If you look at the sociological changes of society in just the last century, you will notice that life for a woman has changed drastically. Women have started to become equals to man in the work place, education and at home. Women gained the right to vote with the 19th amendment that was passed in 1920. Women are now major income suppliers in the average American home, yet in some places, that many people don't know about, women are still being victimized based on their gender.
People don't want to believe that sexism still exists, that there are men out there that still believe the only place for a woman is in the home, serving him and his children. People don't want to hear the stories of women being underpaid in the same job as a man with equal education and experience. No one wants to hear about a women who constantly sexually harassed by her boss because no one wants to believe this kind of thing really exists. Is this why we keep cases such as these so hush hush, why the general American public doesn't know that this still goes on in their own city, their neighborhood, their country.
By no means am I saying that this exists in excessive, and by no means am I saying that it exists everywhere. I am saying it does exist and has effected lives of friends, family and myself. I decided to write a blog about it because people should be aware of it, that we shouldn't be kept in the dark. I want women to know that they should be allowed to stand up for themselves and what they believe in. We shouldn't just take the crap and pretend like it never happened. If we lay low and ignore the problem, how can we ever solve it? Women deserve equal rights, just like any race or man.
I have been in two jobs in my lifetime, where as a woman I was treated completely different than everyone else. I was paid less than my equal male co-workers, yet I worked harder and did twice as much work as my counter parts. The first time this happened to me, I was in a position of management. I would never get promoted to a full office manager though, because I truly believe it was because I was the wrong sex. The entire company did not have any females in higher management positions. Later I found out the few that carried the same role as me, the men, they made a lot more. There was nothing I could do about it, it was a smaller company and HR and everything was run by the same people. I left quietly and never returned when I found a new job. A few years later I came into another role. I needed the experience, so I took what they offered. I stuck with that company for almost 3 years, yet never got a raise to put me in the same category as others with my experience were making. I asked repeatedly if they could match me with others, but my requests were always denied. I moved on to find a job where they would match me to my skill level and pay me what I was worth. Again this former employer was a small company where HR was the same person who did everything for the company, so there was not much I could do. I got out of the situation and moved onto something better.
I had someone tell me once they didn't believe this was happening to me, that I was making it up. Why would I make up something as serious as this? Just to have something to talk about...no I don't think so. I only bring it up to help other educated women who have been victim of this to know that we need to be heard. We need to stick together and let others know we need to find a way to report this kind of behavior. We should not be judged for who we are, but our skills and what we can do. I will continue to research this subject until I know there are answers and I will share them with all of you. Just remember we are equal, no matter what anyone tells you and we can make a difference in this society.
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