Draft.

----Introduction to come after paper is completed
----History of abortion + legislation passed + prolife vs. prochoice
According to the website Abortion: Some Medical Facts a definition of abortion is the ending of “a pregnancy by destroying and removing the developing child.” I feel it is a necessary obligation to press the rights for all those developing, unborn children. Respectively, I understand that every woman has a different story, a diverse collection of memories that create her unique identity as a woman. But then again, mine is far from glamorous and was far from a facile walk in the park. This experience through which I battled, I feel, provides me with credibility on the subject of the choice of abortion and the matters that relate to the subject.
August 2007 would be the framed photograph soaked with thousands of words floating behind the delicate glass capturing what I thought to be the “highlight” of my summer. I was nearly days away from starting my senior year which is supposed to be the best year of high school. Being on top, closing in on the finish line called graduation is certainly a big deal for any senior. I was enjoying myself thoroughly; hitting up the beach and soaking up the sun was prime, a blur of memories. I was on top of the world until one day. Thinking it was just another gorgeous day, I learned of something that would alter me as a person and a woman for the rest of my life. That little pink plus sign on the most technical stick ever invented seemed to laugh in my face, mocking me and my high hopes for the next few months, years, and the rest of my life… It was unbelievable news and something I was not prepared for; something no 17 year old can prepare for. I was pregnant by someone who I didn’t care for whatsoever and had no idea where to go, who to tell, or what on Earth to do. At 17 I knew I would be strangely looked at, mostly with disapproving eyes. For about the first couple weeks I was determined to make it through and keep my baby. He was mine and now that I look back it was a thought that was irrational, poorly chosen, and completely inane. Abortion, of course, crossed my mind, despite the fact that I believe it to be wrong. The underlying reason behind it was my utter desperation to keep the disappointment from hitting my parents’ faces. I didn’t know how to tell them. Full of helplessness, I was at a dead end road. I was raised in a family that taught “sex after marriage,” so this news would be an unexpected and a huge shock for my family, one that I didn’t think I was prepared to deal with. Looking back, I was selfish in feeling that way. I was thinking only of myself and how I would be punished or what would happen to me. The notion of my child’s life, heartbeat, mind, and soul was not in my head.
In our present times, with the subject of abortion at hand, people only discuss why the abortion option has been chosen, in other words, the social aspect of it. Majority of women who plan on getting an abortion or support the idea of abortion are not educated in the medical aspect of this issue. Altogether, there are ten main procedures that can be done to end the life of a human fetus. Because of the Supreme Court cases in 1973, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, abortion at any point in pregnancy was made legal in all 50 states; meaning that even a woman carrying a full-term baby can choose to have an abortion.
During the first trimester (1-13 weeks) there are four operations a woman can undergo. The first, Suction Aspiration, is used in most cases. Through the dilated cervix of the pregnant woman, a suction tube with a sharp edge is inserted dismembering the appendages of the baby and because of this violent disruption in the womb the placenta is ripped from the wall of the uterus. The pieces of the body, amniotic fluid, placenta, and blood are all sucked out. The risks involved with this process include injuring the woman’s uterus leading, at times, to hemorrhaging. Also, if there is any left over fetal or placenta tissue, infection can be looming ahead. Dilatation and Curettage is the second procedure possible. The abortionist inserts a looped steel knife into the dilated cervix, cutting up the baby and scraping the placenta off of the uterus. Damaging of the uterus, infection, and high amounts of blood loss are possible problems with this tactic. Along with physically removing the baby, there is a pill available to woman seeking abortion as well. It is called RU 486. This drug induces abortion chemically by blocking the natural hormone called progesterone, which maintains the lining of the uterus that supplies necessary nutrients to the baby. Ultimately, the baby starves to death because the lining shrivels and disintegrates. However, “easy” this may sound it comes