Topic: Should the Obama administration work to eliminate pay inequality for women?

Category: Citizen/interviews

Interviews between Bronwynn Manaois, University of Oregon student, wife, and mother; and women in Oregon, California, and Pennsylvania conducted during February and March,2009 for the purpose of gauging the feminist climate.

Source Analysis: The women were interested in the topic and offered their opinions freely. They are by no means experts on the subject, but are invested in their own and their families’ well- beings.

Usefulness: It is helpful to know that a lot of women in my age and socioeconomic bracket have similar concerns. Most of the women have children, and find that it is hardly ever worth working a job that pays minimum wage and have to pay for childcare. Most of these women say they would work if they could make a considerable amount more. Some have even experienced outright discrimination from employers when they were forced to call off or leave work early to attend to sick children. All of the women consulted believe the administration should live up to its promises and make work pay for women by ensuring wages are just, childcare and healthcare costs are affordable, and women are encouraged to get a higher education.

Works Cited: The cold, hard facts

Topic: Should the Obama administration work to eliminate pay inequality for women?

Category: Multimedia/radio

Title: Women Keeping Their Jobs Despite Layoffs

Publication Information: Produced by NPR radio in their segment, Tell Me More, February 9,2009. The headline topic was The Economy.

Author: no author listed

Location:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100410458

Accessed: February 28,2009

Support: Economists, claiming the stimulus infrastructure package is designed more to get men back to work more than women.

Source Analysis: NPR is a respected source of radio news, often being able to delve more deeply into topics, and providing the richness of interviewees voices. The audience targeted is people who care to get their news from varying sources, sometimes listening to the radio due to time constraints. NPR is funded by donations and corporate sponsorship.

Usefulness: This clip is helpful, because you can hear the concern in the economists voices that not enough is being done in the stimulus plan to protect women’s jobs. Women haven’t been the hardest hit by job loss yet, but health and education fields are certain to go next. The stimulus bill directs most of its aid to industries dominated by men such as construction and finance.

Works Cited:http://www.npr.org/about/

One bill will not erase the history women have with inequalities. Women were meant to stay home and raise their families until WW2 erupted, leaving factories void of male workers. The nation called upon all able bodied women to fill in, and promised equal pay for equal work from the start.(Women and Propaganda video,Equal Pay For Equal Work image, Women Are Teachable Image)

So where did we go wrong? Statistics show that women today typically make seventy-seven cents to every dollar men make.(77C to a Dollar image)Although there are cases of outright discrimination, the major reason for the pay gap is the divergence of choices men and women make. (Interview with Ryan Herzog) Men are generally found in higher paying jobs such as construction or business. Women typically lean toward more humanitarian callings such as healthcare and education. Perhaps most notably, women are the ones to put education and careers on hold to raise their children. A majority of pay gaps come from the women opting out of higher-stress positions because they shoulder the burden of their household’s well-being(Opting Out?Why Women really Quit Careers and Head Home).

There is a recently termed “Third Shift” phenomena, studied by psychologists and sociologists.   Women have the first shift of their actual paying job, the second shift of coming home to take care of their home and families, and a third shift of continuously worrying about not being entirely present for any one aspect of their lives. Many high-payed ,high-skilled women are simply choosing to stay home and raise their children.(The Third Shift)

President Obama promised the nation many things during his election campaign. He promised to give women the respect and earnings they deserved, touting his own love and respect for the women in his life(Roundtable Meeting, video) . He showed that he” got it”, and the first legislature of his presidency was to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Bill. This bill was named after a woman who worked for the Goodyear Tire company her whole life, only to find out from an unidentified source at her retirement that she made considerably less than any of the men at the plant. She tried to sue the company, but the Supreme Court rejected her case, saying her claim was not made in a timely enough manner. The Ledbetter Bill overturns the 180 day statute of limitations, so now anyone who found out too late about a wage discrepancy can sue for retributions.(President Signs Ledbetter Bill, video;Senate Passes Wage Discrimination Bill; Day of Vindication For Grandma as Ledbetter Bill Signed)

Women’s groups across the country are very thankful for this milestone, but are not satisfied that it is enough. There need to be major changes, that may be possible with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but so far most of the changes seem to be directed toward male-dominated occupations.(The Economy Is A Feminist Issue; What Kind of Economic stimulus Do American Women Want; Women Keeping Jobs Despite Layoffs, NPR) The American Association of University Women, or AAUW,has been lobbying for many issues that would enable women and families to play on a more level field. Among these issues are education endorsements, ensuring health plans, and better childcare resources.(On Lincoln, AAUW and Economic Recovery;Women Have Come A Long Way)

There is some opposition to the recent legislation, such as the Ledbetter Bill will not really serve its purpose, and will instead serve to fill the pockets of labor trial lawyers. This same opposition is fearful that corporations will go bankrupt if they are mandated to pay back pay to employees who think they got shorted, and in turn, tax payers will have to bail them out.(Fair Pay For Trial Lawyers) Others just absolutely deny that there is any sort of wage gap. (The Truth About Boys and Girls) Still more believe that any sort of wage discrepancies have a rational explanation.(The Truth About the Pay Gap)

The truth of the matter is that the government has repeatedly made promises to women that it has not followed through on.The hope that President Obama personifies is infectious, and makes even an impossible situation seem possible. There are those in government that would like things to stay as they are, swept under the rug. It is up to each individual to make ethical choices when dealing with each other. Companies need to review their pay schedules and make sure there are no discrepancies. Women need to be empowered enough to turn down a job or situation that is not in their best interests. That empowerment can come from increased educational opportunities, a supportive spouse, and a community of women united. Women need to feel secure enough to make the choice to have children.

