Put Them Women Back in Their Place

As a former journalism student, the more I read about the recession, the more disgusted I am. I realize that in this field we need to report the most topical, current news. My problem isn't with what this news is but, what information is actually considered news.

Recessionomics is the new buzz word. It's all over the Net. And with a few simple tips, we hyperconsumers can learn to be recessionistas (there's no word for men cuz ya know, they always knew how to spend their money wisely). Buy generic! It's cheaper! What a shocker. Skip the Starbucks; brew at home. It's cheaper! Really?!

Well here's a new one. I hope you are as appalled as I am: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/New-job-for-laidoff-moms-apf-14597194.html. The recession allows women to be mommies again. Isn't that great? Being all career-driven obviously prevented women from carrying out their female duties. Having and taking care of babies. Making dinner. Cleaning the house. I just feel like this article takes the most extreme example of a woman who was unable to balance work life with family life. It definitely is a struggle to be a working mom. And there are a lot of sacrifices to be made. But there is such a thing as career satisfaction. And having a life independent of your kids.

So now that so many people are getting laid off, apparently women finally have the chance to focus on the private sphere. What did they think they were doing in the workforce anyway? That should put them in their place. Serves them right for thinking they were equal with men. Maybe they'll like staying at home so much that they'll decide not to re-enter the job pool. And then there will be enough jobs for the men out there. And they can regain their machismo by being the sole breadwinner for the family. No more unemployment! We can return to the post-WWII time, when jobs were ample for men, women were pushed out of the labor force, we weren't so dependent on credit, and things were just peachy keen.

Sorry for the rant guys. It's just, I expect more from my fellow writers.

Obama Proves to be a Gentleman

So, Barack's first bill signed into order was a women's rights bill.

Check it out: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama.

The Lilly Ledbetter Act is supposed to guarantee equal pay for women.

Ledbetter sued her former employer, Goodyear, when she found that she had been receiving less pay than her male counterparts for years. She has said that coworkers informed her through anonymous messages about the disparity, which she realized could only be attributed to her sex.

Ledbetter lost her sexual discrimination case against Goodyear Tire Co. in Supreme Court in '07. She went on to campaign for women's rights, transforming into somewhat of the poster child for equal pay. She appeared on various TV shows as an advocate, pouring out her heart to the likes of Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters. And she appeared at '08 Democratic Convention.

You can read about her case here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/29/AR2007052900740_2.html

Does equal pay mean we are where we dreamt of being in the 60s when the Equal Rights Amendment was cooked up (and rejected)? This is great progress. But do you think a bill is going to change our patriarchally-dictated society. I don't expect glass ceilings to crash down on us any time soon.

We can look forward to equal compensation, but will we get equal promotions? Equal hiring? Equal chances to move up? Considering how few female CEOs there are, I doubt it. But I hope I'm wrong! What do you guys think?