but in terms of treating females like actual equals we are far behind.
The idea of having more diversity in the workplace remains as an important aspect in our daily lives. People everywhere still suffer from discrimination whether we realize it or not. Whether it is racial discrimination or gender discrimination, it still continues to exist in a nation where we are "free" and "equal." Having more diversity in the workplace allows for a variety in opinions and better represents our population. While yes, discrimination has decreased in lower playing jobs, as many workers receive the same minimum wage regardless of period of employment, gender, or race, a female CEO will ultimately make less than a male even though they both have the same titles and do the same jobs.
I have to agree with Devon , women have always been held to a lower degree of men in the work place and in society in general. Although things may not be as bad now as they were in the past with Gender discrimination is still alive and happening, for the fact that women are not as "Valuable" as men are. Coming from a female perspective we have a lot more sympathy to the situation because we would not want to have this happen to us or anyone other women out there. Like it was said in the video discrimination in not evident at the time it begins because these businesses are not big on telling confidential information which is understandable but it will only take years to even finally see that it is happening around you . I strongly feel that the Discrimination against women has and is becoming less and less of a major problem due to laws that have been put in place for the protection of these rights of " equal pay for equal work". In all hopes that people as well as companies ( not all ) are aware of the wrong they have done in past and hopefully will change their perspectives of women for the better in the future
Brittany, I totally disagree with your statement. Yes people should be qualified when being hired but let's be honest, is that the case. We don't know all that happens behind close doors . Like Lily Ledbetter she wasn't even aware of the situation. To say that it is still not an issue is not entirely accurate. For example my mom is constantly complaining about how she feels she is treated unfairly by the men on her board. The cause of the mistreatment is because she is a women.
So to no the honest truth we would have to ask the companies and they definitely cover things up.
Even though it may not be as big of an issue as it once was in the past, gender discrimnation is still evident in modern life. Just as there still is predjudice against race, age, national origin,sexuality, etc. As wrong as it is, the reality is that these discrinatory ideologies are still present in the current day.
However, we have obviously progressed and advanced a huge amount from the past on total equality, and we continue to keep moving forward. Regarding the specific treatment of women in the work place, it is unfortunate that they recieve the unfair treamtent that they do. It is not logical to think of any women as inferior to man purley based on thier gender. It is not only illogical, but immoral. It is hard to place the blame for this on one place, but I do believe it has alot to do with past cultural beliefs. Women were perceived as the "housekeepers" and were generally prohibitted from attaining any kind of equal job outside the household that a man would have. Even though we are in a new generation and continue to advance in many aspects of social equality, it cannot be ignored that there are still traditionalists out there that believe women are simply inferior. But as time moves on, I am confident this issue will as well.
Jobs should be given based on experience, credibility, education, and judgement of character. There should be no reason whatsoever a woman should not have the equal oppirtunity as man to recieve a job. It is not fair to judge them on their expereince levels when no one agrees to give them a chance in the first place! Women offer alot that men dont, just as the article 'Women Still Largely Absent From Corporate Boards' pointed out. Katherine Phillips stated "women bring a perspective that men might not have. She says that diversity of perspective and opinion compels everyone in the room to think harder and more critically." I completely concur with this statement. This is why the most succesful and prestigious Universitys around the world offer a balance of males and females. This idea should also be implemented in the work place. Men and women are able to colloborate together with no problems, and it offers different perspectives and opinions that would make any workplace or company more successful overall.
Diversity represents part of the American legacy, therefore it is a crucial aspect of the workforce. Roughly 3 months ago, I began a job as a hostess at a local Red Lobster seafood restaurant. As I went through the application process, I noted that all Red Lobster restaurants assure the absence of all and any type of discrimination in the hiring process. This gives all persons of any race, gender, religion, etc. an equal opportunity to become an employee. The idea of equal opportunities for all people seems like something the nation firmly stands for, but evidently, discrimination continues to exist among gender in the workforce. This came as somewhat of a surprise to me. I was unaware that women typically make 0.77 cents on the dollar compared to men. In the Lilly Ledbetter case against gender discrimination, congress ruled in Ledbetter's favor. After Ledbetter's victory, President Obama signed the Fair Pay act, an act that requires fair pay among men and women in the workforce. This act has not completely taken effect on the nation as a whole. Discrimination continues to exist as an issue in the workforce. Further legislation should be used as an intervention to officially end all gender discrimination for all employees in all states.
