The Cost of Femininity: An Unfortunate Truth of A Modern Wage Gap

by Sierra Bruggink

"Paying people less for the same work is clearly wrong. Even monkeys know that," saidJohn Oliver, famous comedian and actor, in one of his skits. There is no denying Oliver is 100 percent correct, however, many companies in Corporate America are paying men more than women.  

 It's called the Wage Gap. The unfair discrimination of women in every occupation. The truth is, men get paid more money for the same amount of work. According to the study conducted by AAUW (American Association of America Women), college graduate students arepaid 82 percent of what their male counterparts are paid.  Whether it's a female-dominated, gender-balanced, or male-dominated occupation every female faces the Wage Gap.

 The Wage Gap has existed since women began to join the work force. In the same aspect, women have been striving for equal pay since then.  The Equality Act was passed in 1963, making it illegal to pay women lower rates for the same job strictly based on their sex. It was a small victory in a very long road to equality. The act itself did not change American business practices.  Companies found loopholes in the Act. Since woman were not represented in official offices, the Act was not strictly enforced. A lot has changed since The Equality Act, making it vital the discrimination against woman does not go unnoticed.

 Woman now represent over half of the workforce in America. Two thirds of the American woman are the bread winners for their families. America needs to revolutionize their policies and way of thinking, to adapt to this new reality. It's no longer 1963. American work polices are simply outdated and sexiest, written by men for men. Though, the wage gap has decreased since 1963, it still exists and will exists as long as American businesses are allowed to discriminate.       

  It makes me nervous. I will be facing the harsh reality of the Wage Gap in less than four years. Will I be able to support myself?  I can do as much work as a man, so why am I not getting paid for the work I do? It's hard for me to comprehend, growing up in a nation who prides itself on equality that I will be discriminated against no matter what field I go into. This is the reality.  

 The National Partnership for Women and Families is doing something about the Wage Gap and I encourage you to join the movement. Together with other organizations, they are raising awareness about the Wage Gap issue, and starting a movement to elect officials that willdo something about the continued discrimination against women. Using the #WEmatter share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

For more information about the wage gap and how it affects you, visit these sites:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/debra-l-ness/womens-equality-matters_b_5715997.html