with a possible price to the woman. Extremely severe bleeding has been documented in many cases (some up to 44 days) along with nausea, pain, diarrhea, and death in some. How many women actually know of these dangerous side-effects? Another drug available during the first trimester is called Methotrexate. This ends the life of the fetus by disintegrating the uterus lining by attacking the trophoblast (produces the human chorionic gonadotropin which controls the production of progesterone). In this process the baby is once again starved because the essential nutrients the baby needs are withheld from it. The four above methods of abortion are very gruesome and sad. Not everyone agrees, but after researching the specific ways abortion is carried out, I find it to be appalling. I feel if more women knew exactly what they were doing to their bodies and the little one inside of them, they would think twice about choosing abortion.
The second trimester also has multiple options for abortion. Again, high risks are involved in all of them. Dilatation and Evacuation is similar to the Dilatation and Curettage process used in the first trimester. However, at this point in the pregnancy the baby is larger and much more developed. The abortionist uses sharp forceps to dismember the baby and then takes the head of the child and crushes the skull so it can be removed from the womb. This procedure could cause cuts and perforations to the cervix due to the bones in the head. Heavy bleeding occurs in all cases. Saline amniocentesis can also be used. The expecting woman is injected, in the abdomen, with a needle that extracts a large portion of the amniotic and then replaces that fluid with high concentrated solution of salt. Literally this poisons the baby along with deterioration of its skin through painful burning. At this point the baby dies but needs to come out of the mother so labor is induced and a burned, withered, and limp baby is delivered. The saline solution can be extremely harmful to the mother by causing “uncontrolled blood clotting throughout the body” (Abortion: Some Medical Facts) which can harm her central nervous system as well. If the solution unintentionally enters the vascular system seizures, coma, and/or death can be serious and very possible outcomes. With risks of nausea, cervical damage, and endometriosis Urea is another option similar to a saline injection. Because the solution is not as strong, other drugs are needed to succeed in the abortion. Finally, the chemical method that uses Prostaglandins (chemicals that are used to aid women in labor) is used for second trimester abortion. These drugs cause labor leading to the birth of a child too undeveloped to survive. Sometimes the salt solution is used in this method to ensure the baby is dead when delivered. Cervical injuries, infection, hemorrhaging, hyperthermia, cardiac arrest, and death are all risks involved in this process. Overall, abortion is a not a pretty operation and in all of these procedures there are high medical risks linked to the killing of the unborn child. The methods are rarely spoken of leading to ignorant girls and women, but medical side affects are not the only troubles connected to abortion.
Mental and emotional problems also can come to the majority of women who choose abortion. Post-Abortion Syndrome occurs in many cases. Despite a woman’s background, the security in her choice, or her mental and emotional stability, all women are born with the little voice in their head that kicks in after their child is killed through abortion. Guilt, anxiety, and depression will follow, sometimes quickly after the act but other times it haunts them years later. Questions are raised relating to their decision. Known effects of PAS, based on the Rhode Island Right to Life website (www.rirtl.org), are as follows:
“Impacted grieving: This reflects an inability to complete the grieving process
Self-destructive tendencies such as eating disorders, sexual dysfunction, and substance abuse
Feelings of isolation
Feelings of confusion and difficulty concentrating
Anxiety attacks
Irritability
Outbursts of rage or anger
Aggressive behavior
Nightmares or sleeping disorders
Recurrent and intrusive thoughts about the abortion or the aborted child
Flashbacks to the abortion experience
Feelings of intense grief or depression on the date of the abortion or the due date of the aborted pregnancy
Repression or denial about thoughts or feelings dealing with the abortion
Efforts to avoid activities or situations that remind the woman of the pregnancy or abortion
Withdrawal or estrangement from others
Inability to maintain loving or trusting relationships
A sense of hopelessness or futility about the future
Diminished interest in previously enjoyed activities
Suicidal thoughts or acts”