Gender discrimination in the workplace is still a huge problem in America. Even though the Lilly Ledbetter case was a very influential turning point in gender discrimination in its attempts of trying to keep equality in the workplace, because of the secrecy of paychecks, there is a huge possibility that many women are still being under paid compared to men. There really isn't much that the government can do with gender discrimination because even though we have the Equal Pay Act, companies are still paying women less than men. I do not believe that women have a tougher road to success because if women work as hard as men, they could have success if they really wanted to. Diversity is considered a valuable asset in the work place because it allows opportunities of different people to work.
Morgan Henry
1. In spite of the Ledbetter v. Goodyear case, women discrimination isn't as big of a problem in the United States. Our society has had some attempts to help level the amount of pay between the two sexes, but the reputation of women being of a lower ability to do work compared to men is still relevant, although they may be completing the same task. The discrimination of women may not be represented through how much they are paid, but it could be represented by the jobs they wish to be employed in.
2. The government can pass laws preventing unequal payment amounts between genders like in the Ledbetter v. Goodyear case, however they cannot control the hiring practices if the genders are working in different fields where one may require a higher amount of work.
3. Women do have a tougher road to success because they are considered to do less than men are able to do. Women have been entitled to different stereotypes limiting their successes in different work forces.
4. Private companies should allow women to have the same opportunity as men do to achieve upper management positions.
5. Diversity allows that all races, genders, and colors are offered the exact same chances as each other in the workplace.
Women still struggle with gender discrimination today, as seen in the video, women get paid $0.77 compared to the dollar a man makes, even if they work at the same place and work the same amount of hours. I think gender discrimination is social issue that results in double standards. If a man pursues a career in nursing, he wouldn't receive as much judgement from others than a women would get if she wants to be a mechanic. It's like there are certain jobs for women and there are certain jobs for men, which is unfair.
The antidiscrimintion policies that require fair pay and forbids job discrimination based on race gender religion or sexuality has certainly helped to make jobs and hiring more fair. But some federal labor requirements such as compinies like Walmart are required to have at least 7% of their worker be disabled as well as a % of female employees. So if there are 2 applicants a man with 2 PhDs and 20 years experience and a women that only has her 2 year degree and no experience, the company may be in a situation where it is required by federal law to hire the less qualified applicant. Which is reverse discrimination giving someone an advantage because they are a minority. Instead of employment and job oppritunitiea being a level playing field. so potentially groups companies are required to hire don't have to work as hard to keep their job because they can accuse them of discrimination,While In Reality are just ineffective at their job. the best antidiscrimintion would be hiring processes and payment based of job effectiveness experience and qualification
http://www.openmarket.org/2012/03/02/obama-administration-seeks-quotas-based-on-disability-race-and-perhaps-sexual-orientation/
1. Gender discrimination in the workplace is still a huge problem that is largely ignored. Not only do women recieve lower job positions than men, but they also recieve lower pay for the same jobs and even then are not treated as men. At the same time many women seem to have accepted this when they should be fighting to recieve the rights they deserve, and they should be doing more not only to protect their own positions but also those of other females. In addition, the Lilly Ledbetter case was not, as many believe a great accomplishment for women. I hold that it was too little too late. Such reforms should have been demanded far earlier and in a way that they required full change.
2. The government should do more than merely the fair pay act to try and change his especially since this did not completely change things for women by any means. As for the private sector, I think it is unlikely at they will change their hiring practices as a whole, however is attempt would be in their best interests. Largely it is the responsibility of the entire American culture to change their views of women to suit the times, because we are not, nor have we been in many years, mere sexual objects or homemakers.
3. Women do have a tougher time moving up in companies and achieving career success. Females are given the common stereotype of being weak and emotional. At the same time we are expected to do more: have kids, be educated, and devote themselves to their jobs yet at the same time they are paid and respected less for doing more.
4. Companies should be required to have affirmative action policies in order to ensure that women at least get interviewed for upper management jobs in an comparable quantity to the number of make interviews.
5. Diversity is valued within the workplace to create the best team of workers by gathering fresh ideas and points of view to form the best result.
