Miss Representation

Tiara Roman

ENC 1102

Miss Representation

09 April 2013

Undivided

            Have you ever been let go at a job or turned down because you weren’t a male? I have, and although you may not know it and though it states in an application that they will not discriminate it happens every day. You can be over qualified for the position and the male that sits beside you, be his first job ever and he get the position before you. Most of the time this isn’t something that us women always pay attention to, we base it on the economy and how many people have applied. But the truth is we are getting looked down upon, our qualifications are getting overlooked and we are being discriminated against.

            Reasons for discrimination against women vary amongst workers and bosses around the world. Because women could possibly become pregnant, they are seen as unreliable of a sort as they would leave the workplace for some amount of time, if not permanently, due to the child. Another reason is appearance. Many men that are in charge of hiring employees may deny a woman a job because a lack of sex appeal, or approve them because of a comely appearance.

            “The "glass ceiling" is also a form of gender discrimination. The term refers to the invisible barriers that prevent women from climbing the ranks of management because upper level and executive positions are given to men. Glass ceiling policies are unwritten, and sometimes referred to as the "old boys network," but whatever it is called, it is another form of gender discrimination. If men get more time off, better compensation packages or benefits than women based on unfair gender bias it is gender discrimination and it is illegal” (http://womeninbusiness.about.com). Although discrimination is not as prominent as earlier years, female workers still endure more of it than male worker. On average, men are paid more than women, and it is also more difficult for women to receive a promotion or a raise than it is for their male coworkers. Women are also succumbed to sexual harassment which, while highly illegal, is normally disregarded. While it may seem as though no woman should have to be given this poor treatment, it happens daily and can go without being treated properly.

            “If you’re being paid less than your male coworkers or you feel like you’re not being promoted because you’re a woman you can file a lawsuit or threaten to do so. Tread lightly though. If they find out you’re thinking about suing them they might fire you awfully fast. If you’re at a company where you’re not getting paid your worth or you’re being held down then you probably don’t want to work there. If your lawyer can prove that the company has systematically prevented women from advancing and refuses to pay them a fair wage then you’ll be in line for a big settlement. There’s a long history of cases of this nature going for the women” (http://womenslegalresource.com).

            “Computer Sciences Corporation was sued by a former high-level female executive who was fired after identifying and complaining about pattern and practice gender discrimination and sexual harassment. She was told to "quit complaining." She did not, she was fired” (PR Web. April 18, 2012). “In 2011, Wal-Mart dodged a bullet when the Supreme Court ultimately overturned a decision that would have held Wal-Mart accountable in a class action suit. The justices ruled that the "women did not share enough in common to qualify as a class in what would have been the largest class action discrimination suit in history." However, individual lawsuits against Wal-Mart continue to be filed” (Huffington Post. January 24, 2012).

            Although gender discrimination is not always gone about correctly, it continues to be a large problem in the working world. Women continue to lose jobs while men continuing receiving them. As time passes, whether the discrimination increases or decreases in occurrences remains completely in the hands of those around the world in charge of hiring and firing employees in their work environments.

            The truth that discrimination against women though it may be getting somewhat better is still happening is known. It should not be happening at all. There shouldn’t be any getting better, this needs to stop. Where I am currently working I don’t feel that I am being discriminated against, but you can definitely see that when it comes to a male, he will get the promotion or raise first. We are all equal as people, some can do things better than others but it shouldn’t divide us as women and men.

Works Cited

"Corporations Sued For Gender Discrimination Against Women And Men." About.com Women in Business. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2013.

 "Discrimination against Women in the Workplace." Womens Legal Resource. N.p., n.d.

Web. 09 Apr. 2013.

"National Partnership for Women and Families: Workplace Discrimination." National Partnership for Women and Families: Workplace Discrimination. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2013.