Comments for The Cerebral Mum

Comment on Early Call: Knit for charity… by Bohlken161@gmail.com

Bohlken161@gmail.com — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:38:24 +0000

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Comment on I am so totally sexist… by Milton Stoutenger

Milton Stoutenger — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:21:44 +0000

thanks, Keep up the Good work

Comment on 5 reasons to smile… (and 3 songs) by Buy Gourmet Online

Buy Gourmet Online — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:03:10 +0000

thanks for that

Comment on A Week of International Women’s Day: #1 Equal Pay by cerebralmum

cerebralmum — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:57:35 +0000

I think it is actually that the more serious issues with equity in the working place get lost when we talk about pay equity. In the general understanding, and often in media representation, that means the basic pay cheque. But the equal pay cheque doesn’t solve the problems.

I would imagine that, as a teacher, you are surrounded by women who are all getting paid equitably in comparison to you. I would also imagine that there is little disparity in who gets access to further training and promotion. But even with those relatively secure, middle-class positions, at retirement you will likely be better off, and some of them (particularly those who bear children and are, or end up, single) will be in quite precarious financial positions in their old age.

Comment on She’s coming…. she’s coming… !!!! by Lightening

Lightening — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:58:33 +0000

I was just thinking about you the other day. No really, I WAS!!!! *waves* I’m still here. Would love to hear a bit of an update on what’s been happening during your absence.

Comment on A Week of International Women’s Day: #1 Equal Pay by Heath

Heath — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:43:25 +0000

Hmm, I think to me the real issue is the pay rate for the SAME positions. If women are doing different work, or different amounts of work, of course the salaries will be different. If they’re paid less for the exact same position, then that is wrong without question. I agree with you that there’s a lot of issues at risk of being conflated here, if all you look at is aggregate earnings, and the value of non-salaried work is a big one.

Another question tangled up in this is WHY women are doing less work or lower-paid jobs…

Comment on She’s coming…. she’s coming… !!!! by cerebralmum

cerebralmum — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:58:27 +0000

Well, Joh did write me a lovely note about missing my voice and writing and saying lots of other nice things, but yes… It was all you. I exist online solely to bask in the glory of your awesomeness.

Comment on She’s coming…. she’s coming… !!!! by Kelley @ Magnetoboldtoo

Kelley @ Magnetoboldtoo — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:47:42 +0000

I am taking full credit and responsibility for your return.

Because I am THAT awesome. I bring blogs back from the dead.

*snigger*

Comment on A Week of International Women’s Day: #1 Equal Pay by cerebralmum

cerebralmum — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:41:05 +0000

That sounds fair to me, Jessica! Lol.
Just having a quick look at the graduate stats for 2009 though (http://www.graduatecareers.com.au/content/view/full/24), the average starting salary across all employment sectors for those with Bachelor degrees under the age of 25 for males is $50k, and for females it is $47k, which is actually only 6% less. There are huge problems with the way the averages are used because my understanding is that the pay gap remains static over the course of any given generation’s lifetime but for each successive generation the gap has been narrowing. (ie; the gap that existed when a baby boomer began in the workforce is the same size gap she experiences until retirement so that distorts our perception of what young people beginning work will actually experience.

The grad stats for 1999 incidentally, showed a 14% gap. A reduction of 8% over just 10 years sounds pretty good. Except, of course, all those issues which arise over the course of a working life, like unequal access to benefits and promotions and the serious impact that childbearing has on a woman’s lifetime earnings and superannuation.

One thing I would say, however, is that a significant factor in the continuing bias is women’s own undervaluing of their skills. Pulling again from the Greer book I mentioned, “Employment analysts say that a job advertised at 40,000 will get no female applicants but women will gladly apply for the same job if it is advertised at 20,000.”

And I know that the disparity is bad. I really do. And I understand why professional, skilled women are angry. They should be angry. It is a good thing that they are angry. I just find it hard, personally, to get invested in that missing $3000 when the sharp end of the issue is really about females living in poverty. Pay equity offers no solution for them. It is a problem of capitalism, and of culture and also, (I say this in no way to excuse the disparity) a problem of biology.

Comment on A Week of International Women’s Day: #1 Equal Pay by Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:34:49 +0000

I just think that if we are going to earn only 75% of what men make, our expensive college educations and graduate degrees should cost less as well. It’s shit that I have to spend the same to get less. Especially if I end up being a single mother. I just realized this fact this year as my loans are coming due and it is the part of the pay gap that bothers me.

I hate the unspoken nature of it. I’ve even met people/men who don’t believe that it’s even true! We do make less. We do make less, and if that’s true, it should be common knowledge, and our college educations should cost less as well.

Comment on She’s coming…. she’s coming… !!!! by musingwoman

musingwoman — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:54:17 +0000

Did a double-take when I saw your posts in my reader! WELCOME BACK!!

Comment on Early Call: Knit for charity… by Trickey

Trickey — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:50:00 +0000

Cool Picsxx

Comment on She’s coming…. she’s coming… !!!! by Rosemary Nissen-Wade (aka SnakyPoet)

Rosemary Nissen-Wade (aka SnakyPoet) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:40:00 +0000

You and your glorious words have been SO missed. And we want new photos of Caspar!

Comment on She’s coming…. she’s coming… !!!! by Heath

Heath — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:08:43 +0000

Welcome back. You’ve been missed.

Appropriate indeed. Thanks for sharing.