1. Gender discrimination in the workplace is still a huge problem that is largely ignored. Not only do women recieve lower job positions than men, but they also recieve lower pay for the same jobs and even then are not treated as men. At the same time many women seem to have accepted this when they should be fighting to recieve the rights they deserve, and they should be doing more not only to protect their own positions but also those of other females. In addition, the Lilly Ledbetter case was not, as many believe a great accomplishment for women. I hold that it was too little too late. Such reforms should have been demanded far earlier and in a way that they required full change.
2. The government should do more than merely the fair pay act to try and change his especially since this did not completely change things for women by any means. As for the private sector, I think it is unlikely at they will change their hiring practices as a whole, however is attempt would be in their best interests. Largely it is the responsibility of the entire American culture to change their views of women to suit the times, because we are not, nor have we been in many years, mere sexual objects or homemakers.
3. Women do have a tougher time moving up in companies and achieving career success. Females are given the common stereotype of being weak and emotional. At the same time we are expected to do more: have kids, be educated, and devote themselves to their jobs yet at the same time they are paid and respected less for doing more.
4. Companies should be required to have affirmative action policies in order to ensure that women at least get interviewed for upper management jobs in an comparable quantity to the number of make interviews.
5. Diversity is valued within the workplace to create the best team of workers by gathering fresh ideas and points of view to form the best result.
I believe that gender discrimination is still a problem in the workforce today but not as bad as it was previously. Women for the most part get paid the same as men , but the struggle today comes from women having to work harder in order to obtain a higher position as they have to compete with men . There should be a law that mandates agencies to enforce equal salaries for men and women.
I believe that women are discriminated in the workplace especially in the new questions of women in the military. The discrimination is not great, most places give them the same benefits but professional sports are heavily men and the military does not allow women certain privileges. Women are not allowed to be in combat which is good but can be considered discrimination. While they want to be defenders of their country the government will not allow them to. Pay is not as big of an issue as it use to be because women are determined to have equal rights and work just as hard as men. Their hard work has paid off for them. Women are being represented in many levels in government, getting pay higher than men in other areas of work.
Yes, I believe gender discrimination is still evident in the workplace. However, it is not a big problem because it is viewed as second nature in society for women to be seen as inferior. It is sad yet, true. Women continue to try to break down this barrier but they only chip away at a brick wall. Proven because the amount of women on corporation boards is still minuscule. Women are constricted in the areas they are allowed to enter. The government couldn't and shouldn't do anything until there is another case brought to them that shows how this is still an issue in society. Title 7 was supposed to end these issues but with continued misinterpretation and people not speaking up women and even minorities are still looked down upon.
I believe that typically women aren't treated fairly when it come to wages in the workforce. Women are still being discriminated against considering they are not given the same opportunities for higher titled positions. They have to work twice as hard to get one of these positions.You typically see more men as CEOs or mangers of companies and if a women were to get the same job they still wouldn't get paid the same as men. The fact that gender discrimination is still a problem after all this time shows how some people are still narrow minded and refusing to change their mindset. Minority and gender discrimination is nowhere near as bad as it used to be so people don't feel the need to continue working to change conditions for others effected by discrimination. Lilly Ledbetter was an inspiration to women and her efforts worked to change a lot of people's attitudes towards this issue.
Gender discrimination. If I may quote Dave Berry, from his article "Lost in the Kitchen", "I asked my wife to read this and tell me what she thought. This is what she said: She said before Women's Liberation, men took care of the cars and women took care of the kitchen, whereas now that we have Women's Liberation, men no longer feel obligated to take care of the cars. This seemed pretty accurate to me, so I thought I'd just tack it on to the end here, while she makes waffles." I feel like this sums up our culture accurately. There is a clear double standard that inhibits women and relieves pressure from men. Women must constantly justify and prove themselves while men relax. Like in Dilbert, Alice constantly works hard and seeks to be the best engineer in the office but still fails to match the raises given to Wally.
