Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
June 3, 2013
By: Courtney Herrick, Wisconsin 9to5 member
View the original here. 

Women deserve equal pay

The article, “Two female workers sue county, alleging gender discrimination,” sheds light onto a small fraction of the larger issue of equal pay and gender discrimination (JSOnline, May 29).

Instances such as these are not isolated to only a few females. The wage gap and gender discrimination are real. The truth is that women today still earn 77 cents to every dollar a man earns, and this threatens not only the livelihood of women but also of families and the community as a whole.

As a recent graduate in Milwaukee, this affects me on an individual level. I know that when I enter a position, I will automatically be paid less than my male counterparts, and as I advance in my career, the gap between our wages will only grow wider. It will not be based on merit or ability, but purely on my gender. As I approach the start of my student loan payments, I am fearful that I may never be able to pay them off.

Women and families deserve fairness, and that means deserving equal pay. Equal pay will be good for women, good for families and good for Milwaukee.

Courtney Herrick
Milwaukee