Gender Inequality in the Workforce

 Hello everyone, 

I'm Audrey, the founder of this club. ASB approval for this club was difficult as most teachers have signed on supervising role for other clubs, but regardless I want to have this platform to talk about labor rights with you all. I have talked to some of you in person and your experiences in the workplace and am super happy that you find this to be a notable cause. The Labor Rights Equals Civil Rights club still stands! I will keep working on getting this club formally approved. 

On that note, let's talk about gender inequality in the workforce, a not so happy topic unfortunately. 

So workplace discrimination exists. I'm sure all of you know that already. You hear feminists on the news ranting about how gender inequality is evident in the status quo. Is it really, though?  Shouldn't something like gender discrimination be illegal by now? 

The answer is...yes, gender discrimination in the workplace ubiquitously exists. The answer to the second question is that gender discrimination in the workplace is illegal...sort of. 

A law under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 explicitly bans discrimination during employment on the grounds of religion, sex, race, ethnicity, etc. This was a big step towards creating a safe and equitable workspace for all. But it clearly isn't enough. Gender discrimination still exists in the workplace and you guessed it, the notion disproportionately affects women--especially those of color. 

Gender discrimination can include but is not limited to: 

• prejudiced treatment in hiring or firing processes on account of gender
• being passed over for a promotion on account of gender; also known as the “glass ceiling”
• getting paid less than a male employee who works the same job
• being subject to unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other forms of sexual harassment
• being given less paid sick leave or denied employee benefits on account of gender
• being written up for a behavior that does not result in disciplinary action when performed by an employee of another sex
• being referred to by a name or gender that you don’t identify with (e.g. a transgender man is referred to as ‘Miss’ or ‘Mrs.’)
• being the subject of derogatory language or slurs on account of being female

**This list was from the Florin/Roebig Attorney webpage on gender discrimination in the workplace! Here is the link to this awesome website which details gender discrimination in the workplace in more detail: https://florinroebig.com/workplace-discrimination-women/** 

Okay, so there's workplace discrimination. What do we do now? What rights do we as workers have to do anything about it? 

That's the million dollar question. I know that employees often feel helpless at the hands of employers. I mean, they carry the checks right? But that isn't the case. What is listed above^ and other forms of harassment is not okay, no matter what the basis for it is. Sign petitions, go to small claims court if necessary, if you work for a company, go to Human Resources and talk about your issues with them. awareness is key--let the people around you know what is happening and about how big of an issue this is. This advice seems feeble--admittedly, as a student who is just leaning about this stuff, I realize this isn't ample enough of advice. But perhaps, this is better than nothing. 

I hope this post has brought about some awareness, and until then, work on!