Gender Discrimination overall is still present which I believe now could be inevitable. I can't argue the point that it is present in the workplace but I do believe it is a problem that has evolved into something that people just agree to disagree on. Women have been discriminated since the beginning of time (figuratively) because of the thought that men are superior due to the fact that they are strong , rough, and tough and women are gentle , loving , and caring, which was the beginning basis of this evolved stereotype. There is no concrete reason as to why women and men aren't on the same pay level when it's obvious they both can be on the same intellectual level. It is very unfair to work hard for something and not get rewarded for it discriminated or not. But the policies that have played a role in making discrimination less severe will not go unnoticed. Overall questions arent getting answered and problems arent getting solved efficiently and one question I have is even if women do "catch up" to men then will we be able to keep the pace steady.
Although progress has been made, Gender Discrimination is still prevalent in the workplace in 2013. In the absence of women on corporate boards article it states that women hold only 15% of senior executive positions. If Gender Discrimination wasn't present then women and men would be holding a closer to equal amount of senior executive positions and seats on boards of directors. Male and females should be equally represented in the workplace because as the second article states females present a different perspective on issues and topics.
I believe that gender discrimination is still present, yet not quite as prevalent. With the rise in sexual orientation rights, the struggle to rise as women has greatly died down as well. America is becoming more accepting of people as people, and dropping their judgement. As equality rises for all people, the respect for diversity has been rising as well. Diversity is necessary in a workplace because it brings a different perspective to the plate. Whether it is racial, gender, or cultural diversity, it is necessary to include as many different types of perspectives as possible. However I do not believe the government should implement policies to fix this issue. It would be in the best interest of the company to hire a wide span of voices as well as consider the best individuals for the job.
The fact that inequality still exists under the current circumstances of our country is deplorable. Obviously steps have been taken to right many of the wrongs that have been placed on women. Independence is an important part of establishing a livelihood and earning wages is essential. The priority of individuals fighting this cause should not only lie in changeling the laws to even out pay. It should be focused on making women more aware of their pay comparative to men. In the Ledbetter case the main problem was that she was not aware until it was too late. There should be available records to let workers of both genders know that the work they do is valued just as much as any other person.
I believe gender discrimination is still a problem in the workforce today, but not as much as it was during the times of Lily Ledbetter. From my experience in the workforce I see gender discrimination everyday. At my job women are constantly overlooked for open positions based on the fact of their gender. These women are qualified for these roles but are instead left to work that is menial to them.
I think the government could do something to try and stop gender discrimination but I feel that these provisions will be ignored. People will still hire men and women based on their views of gender. The government can not be everywhere at once and cannot monitor every single person hired. It's up to the private sector to change policies and provisions that disagree with gender equality. It's up to the companies hiring to stop favoritism and gender inequality.
I think women do not have a tougher time succeeding in today's workforce. Many women are some of the highest ranked people in companies, taking the opportunity to further themselves in the workforce. The other population of women just do not grab at the chance to succeed.
Diversity in the workplace means more experience and further insight into certain key issues. Not one person knows everything in the world, so having someone of the opposite sex or race creates a larger amount of knowledge that can be applied to work.
In my own personal opinion, I feel as if gender discrimations still exists today. Even though Lilly Ledbetter's fight raised awareness to equalize the American workplace, not that much difference was made. Going back in history, American men have always seen themselves as the dominat supplier in a household, and workplaces have recognized this and pay men more than women in the same jobs and tasks; however, this isn't an acceptable excuse. If the same number of hours and service are dedicated by a woman rather than man, then the same pay must be given. A very good point was made in the article "Women Still Make Less than Men.." it is true that woman have more responsibilities than a man; such as taking care of a household along with her kids, but this only adds on to the fact that women should get equal pay as men. The only problem is that men just in general tend to feel troubled when women take charge. Nonetheless, even though gender discrimation has declined over the years, I hope it continues and eventually comes to an end.
In America women are still under represented, and under paid. But I feel like no matter how many laws we try to pass in order to attempt to solve the problem, the problem itself will not be truly 100% fixed. It's just the mindset of Americans to think this because it's the way all of our ancestors have thought and it seems to get passed down. But if we change our mindset, there is potential to change many things. Having diversity in not only gender, but also race and religion brings new views and new perspectives to solve issues. It also helps to reduce majorities and increase minorities which helps everyone. Even though the difference in men and women in the US can be quite dramatic within the workplace, we need to realize that the women within America have come very far are even able to get a job and even vote. Sadly in some countries women aren't even allowed to get a job and are seen as superiorly inferior to men.
