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What do you think about this comment?

“The “wage gap” is not so much about employers discriminating against women as about women making discriminating choices in the labor market.” .

This was taken from an article that was written about 6 years ago, regarding the Wage gap, but unfortunately the information that was on the site was actually inaccurate. Somehow it stated that when women have skills or experience, or hold positions similar to men, then they face disparities of wages (only) by less than 10 Percent. I guess they thought that was a good thing?

Well, let’s tackle the latter first. Facing any wage disparity in the year of 2008 even if it were true it was less than 10 percent is sad enough… but the truth is, that women face more than that. I won’t delve too much into all the statistics today, because I had thoroughly researched the Facts behind the disparity of income, and you can click here to see all the supporting data.

As some put up the fight and loudly yell it is all a myth, I wonder, is it because they don’t see the disparity happening with their own eyes? Or are they unfamiliar with the FSLA and EEO lawsuits? Working in Construction, as a recruiter, where men definitely outnumber women, there are a few companies who take great strides to treat women equally, but, unfortunately there are that many more, which unfortunately will not. I move their employees to the much greener pastures..

Briefly though, to revisit the comment above, the suggestion that women make discriminating choices in the labor market, was truly sexist and a comment that displays ignorance. Somehow it appears that the ”research” has forgotten that more men today have become more “family friendly”, more men today have custody of their children and more men today are also working in “Pink Collared” jobs.

More Women today are making more money than their husbands, in authoritative roles… but, still not as much as their male peers and counterparts. More women today have switched roles with their husbands, as they themselves are the major bread winner, but again, they still do not make more money than their male counterparts, even though they are working harder and longer, still having to prove themselves, and trying to break through the concrete ceiling.

Women today have chosen to delay childbirth as they develop their careers, and more and more women have even made the decision to even sacrifice the notion of family and marriage. It is not as taboo today as it was in the 50’s;  but still they make less than their male counterparts.

Women are outperforming men in the fields of Math, Science and Engineering. In fact our Graduation Numbers outrank that of men and yet, we still make less than our peers!

Women are making more money when they first leave school. Yes, we are making strides there. (Is that because they are trying to make their diversity quotas?) However, here is the bad news. Ten Years after graduation… well; that is when the Pay Gap really gets Huge. Women fall behind earning only 70+ percent of what men earn.

Well, if it were a matter of choice, I guess all women could choose boycotting pretty much all of the American companies, Not work, and feed their children. They could choose to allow their husbands to be the main bread winner whilst they fight the good fight.

For that matter, I guess we could call in all Handicapped Individuals and Minorities to join in the campaign and fight for equality. Maybe you were not aware that in 2007 EEOC discrimination charges jumped to highest level in five years!

We can march, campaign, burn bras, petition for equality — Wait, isn’t that not what we did back about 40 years ago?

Yes, and also whilst we are at it, let us take this whole Gas Crisis In OUR hands and boycott the Gas Companies.. Hands across the world.

Yes, indeed, I really wonder, could they be right? Could it really be the choice of a woman (and any other diversity group) to accept the low salary, or the poor working conditions?

Is that why we have had such a long struggle fighting the process? Should we simply accept our dues or, leave and go elsewhere? Is it really the fault of the Employer? Don’t they have the right to discriminate if they so choose?

Hmm… Maybe companies like Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, Abercrombie, Walgreens and all the others know something we don’t and should be let off the hook. Darn, they should be allowed to discriminate if They want to right? It isn’t their fault that the person is “different” not male, white, American.. whatever the distaste of the day they choose..

I wonder why we hadn’t realized it was that simple.

 See also Have we really come a long way baby? http://www.hirecentrix.com/have-we-really-come-a-long-way-baby.html

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ABOUT KAREN MATTONEN, CAC, CSP

Karen Mattonen started a career in Human Resources when she served as a Recruiter for Snelling Corporation. Leveraging her tenure with Snelling, Karen founded Advanced Career Solutions in 1997 focusing on the  HVAC and Mechanical Construction industry. Her reputation for excellence is echoed in the satisfaction of clients and candidates she has serviced nationwide. Furthermore, Karen is esteemed for sharing her expertise in Recruitment Education, Ethics and promoting self-regulation for the Recruiting industry.

She has a new and future-oriented vision of what recruiting can and should become: a profession we can be proud of for its ethical standing, professional conduct and ability to build great organizations. Her doing-well-by-doing-right philosophy is shaking up the status quo in an industry that needs to be shaken. She does this with conviction, leadership, and a distinctive voice that cries out for change.

Outside of the HR community, Karen Mattonen has been cited by Microsoft as a resource in how to use Microsoft Outlook as an ATS. She has also served as the Marketing and Public Relations Director for the 3^rd largest city in Utah.

Her passionate and tireless advocacy has led her to create HireCentrix - The Pulse of H.R, Regulation, Retention, Recruiting and Risk Management www.hirecentrix.com.  Hirecentrix is a company dedicated to providing training to the HR, recruiting and staffing industries, which includes a special focus on the ethical and legal dimensions through offering a full service resource for individuals to share and communicate, obtain current and accurate information, acquire and provide education and learning within the quickly expanding, diverse and rapidly changing Recruiting and Human Resource climate.

Karen has achieved accreditation as a California Accredited Consultant (CAC) through California Staffing Professionals. She has also gained her Certified Staffing Professional Certificate (CSP) through American Staffing Professionals. (www.americanstaffing.net)

Click here to reach Karen via email.

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