Men and Women and Sports Equality (Page 2)

Because it's not a different game, the goal of the game is to outscore your opponent by scoring baskets, whether it be men or women.  Would it be any different if the soccer or lacrosse goal were bigger for women?  Naturally, it is just plain easier to score baskets with a women's basketball than it is with a men's ball.  I just don't see the need for a different sized ball.

I'm sure there are still a lot of inequalities in the job world.  I am happy to report 2 things however:

1.  We have a woman welder working at our (non union) shop and she is paid the same rate as the male welders with equal qualifications.

2.  My youngest son works for a bank and is paid the same rate as the women who are doing the same work as he is.

I can't speak for all of industry, but at least in these two examples there seems to be some fairness at least!

Ok...I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but here goes.  Two things.  first in regards to the

I think that is a bunch of bunk.  Did it happen 20 yrs ago? Yes.  Is it happening now?  NO.  There have been studies done that women generally are less likely to negotiate salary and ask for raises than their male counterparts.  So if you and I go and get the same job and I decide to negotiate for  $5K more than you accepted, I am doing the same job as you are, but we are getting paid differently.  It's not because you are a woman, it's because you chose to not be aggressive and ask for more.  I saw this first hand when my wife accepted a job recently.  There are so many rules and regulations that prevent an employer from paying a man and woman differently for the same job that I don't think it happens in todays world.

In regards to the professional athlete world, it's about revenue.  Unfortunately, men bring in more advertising dollars and therefore get a larger percentage of that revenue.  I think that's why you can't compare an NBA salary to a WNBA salary. It's pure finances.  I think womens sports get the short end of the stick, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

Um, my computer person was a guy, had a full sex change (transgender) and is now a woman.  I asked, but I still have to pay the same rates. 

it does happen! not just in the case you mentioned with regard to negotiation. it happens when it shouldn't. yes its illegal but it happens and its s***!

http://www.eoc.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=15613#1410 

Actually, I believe that it still happens. and that women have to be better negotiators than men.   If you don't ask, you have no one to blame but yourself.

I was rather abrupt with my boss today that I expect a large raise by June or "I might realized that my family cannot afford for me to continue to put myself at the bottom of the pay scale".  

go mary, go mary......

Sappho,

I'm not saying it doesn't happen at all.  I'm saying that it isn't rampant enough to have a current gender gap.  Plus the link you gave doesn't say it compared exact same jobs, just peoples pay checks.  And that included overtime.  Other studies have shown that men are more likely to volenteer for overtime so using that knowleged, they will get paid more. 

I honestly believe than anyone in generation (early 30's) with the same education and experience as I will get offered the same base salary.  If you negotiate higher, work more overtime, etc that doesn't mean you get paid more, that means you worked harder and got rewarded for that.

I think that everyone, regardless of gender, race, ANYTHING is capable of doing the same job.  It's if they are willing and how hard they work that determines their pay.  Plus as Mary said, you can change jobs if they aren't willing to pay you enough.

And BTW...GO MARY GO MARY!!!

I work in London's financial district and the inequalities you mention are very prevelant here.  The lady who does the job I was promoted from gets USD$8,000 less than I did for doing it.  When she confronted the relevant director he said it was because I had been more qualified and experienced - yet she still does exactly the same role!

One of the factors NOT listed is what about time on the job.  When you have 2 people with equal time (experince) on the job, you will find the pay is going to be approximately equal.  However, how many women take time off from work to stay home to raise children?  How many men do the same?  Is it right to effectively penalize a man for not taking time off to raise kids?  I am not saying women should either take time off, or NOT take time off, but mearly asking the question of how do you remove that from the equation?

How do you calculate risk into the pay factors?  Yes there are female firefighters, and police officers, but they are a low minority in those fields.  Just as male kindergarden teachers and male grade school teachers are a minority in their fields.  Should we pay a firefighter less because it requires less education than a teacher?  But they risk their lives going into a burning building, not that a teacher doesn't risk her life walking into a grade school in certain areas of DC, or Chicago or New York. 

Most women choose safe careers, as do most men.  But women generally work less hours, and are much less willing to "give" up family time for work.  At my company there are 2 women managers, both have families as do I.  I work most days from 8:15 until 6:30, with an hour for lunch.  The one manager claims she works 7:00 AM until 5:00 every day (I don't know that she is working all those hours, but I don't think she is here everyday at 7:00 more likely 1-2 times a week), the other comes in at 8:15-8:30 and is out the door at 5:00-5:30 every day.  From what I can tell neither are puting in the same hours I am.  Should they be paid equally for the hours they work verses the hours I work?

As for equally in sports, I don't see that happening.  Women with the exception of tennis, and possibly golf just are not the draw to the fields that men are.  Even there the men still make lots more money.

Most companies worth their salt pay people for what they contribute to the company - not how many hours they put in. 

You might not know this - but it is seen over here in London as very "American" to judge someone by the hours they work.  As a result, at some of the Yank Banks, people sit at their desk doing no work at all (personal stuff and surfing) just so they can be seen to be there.

Personally I do 9-5 - I'm middle management but more importantly I'm a husband and dad.  When I'm appraised I make sure I can point to tangible things I've contributed to achieving the company's objectives - it don't matter how long I sat in my chair.

Some might argue that the women do shorter hours because they're more effecient than you are (not meant to be provocative)