It has been said that it's not about what you know it's about who you know. Many men in high up corporate positions have been given these positions from another man. This form of nepotism continues to be dominant in today's society. Only 17% if Fortune 500 companies are headed by men, even though women make up half the population. I feel like the dilemma we face with sex discrimination is similar to that of race discrimination. Women begin in the work force with a disadvantage so they continue to be behind. However, I don't believe that reverse discrimination is the answer, the focus should be more on focusing on equal pay rates and having more equal opportunities within the workplace. Like the show "The Voice" jobs should be given with a blind audition, not based on appearance or family relations.
Gender discrimination is still happening in the workplace all over America. The low percentages of women in the higher political offices is a testimony to this, as well as . The government needs to enforce a firmer hand on this problem. Why is it just not as easy to enforce gender equality as it was affirmative action? Women are just as capable as men in any job, even though it may not seem so. Women can bring ideas to the table that men cannot. They work harder to prove themselves because of the setbacks that women had in the previous decades. Though they have come a long way, men are slow to realize the hidden capabilities of a woman, and not just those as a caretaker and housewife. It's sexist and unfair to pair people up to what they look like they can do, the guy with the biggest muscles doesn't have to be a construction worker, he could be the smartest guy in the world but America doesn't see that. It's even worse to put a monetary standard on work effort, especially if it's for the same amount of time and doing the same exact activities.The only reason pay should not be equal is if one of the workers are doing a better job, which should result In a promotion, justifying a higher pay for one person. Diversity, especially including the minorities and women, ensures that everyone is represented and that's place is comfortable for everyone living there. It also ensures that every idea is presented because every minority has a different history and a different backgrounds, allowing them to bring different solutions to the table.If everyone is presented, every side of America knows that they could possibly be included in the situation as we'll as being considered I terms of what will help them.
I believe that gender discrimination is still a big problem in the workplace that is ignored. Women still continue to have lower pay and also lower job positions compared to men in the workplace. The fact that women have become used to the fact that discrimination is present in the workplace is also a problem that shouldn't be ignored. The government should do more than the fair pay act to end discrimination towards women. Women do have a tougher road to success in the workplace in America due to the fact that they aren't taken as seriously because they are viewed as being weaker than men. Companies should also be required to have affirmative action policies in place in order to ensure that women at least get interviewed for upper management jobs so they will have the same opportunities as men. Diversity is considered a valuable asset in the workplace because it creates a fair environment with new perspectives in order to get the best end result.
I agree with Tom Falk, that having women in board rooms is important and can help corporate businesses and even our nation. Women do have certain characteristics that men do not have and they could be beneficial to the corporations. Like it was said in the article, Woman Still Largely Absent From Corporate Boards, women are more collaborative than men. For they normally like to talk about things and come to an agreement immediately. Women are also helpful in the fact that they are very creative. This could be helpful to the corporate boards as well to come up with new ideas and get their ideas out there.
I think that there are still problems with discrimination in the workplace and it also transfers out into everyday lives. The discrimination isn't only dealing with gender! Women have to overcome many stereotypes since they have been assumed to their roles in the household. There are many quick jokes about "remaining in the kitchen" and all that women are needed for is reproduction. In order to overcome these dated stereotypes women have to work hard and prove their equal status with men. This could be seen through the amount of women in universities and colleges getting multiple degrees. Slowly women are making a progression into high level positions likeCEO and head of branches.
I think that gender discrimination is still a big problem in our nation. The highest paying man in the nation was Lawrence J Ellison who worked for Oracle Corp earning a total compensation of $78,440,657 for 2012 while the highest paying woman, Sarah A. Catz earned $51,695,742 working for the same company and the same position. I think it's the government's job to do something about gender discrimination because the private sector has no motivation to change. Women definitely have a tougher road to success in America because they get discriminated against on a daily basis and it is thougher for women to get top executive jobs than it is for men. Diversity is important not only in the workplace but also in general because women have good ideas to bring to the table.
I strongly believe that gender discrimination is still a very big issue in the United States due to the smile fact that women are blatantly mistreated several ways in the workplace. There shouldn't be any gender discrimination because, as the first article said, women have the ability to bring so much to the work environment from creative ideas to the collaboration characteristic they all hold. ""One possibility is that women are just more collaborative," Malone says. "Our results ... correlated with the degree to which people participated about equally, rather than having a few people trying to dominate."". I think that this gender discrimination is still evident because as males we are ignorant. The males that control the corporate sector do not want a woman holding the same power as they do. This ideology is completely false and is as serious as the racial issues of the past.