---Options other than abortion
---Conclusion
References:
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/abortionuslegal/a/abortion.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_abortion

http://www.prochoice.org/about_abortion/history_abortion.html

Page 347 WIR
Page 348 WIR

http://www.abortionfacts.com/survivors/giannajessen.asp

http://www.abortionfacts.com/dr_willke/connector_july_97.asp#1
http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/ASMF/asmf3.html

Quotes of Hope

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/adoption/

One last post about adoption. The above link is a site full of adotion quotes. Believe it or not it is courageous and unbelieveably respectable. And please, don't think I'm gloating about choosing adoption for my son. No one will ever understand the pride a mother gets from knowing she made the right choice until it happens to you. You are overcome with so much love that the love for yourself drains out in an instant.
“Adoption is not about finding children for families, it's about finding families for children”
This quote is very true and meaningful. Millions of families just around our country would do anything for a baby. They themselves cannot have their own. There are incredibly heartbroken and desparate couples that just want to get the chance to actually start a family. There are so many loving, adoring families that would be fabulous parents. But, they are rarely brought up when it comes to adoption, because most people can't get past the "it would be too hard" part. Unfortunately...

The parts no one hears about...

“Learn About Abortion Procedures and Abortion Risks”
://www.pregnancycenters.org/abortion.html

I wanted to post this just as an informational site for anyone who wants to check it out. It makes me so sick and depresssed to imagine what actually happens. Abortion isn't magical and it isn't a cure-all. Out of the three friends who got pregnant, the closest one to me was Alicia. She was and still is my sweetheart and I had conversation after conversation with her about the options she had. What it came down to was how she didn't want to get "attached" to the baby. I'm not going to lie I got frustrated because if only she knew. If only she knew how rewarding and peaceful you feel to know your baby is alive. Just alive! You have life inside of you and it was created for a reason, so let that reason should be able to be fulfilled. She ended up choosing abortion when she was almost three months along. She came back that night and couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, and all she could do was cry while I held on to her and comforted her. That was what I wanted to keep her from. The pain and saddness and she now knows she has to live with her decision for the rest of her life.

Making a Hard Decision

http://www.abortiontv.com/Choices/otherways.htm

This site really caught my attention. It is definitely a little "boo-boo" in terms of layout and techniality, but it gets the message across. "It's easier to kill you than to wave goodbye" really hits me right in the heart. Everytime I think of a innocent little baby being killed instead of given a chance my heart aches. Of course, it is a touchy subject because I am passionate. I am passionate because of my experience. I want so badly for people to look at what I did as strong and good! I've talked to three friends this passed summer. All of them got pregnant and even after seeing me perservere and get through what I consider a blessing now, didn't even give it a chance. Two of the three said it would be "too hard." It was the most unselfish thing I have ever done and think I ever will do. I am not that strong of a person. I don't have superhero powers or a rock hard heart. I just took me, myself, and I out of the picture and it was as simple as that. It doesn't sound easy because guess what, it's not. The hardest part is putting yourself last and from there on it all becomes clear. It's the truth.

Past experiences mold present beliefs....

http://www.prolife.com/FETALDEV.html
As everyone in Women’s Studies knows, my senior year I was pregnant. From the end of the summer/beginning of my senior year until May 1st, 2008 I missed out on many normal “high school senior” moments. HomeComing was nothing special for me which was quite a disappointment. Ever since I was in about 1st grade I wanted to win HomeComing queen so badly. When I got pregnant, that hope vanished whereas I added a belly instead. I wasn’t even voted on for court! And at my high school we also had a ComingHome for basketball season and I already knew there was NO way I would be representing my class for that occasion being 6 months pregnant. Luckily for me I grew up in a small town where everyone knows everyone so I didn’t get many dirty looks walking down the hall, people – as far as I know – didn’t talk about my state behind my back, and I was never treated unfairly by my teachers. But, don’t get me wrong, I didn’t start off on my pregnancy out thinking it would be smooth sailing, quite the contrary actually. I am prolife and have always stood by my stance at that issue, but yet things change with circumstances. I’ll admit abortion crossed my mind. Just getting rid of the little life growing inside of me against my will sounded so much easier. But that’s exactly what that option was – the easy way out. I am passionate about this subject because I have a beautiful son who is healthy, happy, and is a blessing to another family who love him as much as I do. Even within the first 6 weeks Isaiah was growing miniature feet, fingernails, and other remarkable features were growing at his extremely young existence. Sure, as I got farther along, it got very difficult, but I wouldn’t change my decision for the world. I gave my son life because I put him first rather than myself. Each situation is different across the charts, but there is always the option of adoption. It is a bittersweet memory, but I managed and am here at Alma today. It wasn’t that I didn’t love my child; it was that I loved him so much that his life came before my own.

