Guarantee equal opportunities to succeed
Mark Wolnitzek
class of '00
I am writing in response to the April 16 letter from from members of the Women, Work and Economics Group, "Support Equal Pay for Women and Minorities." I have a question regarding the call to action stated by the authors about "contacting your state representative and letting him or her know you support legislation that works to guarantee pay equity." What exactly is my state representative going to be able to do? Not vote for the next bill entitled "Pay Disparity Renewal Act of 2002?"
The statistical averages referenced comparing various groups of citizens are just that: statistical averages. They have any number of legitimate economic factors that can explain the disparities. Often left unsaid, usually to confuse the issue, is that the differentials are not "de jure" in nature, as paying different groups for the same work is already illegal under any number of laws and regulations.
Rather, the issue rests with "de facto" pay differentials which are due to a range of wider economic and societal factors that are being addressed every single day. The unfortunate historical routing of people into different fields (such as elementary teachers vs. professors, nurses vs. doctors, secretaries and laborers vs. executives, engineers and lawyers) because of race and gender due to wider societal issues such as poverty and racism is the cause. However, as our society continues to move towards all people being able to freely choose their careers based upon their ability and desire, while at the same time reducing the unfortunate impacts of racism and poverty, these differentials will decrease as opportunity abounds.
Contacting your state representative to inform him or her that you support "guarantee[d] pay equity" is simply a foolish waste of their time and yours. All reasonable people are against pay inequity, but the economics of a free market make it beyond the purview of your state representatives to guarantee outcomes. What you need to ask of your government representatives is that they support equal opportunities to succeed, as trying to legislate equal outcomes is not the solution.
Mark Wolnitzek
class of '00
April 16, 2002
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, April 17, 2002
