Category: Let's talk
First, I will post an excerpt from an e-mail below, then express my opinion on it.
The Equality Bake Sale, which is an annual event, charges men 25% more than women for the baked goods to demonstrate and be representative of the gendered wage gap where women earn, on average, 77 cents per dollar that men earn when in the same position, with the same credentials and work experience. The purpose of the bake sale is to raise awareness to the wage gap, which annually, translates to men earning about $11,000 more per year than women (on average). An interesting stat, Michigan ranks 42nd in the nation, with women earning 74 cents per dollar that men earn (all of these stats come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011).
All of the proceeds that we make will be donated to the scholarship fund at the Women's Resource Center, which was established in 1974, to help women lacking financial support resources to pursue continued education and better career opportunities.
As you can probably tell from the topic title, I think that things like this only promote inequality and keep it strong and kicking. This is like some sad sort of revenge where women get the short end year-round, so for this one day, guys get the short end. This bake sale will do absolutely nothing to close the wage gap between men and women, and it shows that these women want to be better than men, not equal with them.
Also, consider this, as a black woman, would it be okay to sale baked goods and charge white people a certain percentage more than blacks. I would say not. As a blind person, would it be okay to sale baked goods and charge sighted people a certain percentage more than blind individuals. I would say not.
I honestly don't see what they are trying to accomplish here. Getting out awareness is putting up posters and passing out pamphlets or something; charging guys more money will not solve this issue. Many years after this, women will continue to make less money than men. By charging men more for baked goods, they are blaming men for this issue and not employers. It is not right.
I will help bake treats for this sale, but I will not help sell goods. I considered sitting at the table and selling goods for volunteer work, but I cannot, knowing that I would help them promote inequality.
Who else disapproves of this? Who sees the other side of the coin?
I have one thing to say to this: No matter how honorable your intentions are, two wrongs don't make a right.
Agreed. Though I think something needs to be seriously done about this sad truth.