Particular work areas....

http://forums.plentyoffish.com/datingPosts5087279.aspx
Why are there so many single female nurses and teachers? Posted: 8/24/2006 10:46:38 AM
Both occupations involve a lot of stress. nurses tend to have caregiving personalities (my mother was a nurse for about 40 years). you find the same characteristic in teachers (i taught for years).both areas require the individual to take a great deal of responsibility, but very little power and control.

Okay I find this unbelievable. Because unfortunately decades ago, this was a very true true statement. The teaching and nursing fields have both been dominated by women for so many years and I've always wondered why. The answer to that question lies, in fact, in society and how things were in past times. Men couldn't be teachers because they had to tend the farm, manage the railway, work in the mines, etc... I want to know who decided that women coudn't handle those jobs. Men didn't want to be "lowered" to the position of teaching young children or helping those in need when it comes to the title of "nurse." Men were doctors of course, because they are on the high end of the chain. Nurses and teachers were in areas of little power and control which is very sad. Today, there are definitely more and more male teachers and nurses, but still the females definitely dominate in those areas. I think perhaps the old stigma may be alive still.

Christian Carter: Mr. "Casanova"

www.catchhimandkeephim.com; Author: Christian Carter

So, I've been getting spam emails from this guy for a long time now. They come to one of my emails I rarely check so I haven't done much to stop them from coming. The other day I received one that caught my attention, so I opened it. It was titled "What are YOU doing wrong?" I looked it all up and have found that Christian Carter is some random guy pretty much that decided that all women have a problem if they aren't in a steady relationship with a man. It is the women's fault. Number 1: I want to know why it is the women's fault. Carter goes on and on about what women do wrong; i.e. talking about past relationships, getting clingly, etc... I've been in two long relationships and in both I would argue that it was definitely the male in the relationship that screwed things up and went into the clingy domain. So, who is Carter to say that the women are the ones messing things up for themselves? Number 2: Christian Carter is ultimately saying that women aren't up to par if they don't "catch him and keep him". I understand he is trying to help the women out there that feel as though they can never win, but I happened to read an introduction to his book and he may as well say that he thinks that he knows all and is a pro. I just find him a bit ridiculous and thought it would be something interesting to blog about. Check it out if you want =)

Someone I know & love...

http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2007/11/20/43323/letters-equal-pay-work-life-balance-and-age-discrimination.html

The above article sparked my interest of equal pay for men and women in the school setting, such as high schools, elementaries, etc... I am extremely close to my English teacher from high school-she has mentored me and is as close to a 2nd mom I will ever get. I called her up yesterday to talk about some of my classes, a paper I had to do, and then I remembered I had read this article. At the very beginning it states how Equal Pay should not be dealt with at a "local level" such as at schools. If it had been anyone else I was talking to, I wouldn't have delved in and asked her about the subject. But, because she and I are close, we started up on the conversation. He husband also works at the same school as the Social Studies teacher. She volunteered the information that she was paid substantially less per year as opposed to her husband. I didn't ask how much or the actual numbers, it's none of my business what their salaries are, but the what she said jumped out at me. He had been working at the school for only 2 years longer than she had, and during those 2 years, she had been employed in a neighboring school district. The Equal Pay problem in our counrty is real and that hit me when she told me this. Something needs to be done!! This is affecting people that I know and love so it makes it that much more real and problematic than ever before.

http://www.payequity.gov.on.ca/peo/english/faqs.html#apply
How do I know if I am entitled to receive pay equity?
1. Determine if the Pay Equity Act applies to your employer. (Check the list above.)
2. Get information about whether or not your employer did pay equity. If you are represented, speak to your bargaining agent.
3. If your employer posted a pay equity plan, request a copy of the plan.
4. If the employer and/or union does not share information with you, make a complaint. Contact the Pay Equity Commission.
5. Look at the pay equity plan to determine if your job class was included and whether it was identified as a female job class. If you are in a male or gender neutral job class, your job will not be due a pay equity adjustment since pay equity is intended for underpaid female job classes.
6. If your job is a female job class, try to determine how it was valued, what job or jobs it was compared to and what the adjustment was if any. Do you feel that the results in the plan were fair for your job class?
7. If you feel the results were not fair, or would like further information about pay equity, or would like to make an objection or complaint, contact us.

