Perceptions Will Change...Hopefully

We were discussing this in my Gender, Culture and Communication class yesterday. I think a large part of why women still aren't getting equal pay is due to generational differences. It will take time for women to finally get the same pay as men and more leaderships positions but we are heading in the right direction. If many CEOs are in their 60s, 70s, or 80s, they come from a different generation which includes the mentality that men are more valuable in the workplace than women. Once these people retire, companies will have the ability to be more progressive and change with the times.

A basic expectation of mine of the work force is that if you work hard, you deserve to be rewarded. I used to think that if you work hard, you will be rewarded, but this week's discussion has put things into perspective for me. It is only fair that regardless of your age, race, and gender that you should have an equal chance at upper-level positions and higher salaries, but that unfortunately is not the case. I am actually saddened to know that such prejudices still occur in this day in age. I am more sympathetic to the idea of men thinking women don't deserve leadership positions, because it is a norm of our society that men typically have more leadership positions, but I think the unequal pay is completely unjust. I'm sure companies claim that the reason for lower pay is because of a person's work ethic and job performance but it would be interesting to know what basis their reasoning comes from for not giving equal pay.

-Alexis Murphy