Thursday, October 30, 2014

Unequal Payback

Women entrepreneurs, doctors, legislators and administrators are crucial to empowering girls. Prioritizing women for these roles creates leadership opportunities, where such opportunities may otherwise be scarce or non-existent. However, many women are discouraged from pursuing non-traditional careers due to unequal pay and lack of respect. The U.S. must equalize the salaries of men and women in similar positions in order to encourage economic growth and improve the representation of women.
equal work 1
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It is in America’s best interest to minimize the income gap between men and women. The issue of unequal pay must be recognized in order to maintain economic efficiency. “Equal pay is essential to attracting good workers and keeping America competitive in this global economy.” Women have been a great force in spreading America’s influence and driving new ways of working; they have made our nation the power it is. Increasing the amount of skilled and qualified women workers will help further secure America’s position in the world.  Furthermore, equal pay refines America’s traditional ideology of the working man and domestic woman. 

The rise in amount of women in high positions and a capital incentive will inspire young women to pursue higher education and careers, rather than resume their “traditional” roles. President Kennedy’s Equal Pay Act “blazed the trail for a new generation of women. Women who would come of age in a world where social customs, workplace trends, and occupations would be vastly different from those in 1963.”

While Kennedy laid a critical foundation for women seeking greater opportunities in the workplace, the real agents of change are strong women. Women in positions of power serve as strong role models for young girls. When girls see women in leadership positions, the possibilities for their own accomplishments become more attainable. Female authorities are able to accurately represent women and girls by keeping their interests in mind and serving as role models themselves. The media, however, does nothing to help their situation.  Instead, it enlists celebrities to advertise household products and materialistic goods to women, reinforcing society’s views of women instead of challenging them, hurting generations to come.  



read more: Equal Pay: A Thirty-Five Year Perspective
sources: 
SIRS

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