This whole context bothers me. Like in number three, why is it that a person's employer has the control to determine if they want to use a pay equity plan? Ever employer should be required to follow a pay equity plan and follow it. To help diminish unequal pay, there should be harsh consequences to employers who don't follow through with treating employees fairly-whether it be based on gender, race, religion, cultural background, etc... I understand that a plan for pay equity is a good idea and I'm glad some employers have one. All of them need one though to ensure fairness, equality, and to make sure discrimination is not present in their workforce.

What should be done everywhere...

"Equal Pay: LSC studies audits" Published 10.9.08
Employee Benefits Magazine; London, UK

"Alastair Hatch, head of reward at the training body, says: 'The LSC uses a range of approaches to ensure consistency and equality in the application of pay and benefits. One of these is conducting an equal pay review following the implementation of annual pay awards.' "

Why isn't this happening everywhere? There is such unequal pay all over the world, mainly concentrating on "developed" countries. Forcing companines to check for inconsistencies in pay and benefits and the like should be a policy every business operates under. I swear, the United States simply is covering its eyes with both hand and lets one eye peek through just a little tiny bit. That is so it makes it look as though politicians and those in control care and will do "whatever they can" to ensure pay equity to women of the country. Yet, things are the same; women still get paid around 70% of what every man gets. Equal pay reviews should be an annual routine that is demanded by the government. It seems there is such a quite simply fix to these problems, if people would just stick to them and follow through with enacting more legislature to guarantee women of their rights.

So it is working...? Nope!

http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/objectId/D45FD4DD-19EA-4AA9-B6402D6DD6F7B5E6/catID/57153B2E-F39E-48DA-830ADA31F5A23325/104/150/175/ART/
"Equal Pay for Equal Work: Everyone's Entitled" by Nolo.com

I started out reading this article and within the first couple sentences I already started getting just a little bit heated. Simply based on conversations I've had and heard, new stories I've read and heard about, and just straight up facts regarding the Equal Pay Act of 1963. The government passed law making it so that NO ONE can be discriminated against in terms of pay based on sex, race, ethnic origins, religion, etc... Why am I even writing a blog describing that women, on average, earn $.77 for every male's $1? There are so many kinks and nooks and crannies that help employers get around claims of unequal pay that the law is virtually pointless and has had little effect on making it so there is actually "equal pay", which is the NAME of the bill for goodness sakes'! I am constantly baffled by how contradicting our society is. Because, even when laws are passed to protect us and be beneficial towards the people (women in this case) it doesn't even work. If, say, there was another bill passed tomorrow that guaranteed equal pay for women EVERYWHERE, there is still no 100% guarantee that comes along with it stating "this written legislature guarantees to effectively ensure that no matter what your sex, if you are doing the same work as another person, the pay will be identical." There are simply too many "if's, and's, & but's" that can sneak their way into our government. Look at what corruption & absolute power in a country can do!

Ridiculousness!!!

http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/97nov/pollitt.htm
"Feminism's Unfinished Business" by Katha Pollitt

I decided to use this as one of the sources for my blogs this week. Something really stuck out to me that saddened me and quite frankly, pissed me off. Here I am, weekly finding articles on Equal Pay and information pertaining to it. But yet, in this news article, it discusses such problems that are so much worse in terms of inequality for women, that I don't know how we will ever even get to the point of achieving equal pay. The following excerpt blew me away:

"All her examples, however, are of widely publicized legal outrages: the judge who took custody from a lesbian mother and gave it to the father, a convicted murderer; the judge who barred a custodial mother from letting her male partner sleep over; the judge who transferred custody to a previously uninvolved father because the mother, a college student, enrolled her toddler in day care. Representative cases, or flukes, or something in between? More significant than these shocking anecdotes are studies suggesting that 20 percent of divorcing husbands use the threat of a custody fight to obtain financial concessions, and that half of Massachusetts judges surveyed believe that a mother should be home when school lets out, and many would shift custody to the father if she isn't."

