by Michael Burke

Created on: July 02, 2007

I guess I am siding on the "Yes" side, however, I believe it really depends on which issue you are talking about.

As far as careers go, for every successful female, there are thousands being held back for a variety of reason. Although more than qualified to do the job, the "good-ol-boy" network still prevails. It also works against many males as well.

Not much in the way of scientific data exists, however, the stories are there to be read and heard.

There are several women who have broken through the proverbial glass ceiling and have earned every ounce of respect. However, there are still those who persist in overlooking the quality of the individual.

The closest story I can relate, pertains to a previous job at a big box home improvement chain. A friend was trying to explain to a customer that HIS idea of a pocket door would not work for what he wanted. I just happened to be standing close enough to overhear the conversation as I worked on a different project. Everything SHE was telling him was correct. After she finished, he looked at me and asked my opinion. I simply replied, "You should listen to her, because she knows what she is talking about." and I walked away.

Go into any home improvement retailer and you see that kind of prejudice every minute of the day. Just because a woman is working in the lumber/contractor department, doesn't mean she is there to fill an empty spot.

Society has led us to believe that women cannot do physical labor. Yet, I personally know several that could outwork me without breaking a sweat. Gender and race have nothing to do with the quality of work you will get out of a person.

In the same breath, I feel society favors women more when it comes to parenting. Laws today give the edge to women over men when it comes to custody issues. Not all cases are that cut and dried, but women do have the edge.

Laws mandate that the non-custodial parent - in most cases, men - pay a percentage of their income for child support. However, the non-custodial parent is denied tax breaks by the IRS. Is this fair? Not really. Some extreme instances it is too lenient, however, there are millions of loving, supportive parents out there who fall into the category of "non-custodial" parent. Of course, the news media doesn't like to focus on the good ones, just the dead-beats. And the most prolific term is "Dead-beat DAD."

In this respect women do have the edge in society over men, however, as far as careers, they still lag, unfairly behind.

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