I believe that gender discrimination is still evident in our modern day workforce. My opinion is validated by these two articles. Women still occupy the lower roles in the workforce, with a few exceptions. Even if they are higher up in the job force they aren't paid the same salary as men. There has been progress made towards complete gender equality not only in the workforce but in everyday life, but there is still much more progress to be made. Women are looked down upon in the work place and come second to male figures. This reflects how women are looked down upon in other aspects of life as well.
Despite the Ledbetter v Goodyear case, gender discrimination still exists in the workforce and had gradually made improvement. Society as a whole has been oblivious to this notion and we still need to resolve this issue. For the eighth consecutive year the percentage of women on corporate boards has not changed and that is a shame. I feel as if the gender discrimination repels women from taking on higher positions and making innovative strides within the workplace. Women can bring fresh ideas to the table and are known to collaborate more effectively than men. In the grand scheme of things, women have a tougher road to the top due to stereotyping that has yet to be eradicated. We are approaching 2014 and still to a certain extent the cult of domesticity still lingers. Women are expected to take care if life at home and work;however, they are not expected to take on CEO caliber positions. Our country needs to move forward in guaranteeing women equal pay, equal opportunity, and inevitably boost their confidence.
I believe that the government has taken appropriate action on the conflict of gender equality in the work force, but at the same time, there are still major discrepancies between males and females ithat need to be eliminated. Although the government has enacted acts/bills, it is the job of the private corporations to carry out the laws to make sure the ideology of the bills are applied to real life work situations. Otherwise, the actions such as the Lily Ledbetter act will not actually make the difference in the workforce that is intended. There seem to still be issues regarding gender equality in the workforce, as statistically women still make less money than men and they are not in as many high positions as men as well. But these differences are not necessarily due solely to gender discrimination. It could be due to education differences and outside factors. Diversity is crucial as it allows an amalgamation of several perspectives and opinions in a corporation, which ultimately will create a well rounded corporation that encompasses the diverse population America consists of. Overall, although gender discrimination still is an issue in the workforce, there are some commendable actions being taken to help reduce inequality.
1. I believe gender discrimination is a major problem in the workplace still today. We claim to be an equal opportunity country; however, women continue to commonly earn lower wages than men do, often for doing the same jobs. I think this is still an issue today because we as a nation have failed to take any sort of action towards reform. Instead, we continue to kick the can down the road and decide to "deal with it later."
2. If an issue is pushed enough, then the government might be able to pass laws that deal with gender discrimination in the workplace. But, it is mainly up to the private sector to really enforce the reforms that are put in place.
3. I believe women have a slightly more difficult road to success in America because of the stereotypes that are generally associated with them. They are usually seen as the innocent and weaker beings that need to be taken care of by a male figure. While this image is being diffused today, there are still traces of it that sometimes cause women to be discriminated against in regards to high authority jobs.
I believe that it is still a major problem mainly because of the difference in pay. Similarly, paychecks are the only evidence which is concrete which still doesn't cover behavior which can be deemed as discriminatory. I think that it should not be left up to private sectors because it would imply that discrimination would be tolerated in some circumstances; therefore, I believe it IS the governments responsibility to enforce the equal treatment of all employees regardless of employer. I think with an education women can get to positions they want but they will always have to compete with men who think they are superior. Diversity is considered a valuable asset in the workplace because different people have different talents and skills that they can offer due to their background. It is also representative of our country which is a minority majority. The Equal Pay Act signed by JFK was a good attempt but the Lilly Ledbetter Equal Rights Act signed by Obama shows that progress for the equality for women can be reached.
2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, so why, half a century later, is there a blatant distinction between the wages of men and women? Despite the actions of Congress to ensure equality in the work place, women are still earning only 77 cents for every dollar a man makes, only a cent difference from a decade ago. Many reason these numbers by saying its fair because women often leave their jobs to raise children, however, in light of a new generation with a new culture that is more focused on the empowerment of women, this excuse is no longer applicable. 57 percent of students enrolled in college are, in fact, women. Despite this, only 17 percent of women hold seats as board directors. Law no longer holds women back from advancement in society, the only thing left to change is the mentality of our citizens.
