Equal Pay= Equal Work & Stop Labeling

Hi Everyone!

Today I finally got the time to read about the firing of NY Times Executive Director, Jill Abramson. I saw many headlines, taglines with the words “pushy”, “brusque”, “aggressive”, when describing her perceived character. It makes me angry. When Howell Raines (the Executive Director prior to Abramson) was fired he was lauded as generous and applauded for putting the papers interests above his own. He “officially” resigned, but we all know he was fired amidst a scandal involving one of his “star” journalists. So, this guy resigns because of a scandal, yet the best reason they can give for firing Ms. Abramson is she was “pushy”, “brusque” and “aggressive”? How about addressing the more likely reason- she asked to be paid what her predecessor (who left under scandal) was paid. EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.

Let me put it out there right now, and after you read this if you have a problem with my views then please feel free to not go any further. These are the things I believe in:

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                      ~ Equal pay for equal work. Period. I don’t care if you are black, white, Asian, Native American, male or female… I don’t care. If you do the same work as someone else and you are paid less that is wrong.
      ~Women belong in whatever workplace they CHOOSE. Yup, that goes right along with the RIGHT TO CHOOSE. If I want to be a Sniper in the military or if I want to stay home and raise my children-that is MY choice. And if I end up going into the corporate world armed with the same skills as everyone else, I demand equal pay for equal work.
     ~I believe we should seriously consider the labels we put on people. Why is a woman in the workplace called “pushy” while a man is called “strong”?  Why do we insist on referring to little girls as “cute” and “pretty” while we call little boys “strong” and “outgoing”? Why can’t a girl be strong? Why can’t a boy be cute? Labels like this begin the moment a child is born. Stop labeling your children or anyone else for that matter. Growing up with a label that began before you could even walk will stick with you your entire life. (I know this because I grew up with the label of “difficult”) It’s not easy to shake years of being labeled. (Don’t EVEN get me into how schools label children…)
       ~I think everyone needs to stop this “lip service” of SAYING they are promoting women/minorities in the workplace and actually DO it. It makes me sick when I see CEO’s/Execs of company touting how they believe in the power of women/minorities in the workplace and stand there with their board of 95% men. Put your money where your mouth is.

We have an election coming up soon. And guess what? We have some outstandingly strong women thinking about running. Yet, you know what I am already hearing? You guessed it! Questions on their ability to be “strong” enough to be in office. WHAT?  Women have been “strong” enough to carry and deliver children for thousands of years. Women have been the backbone of most cultures around the world. It has been proven that a woman’s mind is just as strong, if not stronger, than a man’s. So, what’s the problem?

This “Man’s World” thing has got to end.

I don’t know the real reasons Ms. Abramson was fired. We will probably never know. But I do know we have taken a step back when we create headlines referring to a female as “pushy” or “brusque”.  We have taken a step back when we ALLOW publications to print that kind of stuff without voicing our outrage.  Let’s not allow this.

We are in 2014.

2014

It’s time for EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.

It’s time to stop labeling and start supporting.

Thanks for reading!!!!!! As always Stay Healthy, Eat Well and Be Happy!

And as John Green says- “Don’t forget to be awesome”!!!!!

How will you be remembered #2?

How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

Hi everyone!

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged! I have a new system now so I should be updating more often! The pieces will be shorter, but there will be more of them.

I have been thinking about this one for a while. In my line of work I meet a lot of people. Lots of kids. Lots of adults. Lots of Grandparents. Friends, families, extended families, families that are not families anymore. Most of these people are wonderful people. Most of these people are basically good people. And most of them have flaws and quirks like every other human being on this earth.

My question is- how do these “flaws” and “quirks” affect how you would like to be remembered? And I’m not just talking about after you die. I’m talking about when you’ve gone your separate ways for the day (week, month, year)…how would you like to be remembered?

What people think about me isn’t generally something I think about 24/7. The people that I care about what they think are the people I care about. Period.  I’m not saying I go around saying and doing what I want with no filter…not at all. I believe in being respectful of people and their opinions, space and being. It would distress me to hear that someone had a poor opinion of me who has met me.

But the people that matter to me? My immediate family, my family in New York, my family in Virginia, my students, my students parents, my bosses and my limited amount of friends.

Our “handyman” who charged us an extra $300 when he was done with repairs without warning? I really don’t care what he thinks.

The woman ahead of me in line who talked condescendingly to the cashier and never bothered to even say hello? I really don’t care what she thinks about me giving her the “evil eye” while she slowly packed her purse with her receipt and change.

Every one of my SEASPAR students? I absolutely care what they think about me.

My Musical Theatre, Glee and Voice students? Oh, man!!!! Do I care what they think about me!!

So, because I want this to be short I want to ask you something. Something personal.

Whose opinion means most to you? How do you want to be remembered the day, week, year after you see this person(s)?

I don’t have just one person. I have many. And you know what? I want to be remembered for a few things. Maybe I’m greedy like that-who knows?

I want to be remembered for:

•  Being kind. Even in the worst of situations and when the world has not been kind to me.
•  Being a good listener.  I really don’t like to hear “You just didn’t listen to/hear me!”. I want to be a good listener.
• Being fair. Trying to be as non-judgmental as possible.
• Being on time. Anyone who knows me knows this is one of my “things”.

So, again, I ask you…How do you want to be remembered?

Thanks for reading! As always Stay Healthy, Eat Well and Be Happy!

And as John Green says- “Don’t forget to be awesome”!!!!!

**The awesome illustrations that accompany my blogs are by Hana Urban. 

You can check her out at:  www.hanaurban.com 

Or check out her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/hanaurbanillustrations