Equal Pay for Equal Work
“If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.” — Abigail Adams
If you happened to catch any the US Open this year, then you know that, “U.S. Open organizers renamed their venue the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at the start of this year’s championship.”
ABC News reported that, “King went on to become the first female athlete to earn $100,000 in a year. But her greatest accomplishments may have been off the court, where she fought for equal prize money and equal status for women at tournaments. Her determination created opportunities for girls and women in sports that went far beyond tennis.” Go Billie. We’re all about equal pay for equal work.
But is the pay gap still an issue for women today? When the book, “Why Men Earn More” by Dr. Warren Farrell first came out, Marty Nemko wrote a review at Bankrate.com and argued that women have caught up with the men. He writes, “For the same work, women earn more than men. His (Farrell’s) findings are based on a comprehensive review of government and other statistics.”
“Farrell is no right-wing misogynist. He ran for the Democratic nomination for California governor. He’s the only man ever elected three times to the board of the National Organization for Women in New York City. And he’s no intellectual lightweight; the Financial Times named him one of the world’s top 100 thought leaders.” Obviously, Farrell is rooting for the ladies.
“The book’s main message is good news for women: If women do one or more of the 25 things men more often do, women can earn more than men.” Marty writes, “The 25 can be reduced to three:
1. Choose careers that pay more. Because of supply and demand, you’ll earn more by choosing a job that:
– is in an unpleasant environment (prison vs. childcare facility);
– requires harder-to-attain skills (hard science vs. liberal arts);
– requires longer work hours (executive vs. administrative assistant);
– is unrewarding to most people (tax accountant vs. artist);
– demands financial risk (commission-based sales vs. government job);
– is inconvenient (traveling salesperson vs. teacher);
– is hazardous (police officer vs. librarian).
2. Put in more hours.
3. Be more productive in the hours you do work.”
Farrell wrote an article for Forbes and said, “It’s not that women are less effective or productive — they just have different priorities. A 2001 survey of business owners with M.B.A.s conducted by the Rochester Institute of Technology found that money was the primary motivator for only 29% of women, versus 76% of men. Women prioritized flexibility, fulfillment, autonomy and safety.”
Certainly, we have women readers here that are motivated by money. Give us your thoughts on the way you prioritize motivations.
And here’s a final thought from Farrell, “And among workers who have never been married and never had children, women earn 117% of what men do. (This factors in education, hours worked and age.) Without husbands, women have to focus on earning more. They work longer hours, they’re willing to relocate and they’re more likely to choose higher-paying fields like technology.”
Dawn cited a study in the UK about gay and lesbian earnings: “Academic research carried out by three British universities says gay women in couples earn 35% more than their straight counterparts. Moreover, lesbians have a better chance of being employed.”
And yes, it was nice to see Billie Jean and Martina still being relevant in New York these last couple of weeks.
I know for certain I could make more money.
A few years ago (when I had only one child, not 3), I considered moving up to a management position where I am employed. I was basically told the job was mine if I wanted it- but I would only be getting about a 20% increase in pay w/ an expected 50% increase of my time lost. NO DEAL. For me to give up 20 more hours of my life- the prime time I would have been having with my daughter- it just didn’t make any sense to me. Yeah, I’d make more money- but for what life?
I definately see that balance is something my female co workers seek out more than the male. I have a male friend who has 3 jobs- he leaves his house at 6 am and isn’t home until 9 or 10 at night most nights- but his kids go to every kids show (Barney, Cheetah Girls, Disney on Ice) that comes to town. His priorities are way different than mine- he seeks to provide as much as possible whereas I seek to provide a balance for my kids. Its not that one way is any better than the other- its just how I’d rather spend my time and efforts.
Whenever I read studies like this I think — sure I can make more money but at what cost? She who dies with the most toys and highest bank account does not win any contest. My philosophy is that life is meant to be lived. And, if you’re going to choose an unpleasant environment and an occupation (that may not even turn you on) just to make money…it makes for a hollow life. As someone who chose a course of study and career that didn’t fit me (but it was “stable” and “paid well”), I can tell you that now I am spending a lot of time and effort digging my way out of it & into the path I’m excited about (self-employment as a life and business coach who also does technology consulting).
And, you know what? If you aren’t jazzed by what you do, you aren’t going to be a top earner in the field anyway because your heart is not into it. And, as DivaJean points out — you may get a salary increase but when you break it down hour for hour, dollar for dollar sometimes you are actually making LESS than you would if you stayed in the lower paying job!
I’m certainly all for building a good bank account and have some lofty financial goals myself, but at the end of the day (and the end of my life), it’ll be the experiences, relationships, and love that will have counted, not whether I chose a career that was on the highest earning potential list.
love billie jean. as a women business owner i/we owe her alot. it can never be repaid. she is the best.
re martina, sorry i met her, trust me she IS NOT relavant. she “forgot” where she came from. VERY much into herself, no room for others.
good billie jean, she should be running for public office, and she should be hitting up the women business owners to fund her causes. we owe her big time! it is time for her to collect for her causes.