It's the little things...

[Paidiske]

I know that sometimes it's easy to be overwhelmed or discouraged when we talk about all the ways the world isn't equal. I thought maybe it would be an encouragement to share the things we do which make a positive difference; and I called the thread the "little things" because often it's not grand gestures or big break throughs but, well, little things, the cumulative weight of which makes a difference.

I bought my daughter this t-shirt yesterday:

https://www.etsy.com/au/transaction/1239747360

I think the message is pretty obvious; and I hope she agrees with it as she grows into it!

 

[All4Christ]

I know that sometimes it's easy to be overwhelmed or discouraged when we talk about all the ways the world isn't equal. I thought maybe it would be an encouragement to share the things we do which make a positive difference; and I called the thread the "little things" because often it's not grand gestures or big break throughs but, well, little things, the cumulative weight of which makes a difference.

I bought my daughter this t-shirt yesterday:

https://www.etsy.com/au/transaction/1239747360

I think the message is pretty obvious; and I hope she agrees with it as she grows into it!

It's saying that the link is broken....typo maybe?

 

[JackRT]

I know that sometimes it's easy to be overwhelmed or discouraged when we talk about all the ways the world isn't equal. I thought maybe it would be an encouragement to share the things we do which make a positive difference; and I called the thread the "little things" because often it's not grand gestures or big break throughs but, well, little things, the cumulative weight of which makes a difference.

I bought my daughter this t-shirt yesterday:

https://www.etsy.com/au/transaction/1239747360

I think the message is pretty obvious; and I hope she agrees with it as she grows into it!

Not opening for me. Got a message "something wrong in the URL"

 

[Paidiske]

Hmm... try this one?

Science is for Girls Youth T-Shirt by Inktastic

 

[JackRT]

Hmm... try this one?

Science is for Girls Youth T-Shirt by Inktastic

Great! So is mathematics! PS. I am a retired teacher of math and science.

 

[All4Christ]

That's awesome

This is one of my favorite sayings for shirts:



It's a great shirt in light of comments like this:



So, this is kind of like me

 

[Greg J.]

<Ex-software developer (me) notes that his 22-year-old niece is going to be a significantly more capable software developer than he was.>

 

[Cimorene]

I like the shirt. Tbh irl I've never heard of girls not being equal to boys in STEM or men & women not being equal in everything. Then I come here & my mind is totally blown. I know in the past it was that way but I hadn't known it still was in my time bc I've never witnessed it personally.

 

[Paidiske]

To be honest, Cimorene, I knew it happened a bit, but it only became real for me once I became pregnant. Before that, I didn't challenge systems built by and for men in any significant way; but suddenly being pregnant and needing that accommodated sent everything for a loop.

Many women I talk to say that they didn't know they needed feminism until they became mothers, and realised how much our world is still set up on a set of assumptions which don't make equality easy (or often, possible).

 

[ValleyGal]

There was a news article on a few days ago that was talking about how women pay more than men for similar products like bodywash, shampoo, clothes (style equivalency, like a plain white t-shirt or jeans), dry cleaning, haircuts, etc. In some cases, women pay 45% more. For example, one day my son and I had our hair cut and styled the same day at the same place. His needed layering, razor around the neck line, gel in his hair, blow dry, etc. Mine was long and needed a straight trim across the bottom and layered bangs. No product and only needed a blow dry. Mine was $35 and his was $18. Men's deodorant is about a dollar cheaper for men. That sort of thing. This is something that comes up on the news every year or so... and I think this year, our more outspoken feminists are keeping a closer eye on this and petitioning the government to do something about it.

Those gender differences add up over time, but look at the other costs of being a woman compared to being a man - makeup, purse, feminine hygiene products, etc. And don't get me started on the expectation of women to wear stylish clothes. One male/female news team decided to do an experiment. The man wore the same suit and tie every day for a several months. The woman wore the same outfit and on the second day was scorned for it. In addition, on the days she wore slacks and loafers, she was scorned. Even if she went for a few weeks between wearing the same outfit, people noticed and let her know they were not happy about it. No one even mentioned his clothes, not even once. So there is the expectation that we have nice, fashionable clothes, a variety of clothes, and all the accessories to match. Yes, it costs plenty more to be a woman.

What's worse is that in Canada, even in the last few years, women working in the exact same job as men earned an average of $8,000 per year less than men - doing the exact same thing! So we make less and are expected to pay more into society.

Those little things really add up.

 

[teresa]

to share the things we do which make a positive difference;

Thank you for this thread Paidiske, great idea.

Well, I'm not sure if this is a good example or not of making a positive difference, but on the trail, its almost all men on the road bikes. I rarely see any other women with nice bikes wearing the proper gear, like a helmet, bike clothes, water brackets, bike pump, lights, etc.

I've often felt "less than" because I can't ride as fast as the guys do, and they really zoom past me pretty quickly.

However, there have been a few times, when a little girl, perhaps around 8-9 years old, would point her finger at me and with excitement, say "mom, look at her ride!"

The little girl was making notice of me, a woman on a nice bike and her eyes were wide with excitement. Perhaps she knew that she could do it too?!

Well, I tell ya, that little girl made my day and its comments like that which keep me out there with the big boys.

