Rant away Kolecta, it's totally justified. I agree fully. Also professional women get blamed for somehow being cold and heartless, for not being 'real women', and even for putting pressure on other women to not be family oriented or mothers who stay at home. A few years ago a male friend 'accused' me of being a 'feminist' (as if this was a dirty word) and that women felt under pressure to work and not be stay at home mums 'because of women like me'. And that it was all 'pc gone mad'... All because I had a career! I told him that I absolutely had no intention of putting pressure on anyone to do anything, that it was a matter of choice for every individual but that I believe in equality, and choices include having a career or being a parent or both, for BOTH women AND men. If that's 'pc' gone mad, so be it. If being pc means believing in equality between all people and being against discrimination in all its forms, then i can't see anythin wrong with being 'pc'!!! It would be interesting to know if Jullia Guillard receives equal pay to her male predecessor. Here in the UK, despite the equal pay act brought in in the 1970's, men and women still do not get equal pay for the same jobs. 5 years ago some research showed the pay gap is actually widening! Women in full time employment on average receiving 17%less pay. And the gap is biggest in top professional jobs, male managers were paid 6k more than women and directors 49k! Mindblowing isn't it. And extremely unfair! I think I read something about similar discrepancies between actresses and actors pay ?! Not that it's about the money for everyone. It wasn't for me anyway when i was able to work. I always thought I was doing a worthwhile job, and although it felt like the tip of a very large iceberg, i felt i was making a small difference (i worked with disadvantaged young people age 12-25). I was paid peanuts but I could never do a commercial job and as long as I could get by I was happy. And priorities change over time too, people need to be allowed to make decisions for themselves without judgements. I know when I get well again(and that day WILL come, watch out world) my priorities will have changed. So back to your original comment Kolecta, it is a very valid point you are making. All different, all equal. Anyway enough Lula babble. I'll stop now before it gets political.
-- Edited by lula at 15:31, 2008-03-24
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the shadow is the greatest teacher for showing us how to come to the light ram dass
Why is it that a woman can achieve financial independence establish a career of sorts and make something of herself AND STILL be looked down on by society as a lesser creature if she is single!
We see many an eligible bachelor take on a similar lifestyle and be praised for their work but if a woman chooses something other than family then she is officially recognised as mental!
Jullia Guillard becomes the first female deputy prime minister of Australia and the first thing that anybody ever says is that she is not married and has no kids. What the hell does that have to do with anything?? When will we ever see some form of equality between the sexes?
