10/15

Today in class we discussed women in the workplace. I agree with what was said in class reguarding womens job choices are seen as helping people so that is all the reward one should need. Womens jobs that "help" people and the ones with lower paying professions. I think that because they are helping peole that they should recieve higher salaries.
Another thing that was discussed was women not asking for higher salaries or raises. I think that this is an issue, however we have socialized women not to be assertive and ask for what they want. Women are supposed to be passive, and asking for more money is not very passive. So, should women be active and ask for more money; which goes against what they have been taught their whole lives; or should they be passive and society as a whole work together to get women better salaries?

Does it make a difference?

I always find it interesting when people bring up the "working mother" issue. My mom was a single woman for a great deal of my early years and I spent most of my time in daycare or with my grandma. She didn't become a stay-at-home mom until I was 9 and my brother was born. Sometimes I do feel like there is a wall between my mother and I, like we aren't as close as we could be. I often wonder how different our relationship would be if she had been able to stay at home when I was young. It has taken me a long time to be open and honest with her about things that are complicated. I often find myself thinking "This is my mom which makes this conversation weird and uncomfortable". It did get easier the more time we spent together. I also wonder if it had an affect on my personality. My mom and I are so different I can't even believe that we are related sometimes. I take after my grandma in almost every aspect of my personality and I never really thought about why that is. I relate to people different than she does also. She is such a people person and I have little tolerance for them. So do you think it makes a difference only in your relationship with the parent who is never home? Or does it make a difference in all your relationships?

Does it really matter?

I worked in a restaurant where one of the male managers was very cool and laid back. The only problem was that he fell in that sexual harrassment category every once and a while. I was helping him out in the kitchen one day when he looked over and said, "when did you get that ass?" From that moment on, he always made a comment. At first I just laughed at him but after a while I got a little disgusted. It wasn't only with me when he would say inappropriate things. If there was ever a group of females clustered together at one point, he would walk by and say "I love my wife, I love my wife..." He would stand around with other male servers and talk about it too.

He did ask me once if it bothered me. I said it was a little odd considering he was old enough to be my father. It didn't stop him from his comments. Even though I wasn't completely up front by saying "yes you are crossing a line," I did make a point that I wasn't exactly comfortable with it. Does that automatically give males the right to continue? Does it really matter what I say? I told him, indirectly, that it was wrong, but it didn't stop him at all. This is one little thing that makes it hard for a female to be comfortable at work. It may not be a corporate business or a "power suit" kind of place but we all still deserve the respect!

Work place full of dudes!

I work in an office totally surrounded by men. I am the youngest single female in my division, ok so maybe the only single female in my division. I get along well with every one except for time to time there is the occasional sexist comment that really does step on my toes. Today we talked about men and women in the work place and although I do feel that it is getting better where woman are more equals, there still seems to be the occasional idea that woman can not do a "man's" job. For instance, some times my boss will not send me out to do work but instead will ask one of the other guys to do it. I have had to speak up a few times and tell him "Hey, I can take care of it." Also, I know that women are usually seen as the big gossipers and talkers in the office, but men have just as big as a problem with it. Most of everything I hear in the office is from guys, fotunately I take it with a grain of salt. It seems to me that when a male co-worker makes a mistake they are slapped on the hand and told to not do it again, or they laugh about it. I on the other hand will hear about a mistake for days to come. Granted I do not make as many mistakes as my male co-workers so this is sometimes something I can only assume as being a negative remark being directed towards me for being female. So, yes I am venting a little and I'm sorry but really it is something that I have to struggle with. What keeps me going though is that I do have other male co-workers that really value the work that I do. Right now I'm worried about not getting a promotion because a male co-worker is going to be after the same job. Fortunately he is a friend of mine but this also poses a problem. How can I fight for a better position in a work environment that is strictly male with out having to push the envelope?The thing is, is that I would love the job but not only is a friend out for the same one but also I know that it will be more difficult with this different group of men because of the teasing and talk that they do about me.

Why do women get treated differently in the work place?

In class today, we discussed the different sex objects that men and women encounter, especially pertaining to work. Everyone knows the stereotypical type of home, where the man is the sole provide and works & the women stays at home cleaning.cooking/taking care of the kids. Why is it now that whenever a women is in the work force with a higher status, like be boss or head sales director, she is only viewed as an emploee not as a women?

Yes, men do get treated different in the sense that we assume that they should be providing for the family and that they should be the ones that go to work. But with women, it seems as if they can't have a high status in the work force because they are viewed as not intelligent enough, they just can't do it, or they shouldn't be because a male can do it better. For example, my step-mom. I admit she is very bubbley and may come across as the "dumb-blonde" to people that first meet her, but she is actually very smart and is good at what she does at work. She has worked hard with her business and raised her kid, but yet it seems like she doesn't get enough credit because she is in a more male dominated business. I know this cause i've gone to work with her several times.

Besides the point, women should not be under-estimated when it comes to how much and well they can handle work. And men should not have all the pressures of being the main provider and should dominate everything. Both genders should be accepted the way they are and that's that!

:)

I am going to look at this from the other angle. I feel men stay at home more than woman after high school based soley on lack of everyday chores. Most men are unfamiliar on how to cook or do laundry by themself. Also it is socially acceptable that girls how more friends with which they could share an apartment with. But mainly for both sexes it comes down to money. If you or youre parents have money there is no question about leaving home. Everyone needs freedom and there isnt much at home.

Living with the 'rents or paying rent?

So I have an older brother and a younger brother who are both now over the age of 18. When they both turned 18 my parents started charging them rent to live at home in order to get them out quicker and to "grow them up". However, when I turned 18 they never said a word. I lived at home till I was 20 and now am at school and have never paid a dime and they pay for my school and rent even here (I do work for anything extra that I want or need though). The thought occurred to me though that it is more socially acceptable for a women to live at home longer than for males. If a 22 or 23 year old female lives at home I see that as more socially acceptable but if I hear about a 21 year old living with his parents I think of him as a lazy. Why does society expect males to move out of their parents home earlier than females? Both sexes are getting married later and later now days so shouldn't it be acceptable for men to live at home longer or should it be expected that women find their own places younger and get out on their own? Just a thought.