Mellott Sociology 131

Kalena Mellott

This week I asked my interviewee what they thought should, if anything, be done about the wage gab that happens in the workplace.  The interviewee felt that women asking for better wages and not accepting what was offered first to them would be one way in which this gap could be decreased.  The interviewee said though that in order for the gap to completely disappear people need to be able to discuss their wages if they want to.  The law should be written so that men and women once employed have the right, even if they do work for a private company and not the government, to tell others about the wages that they earn so that everyone knows what the going wage is.  The interviewee concluded with the idea that better access to free or reduced childcare at the place of employment at either the mother or fathers job would also make for better wage equality.  Maternity leave may be reduced as mothers would be able to have their children close to them and not have to pay for expensive day care if they want to continue their career while they are raising children.  Also the father would be able to continue working too and be able to help with the raising of the child during the day if the day care was in the same building as his place of employment.