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I must agree with you. I, too, have two intact X chromosomes and even though
the generation before mine kicked down the doors I now walk through, I
experience the discrimination that we all hope would disappear. There's also
the subtle discrimination that's used against the uninitiated in this
freelancing business. When you first start out on your own, it's pretty hard
to find out what rates are like unless colleagues are willing to talk.
Nina
>*** Resending note of 05/19/97 13:53
>
>John Wilcox wrote:
>1) If you and I were working for the same employer or client, and if one
>of us were making $5.00/hr more than the other for the same work, what
>is that to either you or I? Why do we even need to know? Did we not
>both agree to our respective rate of hire? Isn't an employer entitled
>to offer whatever rate he wants?
>
>yes... and no. That arguement is used frequently to hide patterns of
>discrimination. I'll never forget the job I had in the mid 70s where
>a writer with less training and seniority than I had got all the money
>that was in the budget for raises, "because he had a wife to support."
>This in spite of the fact that his wife made more money than
>my husband did. Nothing was said about skill levels, or fit in the company...
>I left. Quickly.
>
>John continued...
>2) I'm no union man. I believe in the free-enterprise system. I
>believe employers should be allowed to hire, fire, promote, demote,
>etc., based solely on merit. If you're a better writer than I and can
>get more money for the same type of work, I say more power to you --
>you've earned the extra pay. But if you want X just because I'm getting
>X, forget it.
>
>This is great, if hireing, firing, and money was based on skills and the
>other intangibles that make one person more valuable than another. But,
>again, too often that is used to hide discrimination based on gender or
>race.
>
>I'm not rabid about much - I'm too tired to be rabid. But if all things
>are equal, then free enterprize is great. But when I work just as hard
>as someone else, and do just as good or better work, but they're getting
>paid more than I am because I happen to have two intact X chromosomes and
>they don't, then I get angry.
>
>-becca
>
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Joseph M. Chodat
Nina-Giovanna Esile
Without Papers
wop -at- seacoast -dot- com
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
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