Women have a long history in the fight for equality. From gaining suffrage in 19th Amendment to the Equal Pay Act in 1963. Today there is still discrimination in the work force concerning woman, however it is not as severe as in the past. The stats state that women make 0.77 of every dollar a man. The articles show that America is well aware of this issue. I feel that the government is working towards putting an end to this as changes are happening everyday.
I strongly concur with the idea of gender discrimination being a detrimental aspect of modern day America. Additionally, I feel as though gender discrimination depends on the person. A male may think think that women do not belong in construction sites or evening mining areas. I also agree that there are certain areas where men belong that women don't and vice versa. The way that the world has shaped our minds has instilled in us that women belong in the more domestic jobs. On the contrary, anyone is capable of accomplishing any job that they aspire to do in the workforce. Therefore, there should a stronger attack on the discrimination of women's eligibility of careers that consist of leadership and management! Women have intrinsic approaches and a qualitative mindset that will result in great contributions to companies and corporations like it has before. I may be bias but I agree with Ms.Ledbetter and believe that this issue is undermined and should be taken under more consideration and break culture barriers and nepotism.
Gender discrimination is a topic that is still present in the American culture dating back to when our country first started. The women fight is still present but today equal rights is not as big of an issue that it was. Women get .77 to every mans dollar which obviously is not equal, and America is aware that that isn't equal! We have a long way to go to gain full equal race rights but we as Americans can't deny the great change we have made in order for women to feel as superior as men. The articles were a good reference to reinforce these ideas.
There is little doubt that gender discrimination is still a serious issue that has not been conquered. However, the introduction of new legislation to counteract gender bias will not serve to fix the problem. Excess paperwork causes companies to attempt to streamline processes by reducing the workforce. In addition, while this type of legislation might intend to support for minorities and women in the workplace, it will be hard for the general public to not see this as a move to give preferential treatment to minorities and individuals.
Rather than advocating for government legislation, the public should focus its pressure onto companies. The court of public opinion can appear, at times, to be stronger than the court of law. Companies that have received public backlash have suffered in sales, as the consumer will take their spending money elsewhere.
In a free-market economy, the consumer holds the strongest power.
Therefore, when the tide of public opinion turns to support gender balance in the workplace, the consumers will reflect this, spending more of their money on products and services made by equal opportunity employers who reflect that title in every respect of the word.
I personally believe that gender discrimination is still a major issue in modern society. Along with racial discrimination which is a still a big problem today (Zimmerman trial) gender discrimination is a problem. It is not fair that a woman gets a substantially lower pay than a man. Such as in the Ledbetter case in which she sued Goodyear she didn't even get all her money. She was supposedly suppose to get 3 million or a little bit more but instead got 360,000 dollars which wasn't even the amount she had lost. In the constitution of the United States of America it says that all men are created equal. This includes women, blacks, and other minorities. We passed the 19th amendment saying that all women can vote. Meaning men and women should have equal pay checks depending on how hard they work. Even today some of our most intellectual civilians are women. We're basically just playing with an issue that has been around for centuries ever since the Protestant times. Even women can go into combat nowadays. All men and women need to be treated as equals. Gender discrimination should not be an issue the least bit.
So everyone can make the argument that women are still discriminated more in the workplace then men so i am going to take the other side of this argument. The Ledbetter law now basically means that if a women is discriminated she can file and get that changed. This means that basically women have to be paid the America as men for the same position. There is nothing the government can do about men on average making more money than women. The person with the best qualifications should get the job. The reason for men making more on average is that men hold higher paying positions. The government can't do anything about women having worse jobs on average. There is undoubtably fact that more men are CEO and other high ranking jobs then women. This has to do with a lot of factors such as education and experience but there is nothing the government can do about that. It also is not discrimination that someone with better credentials gets a higher paying job. Women also do not have a harder time looking for work in America because his is the land of equal OPPORTUNITY not equal success. Everyone has the same opportunities to try to better themselves to make more money so therefore men and women have equal opportunity for jobs. Therefore private corporations should not make sure that more women are interviewed for high ranking positions, it's about who has the best credentials, don't higher a women just because it makes you look diverse. Hire the best candidate and if that happens to be a women then so be it. Diversity is good for a workplace because it provides different point of views, but it is not so essential that we should trade diversity for credentials, because a corporation with better credentials is always going to be better then a corporation strictly based on diversity.
