by Alidia Bridge

Created on: May 11, 2009   Last Updated: May 12, 2009

Equal rights in the workplace. Equal pay for equal work. How hard is that to answer? What does my gender have to do with the amount of money I make for the amount of work that I put forth? I cannot even begin to describe how incredibly degrading it is to get paid less than a man simply because he is a man. If I have done the same job why should I not make the same amount of money. It is hard to imagine someone truly believing a woman should be paid less than a man if the job performed by each person is the same.

As a woman I have thought about this issue over and over again. I feel that if a woman performs the same duties, at the same performance level, you can fill in the blank per job requirements, then yes she should be paid the same as a man in the same position. Why shouldn't she. Preferential treatment for women should not occur as it should not occur for men. Why is this debate still going on? Why is this still an issue. How would a man feel if he were being paid less because he was a man?

We have nothing better to do than argue about pay rates when our country is in an economical time like we are in. I think we could be quite a bit more productive. I understand that solving our issue is larger than just this issue, but I feel like we could solve issues, such as this, by working together rather than separating ourselves. I cannot be the only one in this country that believes the pay scale should solely be determined by performance and the aspect of gender should be taken out of the equation entirely.

Women, men, what should it matter as long as we work hard and do our jobs correctly. Would it matter if money was not involved, would women be expected to work harder to the equal amount of food if that was payment for work. I cannot believe that we cannot see that pay should be based on work, work ethic, and reliability, not gender.Why shouldn't we all get paid equally? I do not believe anyone can honestly tell me to my face that I should not be paid for the work I put forth. As I could and would not ever tell someone they should not be paid for the work they put forth, whether man or woman.

I think so. I am just appreciative that I have a job at this moment in time. Because of that this subject has been pushed to the back burner somewhat in my mind but women and men should not have to think about this. Pay should be equal as work load should. Women should not be taken advantage of but at the same time we should not expect to be treated better simply because we are women.

Learn more about this author, Alidia Bridge.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.