Sociology

Name:

Class:

Prof. Name:

Date:

Question: Is there still gender inequality in the name of the wage gap?

Interview Guide

Gender inequality practiced since the earlier days still exist today even if people represent the modern world. Though the rate of discrimination has reduced with the development of people’s behavior and thoughts towards stereotypic feelings, the issue has been severe in today’s community. The social complication of offering lower payments for women employees has been a global problem. Women counterparts, though, have rights, freedom and are leading an independent life, they are questioned for their physical and mental ability. When men and women are given the same position and tasks in the business firm that needed equal effort, most often, bias is made by the employer with the conception of a weaker mentality instead of observing the situation based on skills and knowledge. Since payment discrimination has been a harsh social controversial topic, I interviewed Linda Wilson and Amantha Taylor,victims of the wage gap. From the interview, I get to learn about why such practices still are being an issue, what are the cause and consequences, and the things that are keeping women backward irrespective of their determination. Linda and Amantha supported me throughout the interview session and did not show any hesitation and the moment of uncomfort while she was glad to explore the mentally disturbed people.

These are some of the questions I asked for the interview:

• From when did you feel there was discrimination in a wage?
• How does the business enterprise treat you?
• What are the things you recognized for you being the victim of gender inequality?
• Do you think you are physically and mentally incapable just because you are a woman?
• What actions did you take to eliminate the discrimination?
• Does the evidence have any connection to your upbringing?
• What would you like to recommend for other women who are suffering from the same issue?

Summary and Analysis

My respondent for the interview regarding the social issue of the wage gap was Linda Wilson. Aged-29 Linda has been working as a business analyst for four years in the same company. According to her, with the multiple departments of the company, there are two business analysts, one Linda herself and another John Park. When I asked her about the moment she realized she has been cheating with remuneration by the company’s manager, she told me about the conversation with John. She mentioned that John had been a good friend of hers, but they never shared a conversation with payment. But, when they went for lunch one day, they initiated to talk about business schedules and their overall experience while working and dealing with employees. Suddenly, John asked her about the salary, and when he revealed his, Linda told me there was a good gap between our payment. She claimed that the very moment made her feel about her being a victim of gender inequality.

It was quite shocking to know Linda unaware of such inequality was herself vulnerable to the practice. So to understand the root cause, I asked her about the business environment where she often felt she had been treated with bias. She told me that most often in the work-place, she and John were given the same responsibility and tasks with similar time and effort. Taking a few minutes to remember back days, she mentioned for a few meetings she was not called off though another human resource manager was included in the conference. This has happened for numerous types. Based on the position, we also hold the areas of departmental planning and policy development. However, Linda told me that she was never made to enroll in such activities. Though staffing the group of employees was divided among two human resource managers, there are few of the areas that are handled by John only. Recalling these moments Linda became aware of the fact of how the organization was treating her.

Likewise, I further asked her to elaborate on the situations that made her feel apart and discriminated though being a significant member of the company. Forming coordination with John, she mentioned that the first thing she had to do was negotiate. When she applied for the job, with her capability, experience, and skills, she was selected and soon joined the enterprise. But, in contradiction, John is new to the office, at first, he negotiated the salary, and with the contract, he decided to work as a human resource manager. Similarly, Linda told me that she never recognized she was paid low. She further advocated that people’s mentality for being judgemental with women’s ability to look after physical and mental orientation is the stupidest thing. She is proud of being a woman and has been able to work as a respectable person who has been staffing several male employees as well. Through the powerful statement, she concluded for women to be respected for their superior position and judge them with their working ability.   And, the most exciting thing of the interview was to know that after disclosing about the wage gap, she soon took legal action to sue the company.  Linda recommended every woman should understand their ability, and instead of remaining suppressed, they need to voice-up for their secured future and to discard gender inequality.

Moreover, my next interview was with Amantha Taylor. By profession, she has been working as a nurse for three years after the completion of graduation. Interview with Amantha was surprising because she made the connection of profession with upbringing. She has got a brother. Since the early days, she was mentally prepared to remain at a safe-side and enforced to work as medical personnel though she was interested in computer science. In like manner, her brother was thoroughly supported for being an engineer. Through the family background, she highlighted that she has not been able to get a proper earning job. The job offerings are lower, and she hardly gets any of them. I further convinced Amantha to tell more about how she felt. And the reply was evident for her not being able to go against her parent’s choice. She regrets her family’s mentality to be downgraded in modern society. Instead of knowing the consequences of gender inequality and knowing the practice to be illegal, she failed to advocate for her right, choice, and interest. So, as a victim, Amantha suggested every female counterpart to trust themselves and break every obstructing barrier no matter it disrupts the interpersonal relationships.

In general, the interview went well with Linda and Amantha. Through their wordings, it seems that gender inequality still is widely practiced. People’s mentality for thinking women to be weak, and since childhood, they are not prepared for fighting for their rights are the root cause of the social issue. Furthermore, in the future, I would like to interview male members and some of the parents as well about their attitude looking after women. I want to interact with the owner of the business enterprise to explore the reason for offering lower remuneration for women though they are equally capable as men. Therefore, based on the very social issue, I believe changes are mandatory to be made. In my opinion, women themselves should start advocating for their rights over every human sphere and, most importantly, in the case of earning. I hope in the future, such an issue will never be encountered, and gender inequality remains as historical practice.