Equal Pay= Equal Work & Stop Labeling

Hi Everyone!

Today I finally got the time to read about the firing of NY Times Executive Director, Jill Abramson. I saw many headlines, taglines with the words “pushy”, “brusque”, “aggressive”, when describing her perceived character. It makes me angry. When Howell Raines (the Executive Director prior to Abramson) was fired he was lauded as generous and applauded for putting the papers interests above his own. He “officially” resigned, but we all know he was fired amidst a scandal involving one of his “star” journalists. So, this guy resigns because of a scandal, yet the best reason they can give for firing Ms. Abramson is she was “pushy”, “brusque” and “aggressive”? How about addressing the more likely reason- she asked to be paid what her predecessor (who left under scandal) was paid. EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.

Let me put it out there right now, and after you read this if you have a problem with my views then please feel free to not go any further. These are the things I believe in:

(1)   Equal pay for equal work. Period. I don’t care if you are black, white, Asian, Native American, male or female… I don’t care. If you do the same work as someone else and you are paid less that is wrong.

(2)   Women belong in whatever workplace they CHOOSE. Yup, that goes right along with the RIGHT TO CHOOSE. If I want to be a Sniper in the military or if I want to stay home and raise my children-that is MY choice. And if I end up going into the corporate world armed with the same skills as everyone else, I demand equal pay for equal work.

(3)   I believe we should seriously consider the labels we put on people. Why is a woman in the workplace called “pushy” while a man is called “strong”?  Why do we insist on referring to little girls as “cute” and “pretty” while we call little boys “strong” and “outgoing”? Why can’t a girl be strong? Why can’t a boy be cute? Labels like this begin the moment a child is born. Stop labeling your children or anyone else for that matter. Growing up with a label that began before you could even walk will stick with you your entire life. (I know this because I grew up with the label of “difficult”) It’s not easy to shake years of being labeled. (Don’t EVEN get me into how schools label children…)

(4)   I think everyone needs to stop this “lip service” of SAYING they are promoting women/minorities in the workplace and actually DO it. It makes me sick when I see CEO’s/Execs of company touting how they believe in the power of women/minorities in the workplace and stand there with their board of 95% men. Put your money where your mouth is.

We have an election coming up soon. And guess what? We have some outstandingly strong women thinking about running. Yet, you know what I am already hearing? You guessed it! Questions on their ability to be “strong” enough to be in office. WHAT?  Women have been “strong” enough to carry and deliver children for thousands of years. Women have been the backbone of most cultures around the world. It has been proven that a woman’s mind is just as strong, if not stronger, than a man’s. So, what’s the problem?

This “Man’s World” thing has got to end.

I don’t know the real reasons Ms. Abramson was fired. We will probably never know. But I do know we have taken a step back when we create headlines referring to a female as “pushy” or “brusque”.  We have taken a step back when we ALLOW publications to print that kind of stuff without voicing our outrage.  Let’s not allow this.

We are in 2014.

2014

It’s time for EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.

It’s time to stop labeling and start supporting.

Thanks for reading!!!!!! As always Stay Healthy, Eat Well and Be Happy!

And as John Green says- “Don’t forget to be awesome”!!!!!