Hate on it,
Jonathan Blackman :)
Yes, yes it is. I feel like it is still a problem, though it is not as severe of a problem as it has been in the past. I think women are still looked down upon and confined to certain roles in society; and are expected to do certain things. I think the government has done all it could do with the Lilly Ledbetter Act, it is now up to private companies to be responsible enough to provide equal pay and equal privileges in the workplace to all genders. I don't think the road is as tough for women as it used to be. We're now seeing female politicians, CEOs, lawyers, etc., so the doors for women are really opening up and they're becoming increasingly more more equal and more powerful in today's society. I think that if a woman is qualified for the position then she should get the equal opportunity to be interviewed for a management position. The affirmative action policy could help but it should be regulated to where qualified men can also have the equal opportunity to be interviewed. Diversity in the workplace can be a valuable asset in the workplace because of the fact that companies who have a diverse employee base actually grow much faster and much larger than that of companies who limit they're employee base to a certain group. Diversity in the workplace promotes growth and equality and that attracts consumers and potential employees because they see that the company is fair and equal to all people.
It is obvious according to the articles that gender discrimination still exists today. It has been while that we have done some things to avoid this, but woman still continue to have 23% less than the average man who earns a dollar. There has been bills and laws passed over the years. It is the job of companies and private sectors to act upon and carry out what the law says that will actually make the difference.
Gender discrimination in the workplace is not as big of a problem as it used to be before acts such as the Lilly Ledbetter Act were passed. The highest qualified people for a position should get the job, regardless of gender. Once that job is received, the pay should depend on performance as well as other factors that should not be hindered by gender/race. There isn't anything the government can do about gender discrimination besides say that they're against it which is a given. People who work the hardest and are more qualified should be rewarded for their work/time. Women do not have a tougher road to success in the workplace because people are given an equal opportunity. Diversity is a valuable asset in the workplace because not everyone is the same, we need various opinions and input from various people to make the workplace productive for all people.
I really appreciate all of your comments and all but one were very constructive. However, thanks to the comment made by "Anonymous" who did exactly what I asked you not to do, this extra assignment (which I create as a favor to those who want to help their grade through participation) will no longer be counted.
Personally, I believe that gender discrimination still is in existence today, I don't think that it will ever end. However, I do believe that we are making strides towards gender equality in the workforce. I like to compare this controversy to the idea of racism. As Dinesh D'souza argued in a debate, that there may always be forms of racism in America and that probably won't end, however, due to the strides that we are taking, the equality factor in the big picture won't be affected as much, especially because of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Essentially, there will still be some forms of gender inequality but I don't think that it will present a serious obstacle in obtaining overall equality which is what we are ultimately striving for.
THANK YOU MR. ANONYMOUS!
Anyways I am still gonna post something.
I fully back Jon Blackmon on his opinion. It should always be credentials over diversity. I do believe diversity is a very good thing, but essential? Probably not. If a women, or any minority for that matter, is doing the same exact AMOUNT of work in the same exact time then yes equal pay should be awarded. However, if a man is being more proficient than a woman in an alike job then no, equal pay should NOT be awarded. Credentials over diversity. Period.
And you're just about as mature as a 4th grader.....how about you grow up and act your age, if your going to say something like that at least man up to it rather than hiding your name. Afraid one of these "dumb girls" will beat you up or something?
My opinion of discrimination in the work place is that it is only ok if your discriminating against something such as incompetence, which really can not be linked to a single group of people, wether that group be categorized by race, sex, or otherwise. I also would have to agree that the current group that is most hurt by discrimination in the work place is infact women. I even have someone that I know personally who was working for a company here in town (I do not remember which, it was about four years ago), and they were paying her 60% less than her brother who held a lesser position than she did! They ended up blaming it on their gpa differences. She had a 3.8 ad he had a 4.0. So once she brough it up they corrected the situation before any leagal action was taken, although that was with teenagers! So it can really be happening to anyone, even if no one realizes it. I also think that it is really honorable of te woman to continue fighting for the cause even after her personal suit ended up being denied!
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