AAUW Dialog

Most women have faced discrimination in one form or another. I’m old enough to tell tales of blatant wage discrimination, simply because, as one boss told me, “You are a woman in a man’s field.” I literally laughed out loud at the time thinking he was joking, but his affront at my laughter made me realize he was serious, and, as one co-worker told me later, “you are lucky to still have a job.” I went to a lawyer at the time who told me it was a case of “he said, she said” and advised I just let it go.

Years have passed since that moment in time, and, when I started working at AAUW, I realized my ignorance of women’s issues was much higher than I, a stalwart for equality, ever recognized. The importance of educating others (women and men) on the subject was very clear as it became apparent that women of all generations, but especially younger women, did not realize discrimination was still present in this day and age. Check out AAUW’s recently released Annual Report for other stories of the “moment I knew …” that barriers still exist for women and girls.

And then yesterday via Twitter I saw more and more links to a blog entitled “Here’s Why James Chartrand Wears Women’s Underpants.” I almost didn’t open the link to read it, but I thought, I have a spare second, why not. Well, if you are someone who thinks that wage discrimination against women is at an end, stop whatever you are doing and read “James’s” blog post. Here is an individual, an educated, savvy, writer with incredible experience who suddenly became a single parent searching for a job. Not a unique situation in and of itself, but the real kicker here is what she (yes, she) found when job searching was the sharp difference she experienced applying after she switched her name to James.

Her story is incredible; it’s so today and very clearly highlights why AAUW and what we do is so important for ALL generations. If you haven’t already, go to our public policy page and learn about women’s issues that still need action. If your anger spikes like mine did, then TAKE ACTION. And read our research; you can download reports and even find out what the gender pay gap is for your state. Last but certainly not least, if you are not already an AAUW member, JOIN US in our work to end discrimination, which, as so strongly highlighted in James’s blog post, is nowhere near done.