There is no quick fix solution to discrimination. There will always be those dissatisfied with their own lives enough to try to keep others down, but in this “new” New Deal, we can find inspiration in the words of a president who advocates for all of humankind, and in the famous words of Abigail Adams to her husband:

“Remember the ladies. All men would be tyrants if they could, if there is no attention or care paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.”   (What Kind of Economic Stimulus Do American Women Want)

Oh, yes we can…

Journalistic Source Notes

1) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/journalistic-source-note-1/

2) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/journalistic-source-note-4/

3) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/journalistic-source-notes-2/

(also in multimedia sources)

4) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/211/

5) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/214/

Institutional Source Notes

1) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/wage-gap-over-timein-real-dollarswomen-see-a-continuing-gap/

(also in images)

2) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/women-in-the-workforce/

3) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/journalistic-source-5/

4) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/institutional-source-2/

5) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/institutional-source-1/

(also in multimedia)

Academic Research Source Notes

1) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/academic-source-1/

2) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/215/

3) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/the-third-shift/

4) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/210/

5) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/why-women-really-quit-careers-and-head-home/

Citizen Source Notes

1) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/13/teach-your-children/

2) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/local-economist-believes-women-shouldnt-be-punished-for-having-babies/

3) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/the-economy-is-a-feminist-issue/

4) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/working-moms-blog/

5) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/old-habits-die-hard/

6) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/213/

7) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/13/women-mothers-share-a-united-front/

Still Images

1) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/journalistic-source-notes-3/

2) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/wage-gap-over-timein-real-dollarswomen-see-a-continuing-gap/

(also in Institutional Sources)

3) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/seventy-seven-cents-to-a-dollar/

4) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/women-are-teachable/

5) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/equal-pay-for-equal-work/

Multimedia

1) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/women-and-propaganda/

2) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/fair-pay-law-strikes-a-blow-for-equal-pay/

3) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/224/

4) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/institutional-source-1/

(also in Institutional Sources)

5) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/journalistic-source-notes-2/

(also in Journalistic Sources)

6) http://bronwynnheather.wordpress.com/2009/03/13/women-keeping-their-jobs-despite-layoffs/

Topic: Should the Obama administration work to eliminate pay inequality for women?

Category: Citizen/Interview

Interview Information: The interview took place via telephone March 12,2009 between Laura Boyd and Bronwynn Manaois, a student at the University of Oregon. Ms. Boyd agreed to talk about her choice to be a stay at home mom, claiming she did not want to miss out on being with her children.

Support: Three happy children.

Source Analysis: Laura Boyd is part of a group of women that believes traditional roles are perfectly acceptable as long as everyone involved is happy with their choices.

Usefulness: Ms. Boyd’s insights back up my premise that women who are invested in their children’s well-being sacrifice their own dreams to ensure their children have quality relationships with their parents. Laura worked odd and end jobs to help out with bills, but only those jobs that fit around her children’s schedules. This was for two reasons, one being that work just really did not pay enough to make up for time away from her kids, and the other was the cost of childcare was prohibitive. As she had her first child at age 22, she never got a degree, so any jobs available to her were simply not going to make financial sense. Not only that, but a long day of work, then coming home to take care of her household took a toll on the quality of her family relationships. Just this past year, Laura was able to write her first novel, stating that she just did not have the time previously, as she was more invested in everyday life with her family.
This relates to my question in that women are already working more than a full-time job by taking care of a home and family. If women choose to be a part of the workforce, they should be compensated fairly. Women typically shoulder more of the household burdens and should be respected, if not awarded additional pay for their efforts.

Topic:Should the Obama administration work to eliminate pay inequality for women?

Category: Citizen/Interview

Interview Information:Ryan Herzog is an Adjunct Professor of Economics at the U of O who has specialized in International Macroeconomy,with a background in Labor Economy, for the past five years.The interview took place March 12,2009 with Bronwynn Manaois, a student in the university’s Journalism department.

Support:Prof. Herzog quotes statistics from NBER.org, an Economist website. He also draws upon his knowledge as an instructor and from his own studies.

Source Analysis: Prof. Herzog is employed by the U of O and had no motive for conducting the interview other than as a request by his student.

