A blasting radio a few feet away from reach does the trick. She lugs her way out of bed to begin the hustle. As usual, she awakes tired. The children are already up but playing with toys with total disregard of the time left to get ready. She politely and with kindness, urges the children to get dressed, eat breakfast, and get off to school.
There isn't enough time to just devote herself to helping the children; she has to simultaneously get herself ready for work. Years of going to college at night and raising a family during the day has taken its toll. In predictable time, she is off to work. It is a good job - one she is qualified for and does well.
Yes, she makes less than the man she sits next to, but they do the same job. Her questioning about this disparity is met with jokes or, worse, disdain for thinking she should earn the same as a man who has to provide for his family. Being a single mom still is not the same as a man who has to provide for his family.
Why do we have equal pay for equal work laws? Simple - without the laws it would be worse than it is. Gender discrimination is real and it is still happening. Women, like men, need to work to take care of their families. And, it is only right that employees are paid fairly without regard to gender.
If you have questions about equal pay for equal work or gender discrimination, please feel free to contact Abel Law Offices to schedule a confidential consultation.
