Friday, August 10, 2007
Is there a connection?
On August 3rd the NYT published a story that stated that in (selected) urban areas young unmarried, unburdened with children, college graduate women n their 20s earned 117% of male's income in NYC. This was based on a study of 2005(latest Census data) by Andrew Beveridge of Queens College .
[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/03/nyregion/03women.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin ]
My antennae went up...perhaps because 2 months earlier the Supreme Court had issued its opinion n Ledbetter vs Goodyear Rubber and Tire Company which stated that if one does not challenge one's wages within the first 6 months of the first instance of discrimination than they are not eligible to do so [see http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/06pdf/05-1074.pdf Also see my posting "Unequal Pay"]. Might this study dissaude young women from checking on possible pay discrimination?
The analysis did state that this increase in young women's wages was only for certain urban areas (NYC, Chicago, Boston Minneapolis and Dallas), and it also said that women's incomes fall as they age, thus, this increase might not hold. The article also noted that the 20 yo age group nationally only earns 89% of the males' wages; translated to dollars nationally, the median income of young women is $25,467, compared with $28,523 for men.
While young people migrate to big cities to make their marks, this study is a bit misleading when it comes to NYC. When most people, including those who live in NYC think of the city, they are referring to Manhattan, yet the study actually finds that the young women with more earning power are in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens (Staten Islanders earn the same as males). Twenty-something men have a median wage of $46,859; its $45,840 for women.
So, young women, do not sit back and think that you have achieved economic equality, or even more: check your facts.
[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/03/nyregion/03women.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin ]
My antennae went up...perhaps because 2 months earlier the Supreme Court had issued its opinion n Ledbetter vs Goodyear Rubber and Tire Company which stated that if one does not challenge one's wages within the first 6 months of the first instance of discrimination than they are not eligible to do so [see http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/06pdf/05-1074.pdf Also see my posting "Unequal Pay"]. Might this study dissaude young women from checking on possible pay discrimination?
The analysis did state that this increase in young women's wages was only for certain urban areas (NYC, Chicago, Boston Minneapolis and Dallas), and it also said that women's incomes fall as they age, thus, this increase might not hold. The article also noted that the 20 yo age group nationally only earns 89% of the males' wages; translated to dollars nationally, the median income of young women is $25,467, compared with $28,523 for men.
While young people migrate to big cities to make their marks, this study is a bit misleading when it comes to NYC. When most people, including those who live in NYC think of the city, they are referring to Manhattan, yet the study actually finds that the young women with more earning power are in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens (Staten Islanders earn the same as males). Twenty-something men have a median wage of $46,859; its $45,840 for women.
So, young women, do not sit back and think that you have achieved economic equality, or even more: check your facts.