Usefulness: Prof.Herzog added a lot of insight to understanding my topic. He believes that each individual provides a value to their firm and should be paid according to that value. He states that the gaps between men and women’s pay is because of the fields they have selected , although he believes there is outright discrimination occurring. The difficulty, he asserts, is in showing that there is discrimination. Prof. Herzog is confident that ten years from now we will see the pay differential correcting , reflecting the current efforts of women learning higher paying fields. Although these actions are happening now, there is a lag in assembling the data and doing economic analysis of the labor. This same lag may explain that the information we have now is somewhat behind the times for the nationwide average pay scales.
Prof. Herzog states that ” the birth control pill and the microwave allowed women to participate in the labor force.” He admits this statement is ” sexist, but true.” He attributes this to cultural values of the woman being the traditional homemaker and the man as breadwinner. He says that society as a whole has held on to these stereotypes, even in today’s “Politically Correct” climate. Prof. Herzog has seen the wage gap decline over time, but maintains there is still a gap. He concludes with the statement, ” Women should not be punished for having babies.”

Works Cited: NBER.org

Stone,Pamela. Opting Out?Why Women Really Quit Careers and Head Home.(Berkeley:The Regents of the University of California,2007.)

Topic: Should the Obama administration work to eliminate pay inequality for women?

Category: Academic/ Book

Title: Opting Out? Why Women Really Quit Careers and Head Home

Publication Information: The work was published by the University of California Press in Berkeley,Ca in 2007. The press’s home page claims that they are one of the most distinguished university presses in the United States, advancing scholarship in humanities, social and natural sciences. Its work is supported by the university and by contributions. Ms. Stone was a fellow at Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, at the Public Policy Center for the duration of her research. She is also a wife and mother.

Support: Radcliffe Institute,Harvard University,National Science Foundation, sample of 54 women who fit the following criteria:well-educated,high-status professional career,married with children, had left their career to be home, financial security from husband’s earnings.

Source Analysis: Ms. Stone was funded by grants for the furthering of the science of humanities. This is a scholarly,regulated work, using qualitative methods to develop insights about the dynamics of the phenomenon under study.

Usefulness: This study helps further my topic because it details well-credentialed women who left their careers during prime work years, which is when most people are likely to experience career growth and promotions. This period of time coincides with prime childbearing years. This phenomonon might help in explaining that the reason statistitics state that women are making less than men overall might be somewhat skewed if they do not take into account the amount of women that sacrifice higher earnings for family.

Works Cited:http://www.ucpress.edu/press/index.php

http://www.radcliffe.edu/

http://www.nsf.gov/

Topic: Should the Obama administration work to eliminate pay inequality?

Category: Multimedia/Video

Title: Women at Work WW2

Publication Information: This clip was shortened from the original by the Labor Movement and posted on Youtube  November 25,2006.  The video has gotten 16,335 views, and received a four-star rating. The original movie was put out by the U.S. Government War Activities Committee, Office of War Information.

Location:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhswqZh2Rc4

Accessed:March 1,2009

Support: U.S. Government War Activities Committee, Labor Movement

Source Analysis: The original movie was meant to entice women into the workforce during WW2 as men were off fighting. It was targeted toward unmarried, older women, stating they were an “untapped reserve” of work. Married women with children were also invited to work with the promise of day care. The government stated its policy was to pay women the same as men for the same work.

Usefulness: This clip is incredibly useful, because the government has repeatedly promised women equal pay in the past and has not been able to follow through. Ithelps reiterate my arguement that the administration needs to be responsible for the nation’s promises. I will be using the clip as part of my presentation.

Works Cited:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_War_Information

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_movement

Topic: Should the Obama administration work to eliminate pay inequality?

Category:Multimedia/Journalistic, radio broadcast

Title: Fair Pay Law Strikes A Blow For Equal Pay

Publication Information: NPR is an internationally acclaimed, non-profit organization, largely supported by listener donations.The station reaches 26 million listeners per week. This piece aired January 29,2009 on the Morning Edition Program, with the heading of Legal Affairs.

Author: Nina Totenberg

Location:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99995431

Accessed: March 1,2009

Support: Lilly Ledbetter, Goodyear Company

Source Analysis: NPR is an internationally acclaimed program. This piece had 53 comments, and was well-received.

Usefulness: This radio story is very effective, because when you hear Ms. Ledbetter’s voice, it is hard to believe that anyone could try to take advantage of such a sweet, older lady. Goodyear obviously did not know who they were messing with, because the “sweet old lady” came back with a vengeance, and took the company to court not one, but two times, and thanks to the bill named after her, she finally won. That is one determined granny. I will be using her voice clips in my presentation.

Topic: Should the Obama administration work to eliminate pay inequality for women?

Category: Image

Title: Women Are Teachable

Publication Information: I came across this gem doing a Google Image search, which led me to a blog entitled  ” The Boy’s Own Paper”, a satiric work from Australia, posted February 1,2009. Further work to find the origins of the document led me to the National Archives, but there was no information as to when, why and whom the document was made.

Author: Unknown

Location:http://mildcolonialboy.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/womenareteachable2.jpg

Accessed: March 1,2009

Support: Patronizing display toward women in the workplace. Tips on how to keep women calm and productive.

Source Analysis: The actual blog I found the image on is just a citizen work. It is not clear who commissioned the actual document. It is intended for male supervisors of women.

Usefulness: I love this image. It is the epitome of the word patronizing, with its roots in male supremacy. I will be incorporating it into my presentation.

Works Cited:http://archives.gov/