When I entered the workforce women made 56 cents to men's dollar. Although it is improving, recent statistics show women make only 89 cents according to a New York Times article from this year that discusses a Queens College study. Others say 75 cents, 76 cents or 12 cents. I guess it depends on how you measure: Hourly? Salary? Same job? Same education? Same amount of experience? There are ways to increase your earnings. Robyn McMaster at Brain Based Biz offers a book called Why Men Earn More: The startling Truth Behind the Pay Gap -- and What Women Can Do About It by Dr. Warren Farrell in her recent post Men, Women, Brains and Earning Power
The 25 strategies boil down to 3 categories 1) be more productive, 2) put in more hours and 3) choose careers that pay more.
Ironically most of the 25 strategies suggest giving up up some quality of life and job satisfaction. (IE be a prison guard vs a child care worker. Or travel extensively as a sales person.)
Many women (most women?!) choose to figure out a way to create a job that fits with their life rather than make their life fit their job. Is it that way for men too? As more men realize the lifelong satisfaction of raising children like being there at the teachable moment or for the school play or being the team manager, I believe the salaries and wages will become closer and closer.
We want to have our cake and eat it too. And why not?!
But still, as you select your career, take some time to picture how you might increase the salary by selecting a different job within the career (example, a nurse anesthetists and traveling nurses each make twice the pay of regular nurses.)
1 comment:
Hi Chris, first congratulations on starting a new blog. This focus seems very exciting.
Thanks for the nice link since the topic really fits the tenor of what you're creating here.
Look forward to lots more!
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