So maybe, in some small way, this act of riding no matter what intimidation I might feel, bc I'm shorter and smaller, makes a difference by example to other girls.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I like the shirt. Tbh irl I've never heard of girls not being equal to boys in STEM or men & women not being equal in everything. Then I come here & my mind is totally blown. I know in the past it was that way but I hadn't known it still was in my time bc I've never witnessed it personally.

My younger daughters tell me that they have never noticed inequality anywhere either. But most of the examples of prices really do relate.
edit: spell check

 

[WolfGate]

I like the shirt. Tbh irl I've never heard of girls not being equal to boys in STEM or men & women not being equal in everything. Then I come here & my mind is totally blown. I know in the past it was that way but I hadn't known it still was in my time bc I've never witnessed it personally.

Cimorene - are you in Canada? Something I read before makes me think you might be.

At any rate, the link below will take you to results of salary data for engineering done by Glassdoor, a website dedicated to providing people information on companies where they might be interested in working. It shows for engineers coming out of college that the pay gap starts immediately and gets wider as that first decade progresses. The salary gap at start is about 3% and expands to 11% in ten years. The bonus gap is greater, starting at 22% and expanding to 43% over the first ten years.

Engineering Pay Gap? Glassdoor Reveals Many Women Engineers Earn Less than Men - Glassdoor Blog

 

[WolfGate]

One of the technology trade shows I attend has a lounge for female engineers - a place where they can network, relax, etc. They sell snacks and drinks as well. They invite men to a reception they have as well. The catch? Men and women pay different prices. A drink might cost a man $1, but the women only pay $0.80 - to highlight the pay gap in engineering.

 

[All4Christ]

One of the technology trade shows I attend has a lounge for female engineers - a place where they can network, relax, etc. They sell snacks and drinks as well. They invite men to a reception they have as well. The catch? Men and women pay different prices. A drink might cost a man $1, but the women only pay $0.80 - to highlight the pay gap in engineering.

The last major technology conference I attended (Microsoft's convention) had a gender ratio of about 2/3 men, 1/3 women. A good portion of the women were of Asian descent. Caucasian women were very lightly represented. African American and Hispanic women were even more lightly represented. It is interesting to see how different industries can alter the gender ratios even today.

(They even changed some of the women's restrooms to be men's restrooms for the weekend!)

 

[Cimorene]

Cimorene - are you in Canada? Something I read before makes me think you might be.

At any rate, the link below will take you to results of salary data for engineering done by Glassdoor, a website dedicated to providing people information on companies where they might be interested in working. It shows for engineers coming out of college that the pay gap starts immediately and gets wider as that first decade progresses. The salary gap at start is about 3% and expands to 11% in ten years. The bonus gap is greater, starting at 22% and expanding to 43% over the first ten years.

Engineering Pay Gap? Glassdoor Reveals Many Women Engineers Earn Less than Men - Glassdoor Blog

Yes I'm in Canada now but I'm an American & I plan to live in the US again when I'm older. That stinks that there's such a pay gap with professionals! I've heard about it & then I've seen threads on here from these guys who are a part of this thing called the MRA who've said that it's not true. But what you're showing is that there is one. Maybe things will get better. I hope so. I'll graduate from college in 2022 & then grad school so maybe by the time I get a professional job things will get better. Thanks for the links, that was disappointing but it's def. good to know.

 

[Cimorene]

My younger daughters tell me that they have never noticed inequality anywhere either. But most of the examples of prices really do relate.
edit: spell check

I don't really pay for things myself that often so I don't really pay as much attn. to the costs of them. I'm sure I will one day. Probably soon bc when I go to college I'll buy more stuff for myself.

I've learned more about inequality from what people have said here. It's blown my mind!

 

[Dave-W]

That kind of stuff (paygrade differentials) can really make me mad sometimes.

That is one advantage for working for the government - the pay scales are all public knowledge. If you say you are a GS-12 or a ZP-3, everyone can know exactly what pay band you are in. And there is a set advancement within the band based on your time in service. (assuming no overly negative reviews)

I am a ZP-3. My wife will be eligible to be promoted to ZP-3 this coming May. (currently a ZP-2) So we will be making roughly the same, even though I have a 4 year BS degree in engineering and she only has a GIS certificate from a community college.

We do pretty much the same job so that is entirely fair.

 

[All4Christ]

That kind of stuff (paygrade differentials) can really make me mad sometimes.

That is one advantage for working for the government - the pay scales are all public knowledge. If you say you are a GS-12 or a ZP-3, everyone can know exactly what pay band you are in. And there is a set advancement within the band based on your time in service. (assuming no overly negative reviews)

I am a ZP-3. My wife will be eligible to be promoted to ZP-3 this coming May. (currently a ZP-2) So we will be making roughly the same, even though I have a 4 year BS degree in engineering and she only has a GIS certificate from a community college.

We do pretty much the same job so that is entirely fair.

Same here (also government worker). Just got a length of service award

I wish my husband had the same thing, but he's a completely different field.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

/
I've learned more about inequality from what people have said here. It's blown my mind!

It's definately a last frontier that many females don't have the stomach for and is far more recognizable to youngster today who don't experience it elsewhere, not to mention the scourching of young blades of grass in the process. Hopefully things will get better. They have actually improved tremendously over a dozen years ago.