I'm not saying at all that Equal Pay for women is unimportant, but in a way, compared with this information it seems trivial. Since when were convicted felons more capable of raising children as compared to a mother who loves other women??? Come on people!! This is off the wall crazy and insane. I think our court systems and government need a vacuum taken to them so that all the biased, prejudice, and unfair individuals within these offices can be sucked out. Equal pay is a right women deserve, but I almost can't comprehend how horrible cases such as those in the above text occur and that there is more news and coverage on women getting paid equally. I'm sorry that didn't have much to do with my blog topic, but that paragraph really bothered me and something needed to erupt inside of me onto the keyboard instead of being bottled up.

Equal Pay in Celebrities' Lives!

"Women served equal pay"; Published by: Herizons, Inc. June 7, 2007; Journal article-ISSN: 0711-7485

"Thirty-nine years after the British Wimbledon tennis tournament became a professional event, women's singles players now receive prize money equal to that of their male counterparts.
Women's tennis champions, including Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova, began speaking out for equal pay and won the support of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and even the curmudgeonly former Wimbledon champ John McEnroe."

This to me is absolutely crazy! I honestly never even put two and two together thinking that equal pay had not yet reached celebrities' heights! And yet, as we speak, there are actors getting paid much more than actresses; male sports players are getting paid more than female players; the list, I'm sure goes on. When I thought about equal pay and putting a stop to pay discrimination in the workplace, I thought of women of the same status as myself and below. It kind of makes the problem seem more real than what I saw it before. Don't get me wrong, I knew it was a problem of our society, but it hits home to know that even women we see as strong and quite powerful-women that are looked up to-are being paid less than men doing the same exact thing as them! It is just crazy how whacked up our society and the world still is when it comes to men vs. women. Something needs to be done. The whole "Equal Pay Rule" doesn't seem to be doing its job whatsoever. Ugh, it is just extremely, extremely frustrating; especially when it feels like there seems to be nothing you can do to help stop it...

Interesting Facts of Obama & McCain; Equal Pay Controversy

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2008-08-28/article/30971?headline=Hillary-Die-Hards-Oppose-Equal-Pay-for-Women

I find this to be quite an interesting piece of writing-especially after reading the article that I just posted before this one. I really don't understand how candidates and those leading our country can be so freaking two-faced. McCain, according to the post before his, pays the women in his office substantially more. But, when faced with a bill to help women and protect against workplace discrimination, runs the opposite way it seems. Obama called off his campaign for a time to go back to Washington to back a bill to help end workplace discrimination for women. Unfortunately the bill did not pass and no progress was made. It is so funny to see how you can get so mixed up in who to support when you read conflicting pieces of information on one subject; let alone a multitude of issues!! I only have one question: Why can't politicians be PEOPLE?? Wait, let's rephrase that: Why can't politicians be NORMAL PEOPLE who believe one thing and stick with it despite what happens to them and how it will effect their popularity? What the American people want is someone who is true and honest in all aspects of the meaning. Not someone who says one thing and does another. Actions definitely speak louder than words...

