My wife and I have marked our calendars. We’ve put a big X mark on the year 2069. She can’t wait. Oh, we’ll probably be long gone, past 100-year-old mark, taking up space in the ground, but we want to be sure that our friends and family celebrate and have a party.
What’s the big deal?
Researchers say that women across the globe make 77 cents for every dollar that a man makes and at the current pace of change, equal pay will happen in 2069. Hip, hip, hurray!
Who else like me is excited by the news? I don’t hear you. C’mon on where is everyone?
Oh you’re not thrilled to see that it’s going to take forty-six years to parity. I bring this statistic up today because International Women’s Day will be observed on Wednesday, March 8, around the world to celebrate the social, political, economic, and cultural accomplishments of women and to fight for pay-equity.
Image by Artem Podrez via Pexels.
Why am I on my soapbox?
So, why am I making this pitch, why am I complaining about this issue. I’m a man, why would I be fighting for this issue, putting a stake in the ground? It’s really rather simple. I think of my mother who when I was a kid used to work in a sewing factory. I wouldn’t call the job a sweat shop, but I wouldn’t call it a great place to work either. She killed herself there for years for pennies to help put food on the table and a roof over our heads. If anyone tried to ask for more money, they were considered a problem. Fortunately, she ended up moving on, but many others couldn’t or weren’t able to leave.
I think of my wife, working as a teacher. I think too of my daughter. They both work extremely hard and deserve to be paid a fair and equal share for their work.
Image by Pexels.
Thankful for what I’ve learned
Why don’t we have equal pay? Why is it such a problem and will take so long to be fixed? I think there are any number of reasons and we could spend hours writing about those challenges, but, seeing my mother’s strong work ethic and values as a kid, I learned a valuable lesson: everyone should be paid for what they’re worth, no one should be cheated because of their gender or race or background.
For me it’s a simple and clear as that. It’s an issue of fairness. We must treat generations of women better than the way the ones before us were treated. We must do better.
Writing from the Heart with Brian 
So true.
Pity everyone does not think this way!
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It really is a pity and so sad.
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It’s baffling that it’s 2023 and this is still an issue. There’s a chance I may be alive in 2069. I’ll report back!
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Yes, what does it say about us that this is still an issue. Kind of sad.
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Virtual hugs to you for addressing a problem that should have been solved a long time ago and yet still lingers.
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You’re so right, it really should have been addressed ages ago. If I was lucky enough to last until 2069, something tells me it will still be a problem then too, which is even more depressing. Let’s hope not.
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Thank you for this, Brian… so much…🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
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Nah, I wish my story was better told, and could get the powers-that-be to really act. It’s sad that it’s still an issue. I remember watching my mother leave every morning for work and mad that there were people in this world who could take advantage of others so easily. I suspect there will always be people like that, but hopefully we can right this wrong.
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💕💕💕💕💕
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Thank you, Brian. Keep up the good work!
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I’m not doing anything. Just writing about what moves me. In this case, writing about something that makes me sad.
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You are right, Brian, and I hope we don’t have to wait until 2069 for that parity to be achieved. Fair pay for all should be here in 2023.
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You’re so right Davy. We shouldn’t have to wait for 2069! It really is a shame.
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I think you touch on a key point. Women who believe themselves to be underpaid, where possible, need to move to companies that pay better. I would be there are just as many companies that recognize women as bad actors. The burden *shouldn’t* fall on women, but we often can vote with our feet.
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That’s what makes it a tough problems. Often women can’t walk with their feet. In my mother’s example, she couldn’t just leave. One of my saddest moments was trying to help my mom improve her education, but she didn’t have a lot of resources at her disposal. I was just a kid trying to help her. Fortunately, years later she got herself into a better situation and was able to move on and never stopped to look behind her. You’re right the burden shouldn’t just fall on women. We all need to point out the inequities and let companies know that you can’t talk about trust and values and then go ahead and treat people unfairly.
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Sigh…feels like a never-ending problem…despite attention and awareness. Cheers to you, Brian, for being an advocate…a good day and hubby…and friend to all females. I like Erin’s thought…when in doubt, vote it out….er in…you know what I mean. 😉
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Yea, it really is a never-ending problem. So sad. I’m not sure I’m a great advocate. Just write about what I see and what bothers me.
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😊😊😊
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Thank you, Brian. And so beautifully written, as always.
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Thanks Bersinink . . . I worried about this piece. I didn’t think it was written all that great. And then you throw in the male-female thing and I always worry that I’m going to miss something because of my own biases or write something that’s insensitive or unfeeling. I’m not sure I’m a great advocate, just try to write what bothers me. Hope it helps.
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Why is there pay inequity between men and women? Because we still live in a male dominated world. I remember during one of my first management jobs, the president of the company was going to be visiting. I asked the store manager if there was anything I should be aware of or that he wanted me to focus on. He replied, “No, just stand there and look pretty.” We’ve come aways since those day, but not nearly far enough. We only have to look at the treatment of woman around the world to know we have a long way to go.
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What a horrible story. Look pretty, ugh. Can I ask what year this was? That had to be terribly frustrating for you. I was just having this conversation with my manager. She’s a woman and has seen a lot. We were talking about some of the gains, and there have been some, but sadly we both had stories of women who’ve had it tough or were put in no-win situations. Just sad. It doesn’t have to be that.
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My encounter with misogyny, described above, happened many years ago Brian. Laws, training and political correctness have made situation like mine less common. Recently, the latest conviction of Harvey Weinstein underlines the fact that women continue to suffer workplace harassment. In some cases it hasn’t gone away, it’s just gone underground. I agree with you, it doesn’t have to be that way.
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Thanks for standing up for women, Brian. I agree men and women should be paid equally if they are doing the same job as each other. As for aiming to have this in place by 2069, that’s a shockingly long time. Anyone would think we were still in the dark ages. When I first worked, I was a personal secretary in a big department store in the West End of London. There were several secretaries there, and we were all paid equally. However, as, back then, there were no male secretaries, there was no one to compare our wages with. Now, there are probably male secretaries working in offices, and your post has left me wondering whether they earn more than the women doing the same job. Good for you for standing up for equal rights for women in all senses.
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Yes, I really don’t understand why in this day and age it’s still a problem! I suspect the area of biggest discrepancy is middle mgmt, but I could be wrong. It’s just very sad!
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Fortunately, my wife’s company recognizes her performance and has “caught up” already from what I can tell when it comes to equal pay, at least within her department. Like anything else, change comes from the top. It’s a crime this is very much still an issue across our country.
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I have to admit you had e depressed at y’all will be taking up space in the ground. After further reading became more depressed. Why in the world is it taking so long for women to gain equal pay. It’s so damn sad!
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I don’t understand that either! It wouldn’t seem to be something that should take that long. It’s an issue that needs to be hit home!!! I hope the piece made sense. Thanks Belladonna!
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Oh yes it made sense. It’s just so damn sad. Great post!
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Thanks for being a cheerleader Brian❤️
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Thanks Cindy … I’m not sure I’m a very good cheerleader, but I figure every lil bit can’t hurt!
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It makes me sad and angry that in the 21st century we’re still fighting for pay parity … this is something I cover in my teaching. Despite legislation being in place in the UK since 1970, we still have this gap … over 10% difference in 2021. I know your focus is gender disparity because of International Women’s Day, but there are also pay gaps on the grounds of race, disability and sometimes in Scotland (I don’t know about elsewhere) on the grounds of religion. People should be paid what the job is worth, irrespective of any individual characteristics- sorry if I’m ranting
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You’re not ranting. You’re spot on! I can’t seem to understand it either. Pay people what the job is worth … simple as that.
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