Millennial (PRO)Opponents will quote statistics, but misunderstand their true meanings.
But rest assured, there is no wage gap for men and women who are straight out of college, single, and do not have kids.
If fact, there may be a wage gap where women in this category are earning nearly 10% more than men in 50 major cities in America.
http://content.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2015274,00.html
Women take different jobs than men. High paying jobs that are dangerous, for example, are less likely to be filled by women than men. This isn't by mandate, but by choice. Statistically, women also work less hours than men, probably many times for good reason (kids, for example), yet the so called 'wage gap' does not take this into account.
The "wage gap" is calculated by adding up all the dollars made by men/# of men, and all the dollars made by women/# of women.. it doesn't take into account some basic logic (you work more hours, you make more money.. you choose a field that pays more, you make more). So stop pushing this devastatingly misleading and trivial talking point.
Notice my argument is NOT that there shouldn't be equality in terms of paying the same amount for two people who are equally qualified and beneficial for a job position, regardless of gender.. if you find a male and female who both have the same level of education, same degrees, same recommendations, same experience, same performance, etc... then of course they should be paid the same.. but why should women get paid the SAME if let's say they are better than their male counterparts?? In this case -- they should get paid MORE -- pay should be based on your merit, not your gender.
Notice my argument is NOT that there shouldn't be equality in terms of paying the same amount for two people who are equally qualified and beneficial for a job position, regardless of gender.. if you find a male and female who both have the same level of education, same degrees, same recommendations, same experience, same performance, etc... then of course they should be paid the same.. but why should women get paid the SAME if let's say they are better than their male counterparts?? In this case -- they should get paid MORE -- pay should be based on your merit, not your gender.
Return To Top | Posted:
2018-05-10 12:06:32
| Speak Round
GuitarKirby (CON)Round Forfeited
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2018-05-11 12:08:02
| Speak RoundMillennial (PRO)...
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2018-05-11 16:54:47
| Speak RoundGuitarKirby (CON)I apologize for my tardiness in the first round.
As my opponent has already stated, there are indeed a great deal of statistics pointing to a gender wage gap. A Department of Labor survey in 2015 found that while women's standing in the workforce has increased and wages have gone up, they are still paid less than men (US Department of Labor). This article also agrees with my opponent's statement about occupational segregation, wherein women tend to go into lower-paying jobs than men.
The article my opponent cites also has a major caveat. In the time article citing the study where it was found that young women were making more than men, it was said that "this reverse gender gap, as it's known, applies only to unmarried, childless women under 30 who live in cities." (Luscombe)
However, occupational segregation isn't what we're discussing. Wage gaps are. And the wage gap is calculated using earnings ratios, ergo "equal pay for equal work." It seems my opponent has tried to dismiss this part of the discussion out of hand by saying that they agree that men and women of equal value for a position should be paid equal wages. Whether or not the opposition believes that this is or should be the case is irrelevant to the topic; the only thing that matters here is whether or not it's actually happening. In the Department of Labor study I previously referenced, it was found that women's wages are only 79.6% of men's. An earlier report by the US Census Bureau found that African-American women make as little as 64 cents for every dollar white men make. (Semega et al)
My opponent also stated that women take lower-paying jobs than men and work less hours for reasons such as family rearing. While I don't disagree, this is perpetuated by cultural biases towards women and roles imposed on them from childhood, so while it may not be a legal mandate, it is a socioeconomic one that should be discussed within the same conversation.
And before my opponent brings it up, it's true that women take maternity leave if they become pregnant. However, I would argue that if men and women's wages AND benefits were treated equally, men would gain paternity leave in addition to women getting equal pay. Because when you get right down to the core of this debate, you find it's an argument about equality. But you can't fix the problem until you admit that there is one.
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2018-05-12 05:24:13
| Speak RoundMillennial (PRO)Round Forfeited
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2018-05-13 05:26:02
| Speak RoundGuitarKirby (CON)Round Forfeited
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2018-05-14 05:28:02
| Speak Round
Judge: nzlockie
Judge: Undovic88
Judge: Mharman
Judge: Eunoiad
I would love to take this debate, but the timing just doesn't work for me! 1 day to post each round is too quick for me. I hope someone takes this one.
Posted 2018-05-09 17:12:15