Equal Pay: McCain vs. Obama

http://www.johnmccain.com/involving/petition3.aspx?guid=855a55ae-6e50-4877-98e6-7e35761c1f26&sid=google&t=obama&r=paypetition

To be honest, I am not a huge fan of politics. I know what I believe and what I stand for and normally that is as far as I go when it comes to debating, arguing, & even "bitching". Because, from my experience, I know a lot of people who simply complain for the sake of complaining and consider that debate. This link comes directly from Senator McCain's website. I simply googled "Equal Pay" opposers; I was simply looking for an article where some jerk was spouting crap about women and how the whole equal pay controversery is ludacris (I thought it would be interesting to refute and argue against.) Instead this was the first article that came up and I found it intriguing. I will not use this post to argue or even suggest who I am voting for-I simply am looking at it like I know nothing about either. It is an article on how Obama, according to "facts" actually pays the women in his office sufficiently less than men. The information was quite interesting and sparked my attention. McCain's department pays women, on average, more than men by almost $2,000 whereas the women in Obama's office get paid, on average, $9,000 less than the men. I just wanted others to be able to read this and come to their own conclusions pretty much. From what I read, I was quite flabbergasted. I hear Obama talk of equal pay rights and his support for them, but yet why are the women paid less. Based on this article, women in Obama's office are paid $.83 for every $1 of the men's wages. Of course, you can track down why this is and what is the reasoning behind it (the positions of the women & the like), but I don't want to get into that. Just thought the article was interesting and worth reading. That's all! Enjoy. =]

Equal Pay Day: 4/28/09

http://www.pay-equity.org/day.html

This is an awesome and unique creation. I have never heard of it until now and think it is quite amazing! In 1996, this Equal Pay Day was created by the National Committee on Pay Equity. Wearing red on this day helps show how far "in the red" women are in terms of pay compared to men. The day is on a Tuesday in April every year. It is on a Tuesday because in order for women to earn as much as their male counterparts, their week goes through to the next Tuesday, rather than stopping at Friday. So, Monday-Friday (men) = Monday-Tuesday (women). How depressing huh? This day is to help vocalize the very real problem that we women are facing in today's society. The next date for Equal Pay Day is April 28, 2009. I will be sure to wear my red!

A 6 year battle...

Nursing Standard; Published June 11, 2008 Page 11

"NHS Professionals will issue guidance for temporary staff after the government announced that agency workers in the UK will receive pay equal to that of their permanent counterparts."
Why did it take that long? Many of the searches I pulled up for "equal pay" have been connected to the United Kingdom. It seems they may be more concerned with the issue than the United States. However, nurses over in Great Britain worked for over six years on getting the same pay as their male counterparts. Personally, I want to know where the idea that men can work and perform better than women in the same job came from. Women are "equal" to men in today's standards, but only to those who are completely incompetent and oblivious to what thousands of women have been striving towards for years and years now. It honestly frightens me to even head into the competitive workforce. I'm afraid that I will be one of the many women that are not given as high of pay, as good of benefits, etc... all because of my gender. I want to change that and am eager to learn more about what is actively being done to help women who are suffereing from unequal pay. Back to the excerpt at the top: Imagine six years...that is one group of women struggling for equal pay and it took six years. There are thousands and even millions of women out there who don't have equal pay. How long will it take them? That is a scary thought...

Equal Pay

The Financial Times; Published August 2008 Page 22

"The number of equal-pay claims lodged with employment tribunals jumped by 155 per cent in 2006-07 and rose sharply again last year, judging by figures published last week by Acas, the conciliation and mediation service."

This statement, in and of itself, I find completely ridiculous. We are living and working in the 21st Century and yet claims of unequal pay for women versus men are sky-rocketing. I find this number appalling and am quite shocked as well. Of course, due to the fact that I am not yet a working woman trying to make my way to the top, I am slightly unaware of the obstacles women are forced to hurdle through. The Equal Pay Rule was enacted in 1963. Let's see, that means our society is 45 years behind what our laws state. Has anyone ever thought of why that law has not been enforced as it should be? Perhaps it is because the women who are powerful enough to help enact this law are already benefitting from it so they don't think twice about the majority of women in the country OR the men who are on top don't care because they are not affected by it. Women before us have worked way too hard to give us freedoms for those freedoms not to be used.

Women's Studies 101

I am not yet sure what I am going to blog about yet...I've never ever had a blog, but I'm hoping to enjoy this and seeing what is running through everyone else's heads/minds/brains. Please, no judging lol. Kay, cool. =]