Your Guide to Surviving Awkward Family Conversations about Sexism
Your Guide to Surviving Awkward Family Conversations about Sexism
With the holiday season ramping up, theres a lot to look forward to! From parties to the New Year, this time of year is full of expectations. Youve survived Thanksgiving, but you might not be past all the awkward family discussions yet to come. But dont worryweve got your back! Heres your handy guide to responding to common misperceptions about gender and advocacy that might come up this season.
Your dad says, We dont even need Title IX anymore. Women get to play sports already. Plus, no one watches womens sports anyway!
First things first, lets remind dear old dad that this summers Womens World Cup final was the most-watched soccer game in U.S. history! Title IX, which has been credited with helping develop the Womens National Team itself, plays a critical role in ensuring equity in school athletics. But its about so much more than that! The crucial law prevents discrimination in all areas of education, including admissions; recruitment; access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields; campus sexual harassment and assault; tenure and more.
Your cousin says, The gender pay gap doesnt exist. Women are paid less because they take lower-paying jobs and take time off. Duh!
We wish the gender pay gap didnt exist! But the reality is that the pay gap is all math, not myth. Altogether, women working full time, year round in the United States in 2014 were paid only 79 percent of what men were paid. But thats not the whole story: Mothers and women of color make even less. According to AAUWs research, the pay gap occurs in nearly every occupation, including both low and high-paying jobs. And it cant be explained away by womens choices. Our 2012 report found that women face a pay gap even after accounting for (are you ready for this?) college major, occupation, economic sector, hours worked, months unemployed since graduation, GPA, type of undergraduate institution, institution selectivity, age, geographical region and marital status. Phew!
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http://msmagazine.com/blog/2015/12/22/your-guide-to-surviving-awkward-family-conversations-about-sexism/