Women earn less than Men

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

I'm genuinely curious about the experience you had. Can you please share?

Sorry Pool, haven't read that article you posted yet.  Busy, and it's late here . . . maybe tomorrow.  Discrimination and inequity?  Geez, there are too many of those experiences to list here, and I'm tired.  There are dozens of stories I could tell - mostly about not having a voice at all if there was more than one male in the room.  Getting talked over, having ideas and projects stolen - -     But let's see.  I was (only a year or so ago) working at a library part-time.  I had taken the extra time to learn nearly all of the aspects of the library, they trusted me to run it when the director was out, and a full-time position was open. I had completed my Master's degree in Library Science.  I knew every aspect of running the organization, except for purchasing, which this position didn't require.  They chose three applicants to interview - I was one, there was another female who had library experience but no degree, and a guy who had started his BA in Business at the school, who had no library experience.  I thought that I had a good shot at the position, after all, I was the only interview-ee who had the desired education, I knew how the place worked and had already served as a manager, and I was a part of the team. But the guy was hired.  He was young, handsome, energetic. The interviewers were 5 male members of the HR staff - the Library Director wasn't even on the committee.  He lasted two months.  He didn't have any of the knowledge required for the position.  But by then I had found another job.

The job that I found - I had interviewed for almost immediately upon not being chosen for the job I just described.  But I was told that they had hired someone else.  Two months later, I got an e-mail asking if I still wanted the job.  The reason I wasn't chosen?  The hiring committee was 4 male supervisors and one female - the Library Director.  They chose Fiona - she was very pretty.  Who cared if she had none of the qualifications required for the job.  The supervisor was outvoted 4-1.  Fiona lasted less than two weeks.  You can't learn advanced cataloging on the fly.
   The supervisor quit in protest, and they had to close the library for a month.  My salary was $1200 less (with the required Master's degree) than my male predecessor's starting salary - and he did not have the required degree.  How do I know this?  - We are friends.  He recommended me for the position.

I have LOTS more stories.  These are just the most recent.  Sexism, ageism, racism, elitism . . . anti-atheism! . . . these all exist, handsome younger brother Pool.  I hope that I get to see a better, more equitable world before I kick the bucket.  Good night.

Wow, okay, that's a pretty shitty experience you had to go through.  I feel for you, but I was more hoping to hear about your experience regarding pay discrimination you had faced.