Salaries! Men vs. Women

As I sit in front of my MacBook Pro computer and write a blog that has the potential to be seen by millions of people simultaneously through the World Wide Web, I can’t help but wonder why does segregation still exist?  Not the segregation between the races or religious groups but the segregation of the sexes.  In 2012, the age of wireless computer based phones and Internet television; we continue to have the mentality that men are somehow superior to women.  Of course this is not articulated out loud (at least in the ear shot of any woman) but it is more than prevalent in the amount of their paychecks.

An article written by Schiffel, Schroeder, and Smith, lays out the 2011 salaries of women compared to men.  Not only were women already paid significantly less, but also their annual increases were not to be compared to their male counterparts.  The writers show in great detail that the salary information from more than 5,000 employers has shown a 30% to 32% gap between the salary received by men and women.  Why? 

According to Peter Coy and Elizabeth Dwoskin of Business Week, it’s mainly because discussing pay is frowned upon in most Corporations and in some looked at as dismissible.  Women can’t complain about what they aren’t aware of.  Business Week describes this type of discrimination as a “Silent Offense.”  Yet, I’m still not satisfied.  This article helps me to understand why women aren’t standing up for themselves but my question is where did it originate and why hasn’t it changed, especially in the 21^st Century.  Answering this question may prove more difficult than getting equal pay for women.  So, having said that I pose another question, what are we doing about it now?

The “Paycheck Fairness Act” of 2012, although blocked by the Senate Republicans is a step in the right direction.  It’s a direct hit on the Republican party to let them know that women have a right to paid fairly and treated equally when doing the same job and having the same responsibility as their male counterparts.  No one seems to notice that if things don’t go well the repercussions for men and women “seem” to be the same, in theory anyway. 

As a woman, I’m not holding any grudges because life is definitely too short for that.  But, as a woman, let me be the first to stand up and say, we have ways of getting what we want.  Whether it is through kind hearted gestures or downright deviousness.  The point is, a woman is a force to be reckoned with and the day of reckoning is here. 

How Expensive is Laziness?

How expensive is Laziness?

We all get lazy sometimes, right?  If we could put a price on laziness, would that affect how we live our daily lives?  As the author of this blog, I can say for a fact, it would not change my “me time” routine.  Let’s be honest, I consider this a requirement in my life that keeps me from completely pulverizing my two teenage boys.  With this in mind, let’s get back to the point.  Once a month, I get a manicure, pedicure and a facial.  These three indulgences usually run me about $110.00/month.  This averages out to about $1,320.00/year.  Let’s put this into perspective.  I can actually treat myself to these same treatments at home.  If I factor in the cost of the products I would need and subtract the labor as well as the tip, I could cut this monthly treat down to about $100.00.  The products for all three treatments would last about 6 months if I use them once per month.  This brings my total to $200.00 per year.  That’s a savings of $1,120.00 for the year.  

In an article by Daniel Adler, there are many ways being “lazy” can cost you thousands of dollars.  Yet, I have to ask, is this considered lazy or simply quality of life?  Sometimes, I simply enjoy eating out, especially if I’m in the mood to eat a dish I cannot prepare myself.  There are some that may argue the point, “have you tried to make the dish yourself?”  Of course my answer would be, “no,” but that’s besides the point.  The harsh reality is that laziness is a direct contributor to having less money.  Think of how much that Starbucks run is costing you by the end of the year or the savings you would have if you made your own sandwich instead of stopping by the popular deli for lunch everyday.  No matter what income bracket you fall under, there are probably numerous ways we as consumers are throwing our money away and corporations or banking on the laziness factor.  Check out this commercial I found on youtube for “The Clapper.”   

This is the perfect example of company’s using laziness as a factor to promote a product.  Joseph Enterprises has been making products to make your life simpler for decades.  Since then, more and more companies are using the “does the work for you,” advertising slogan and we as consumers continue to buy into it, literally. 

In my personal life I hope to make some changes that will ultimately help me to keep more of my hard earned money.  This is a challenge that is easier said than done especially in the generation we’re in now.  During this wonderful time of innovation and technology we can count on the fact that companies will continue to market to our laziness as well as our attention deficits in order to ensure that our money increases their bank accounts.