Tuesday, April 28, 2009
It’s all about the money today, as members of KU Young Democrats and the Commission on the Status of Women celebrate Equal Pay Day and strive to increase awareness about wage inequities between genders.
While discrimination in the workplace may not be as prominent as it once was, it’s still an issue in the U.S. According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women earn about 80 percent of what men earn. Members of Young Democrats and CSW are setting up tables in front of Watson library to remind students of inequality in the workplace.
breakbox
The Kansas Gender Pay Gap
College Graduates 25+
Annual median earning for women: $43,500
Annual median earning for men: $62,700
Earning gap percentage: 69%
U.S. Rank: 38
All workers 16+
Annual Median earning for women: $30,400
Annual Median earning for men: $40,500
Earning gap percentage: 75%
U.S. Rank: 29
“I think despite the publicity there are still a lot of people who don’t see how it applies in daily life,” Virginia Burrows, Salt Lake City junior, said.
tThe National Committee on Pay Equity established Equal Pay Day in 1996 to illustrate the gap between men and women’s wages. It is held on a Tuesday in April to symbolize how much longer women have to work to earn the same wage as men do in a week — four days — and how much longer women have to work to make as much as men do in a year — four months.
Michael Shultz, a Lawrence-based attorney who specializes in fair wages, said the issue of fair wages stretched beyond gender and also included different wages based on employee traits other than job-related skill.
Shultz said there were specific determining aspects of what qualified as the same kind of work, and included requiring the same physical or mental capacity and the same time demands.
The American Association of University Women, a research organization specializing in women’s studies, recently completed a study that compared states’ male-to-female salaries and showed that in Kansas, full-time male workers age 16 and older made 25 percent more than female workers, higher than the national average of 20 percent.
Kathy Rose-Mockry, program director for the Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center, said there were many facets to the fair pay issue, including where much of the stimulus package funds were going.
“It’s important for all our students to be aware of this kind of thing,” Rose-Mockry said.
The first bill President Barack Obama signed into office was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay act, which canceled out a Supreme Court ruling last year that restricted the time employees had to file a wage-complaint suit.
— — Edited by Melissa Johnson
Lytton: Gender inequality stunts chances for academic ...
Gender gaps of any type result in pitfalls.
Study says men want attractive women
Women’s Resource Center Director Kathy Rose-Mockry said the findings painted too narrow ...
Study says men want attractive women
Women’s Resource Center Director Kathy Rose-Mockry said the findings painted too narrow ...
Editorial: Minimum wage should match living wage
Minimum wage should increase with inflation so workers can live above the ...
14 chosen as 2010 Men of Merit
The Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center has released this year's Men of ...
Editorial: Politicians sing sad song with poor
America’s middle class is wealthier than ever, yet citizens still worry about ...
National columnist will present Jana Mackey lecture
The lecture is in memory of Mackey, who was murdered in 2008, ...
Five inducted into Women’s Hall of Fame
Gov. Sebelius and three professors among honorees at a ceremony Tuesday.
Cosby: Revolution must consider women’s rights
The Egyptian revolution provides an opportunity to advance women's rights.
All-day event aims to close gender gap
The Battle of the Sexes: KU Leadership Academy, a day-long event that ...
New handbook to help international women
International Women Connect is an organization on campus that helps international students ...
Was Harry right?
Testing whether men and women can be just friends
Students and professors receive Men of Merit ...
The award recognizes individuals who give back to the community and positively ...
A look at KU's changing face of ...
University's turbulent past has evolved into a somewhat tranquil state of activism.
Six women inducted into Women's Hall of ...
The University of Kansas inducted six women into the women’s hall of ...
Students work with and for migrant workers
The Lawrence Fair Food prepares for this week’s events in improving conditions ...
Does gender matter in politics?
Kelly Cosby and Billy McCroy discuss women in politics.
Workshops teach women about self-defense
Rec Fest will include a women’s self-defense workshop taught by local martial ...
Gender equality activists reflect on history while ...
February Sisters along with the Commission on the Status of Women mark ...
Obama delivers speech in Osawatomie
The President's speech focused on income inequality and a fairer tax code.
Women of Distinction calendar now available
Over 1 Billion Angered
Local interest groups protested McDonald’s for what they see as unfair treatment ...
Focusing on safety
With finals in full swing, stressed students may behave in unsafe ways, ...
Cosby: Saudi Arabia not alone in gender ...
Recent feminine progress in Saudi Arabia illuminates issues close to home.
Self-defense workshop teaches basics
The Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center offers free seminars every semester.
Group works for more than just peanuts
The federal minimum wage is $5.85 an hour, and ‘Current-See’ is looking ...
Minimum wage raises to $7.25
The increase is part of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007.
Activists rally at Burger King locations
The Coalition of Immokale Workers represent the Latino, Haitian and Mayan immigrants ...
Give your mom love on Mother’s Day, ...
Lecture series will honor Jana Mackey
President of the National Organization for Women will discuss women’s rights issues ...
Letter: Palin insulting to women’s causes
Students unite with low-wage workers
KU students and tomato harvesters in Immokalee, Fla., are fighting for fair ...
Sex and the vaccines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 50 percent of ...
Degrees of success: athletes after college
College athletes' payment is their degree. But what if they never get ...
Lytton: Women's holiday should be celebrated by ...
Potential of International Women's Day goes unrecognized in the US, where few ...
Campanile bells to wedding bells
Some students choose to walk down the aisle before or soon after ...
Embrace the F-word
‘World class’ athletes tapped for relays
The Kansas Relays have managed to attract a fair number of famous ...
Editorial: Students need safe midpoint
Establishing point between fear and relaxation should be something students seek out ...
Lactation stations aid mothers on campus
The University of Kansas offers new moms the opportunity to either nurse ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Students celebrate Equal Pay Day
"In the year since the recession began in December 2007, the jobless rate for men rose from 4.4% to 7.2%. At the same time, the jobless rate for women rose from 4.3% to 5.9%."
If you work cheaper, you get to keep your job longer. The law of unintended consequences is going to rock you ladies in about a decade or so. Good luck.
Students celebrate Equal Pay Day
Since any argument I post will be dismissed simply because I am male, I'll just post a link to what Marilyn vos Savant has to say:
http://www.three-peaks.net/equalpay.htm
FYI Marilyn vos Savant has the highest IQ on earth. If anyone's qualified to write about women's empowerment, it's her.
Students celebrate Equal Pay Day
I'm Marilyn vos Savant. and I hate men!
Students celebrate Equal Pay Day
I'm Mike Conner, and I'm confused.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID