What Statistics Say

According to USA Today, women make, on average, 85% of what their male counterparts earn for the same job. However, this average does not account for the difference in pay based on race, education, or job field. When these factors are taken into account, the gap quickly widens. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research found that White women make 73 cents to a dollar, Asian women 96 cents, Black women 64.6 cents, Latina women 58 cents, and Native American women only 52.4 cents to the dollar.

Surprisingly, Statista notes that the gap tends to widen, rather than shrink, as women attain higher educational degrees. Women with a high school diploma earn 21.4% less than men. Those with some college experience earn 22.2% less, while women with a bachelor’s degree earn 29.8% less. Women with a master’s or PhD earn 30.2% less than men with the same degree.

Furthermore, the American Academy of Art and Science states that jobs in the humanities pay women around 25% less than men. In STEM fields, women make about 22% less than their male counterparts, according to STEM Women. In corporate jobs such as finance and marketing, CNBC reports that women earn an average of 20% less than men.

These numbers demonstrate that the gender pay gap exists, but they do not explain WHY. The causes vary, but in incredibly simplified terms, the gender pay gap stems from discrimination, occupational segregation, and the impact of children and marriage.

Discrimination in the Workforce

According to Glassdoor, discrimination accounts for approximately 33% of the pay gap across all industries in the United States. Discrimination is what is known as the “unexplained” portion of the pay gap. It accounts for factors such as women’s résumés being rejected at an alarming rate, regardless of their expertise, women being offered lower starting salaries, and women receiving fewer promotions due to their work being undervalued.

Occupational Segregation

Occupational segregation is often used as a justification for women’s lower wages. Because women frequently enter “lower-paying jobs,” it makes sense that they are then paid less. This, however, ignores the fact that the jobs women commonly hold, such as teaching, social services, and administrative roles, are underpaid, not because they have less value, but because society undervalues women’s work. PayScale notes that when more women enter an industry, the overall salaries tend to decline rapidly. It also ignores the fact that male-dominated industries are unwelcoming, if not openly aggressive and hostile, to the women who dare to try to enter. For example, in the highly male-dominated field of medicine, Medical Economics reports that female doctors in the U.S. make an average of $110,000 less per year than male doctors.

Children and Marriage

Perhaps the most commonly cited factor is the impact of children and marriage. Married women who work full-time spend nearly 300 hours a year on household and caregiving duties, compared to 113 hours for married men, according to the New York Post. Women are expected to either juggle their jobs and children or abandon their careers entirely. While mothers and wives sideline or abandon their careers, fathers and husbands continue to receive promotions and salary increases. Gendered expectations and systemic misogyny cause these patterns. The U.S. economy and society function on the unpaid and often thankless labor of its women.

The gender pay gap is more than a statistic. It reflects outdated traditions, mass free labor, and the work that society values. Women’s salaries, careers, and opportunities are paying the price for every dollar lost to them. Closing the gap can’t come from hiring a few more female CEOs or a couple of raises. There needs to be a complete dismantling of a system that actively sabotages every woman’s career. Until society changes these structures, we aren’t just tolerating the pay gap; we are actively choosing it.

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In these moments, there is a split second where one decides to conform or reject the pressure. The cycle goes, the more you agree, the easier it is to agree the next time. These tiny compromises slowly chip away at your sense of self as opposed to one big moment of weakness.

At its Core

Peer pressure, fundamentally, is a form of influence, whether good or bad. A spoken word or a silent nudge biased towards a specific action aimed to align with others instead of yourself.

We like to think that peer pressure is a teenage thing; it goes beyond that, and it becomes smarter, a lot more mature. From bad parties, bad people, and bad choices to overspending, overindulging, and overcommitting– peer pressure can influence anyone from any age group.

It’s not by definition a bad thing. For example, being around ambitious, intelligent people motivates someone to work harder and be better. Peer pressure becomes a problem when one action crosses a line, an action you normally wouldn’t do, an action that reflects what people want you to be rather than who you are.

The Subtle Art of Saying Yes (When You Mean No)

Peer pressure works because it preys on something deeply human– our need to belong. Our sense of belonging allows us to feel comfortable with those around us, but it comes at a cost. Think of the last time you said yes to someone reluctantly. The decision, though fleeting, had a sour aftertaste: resentment, guilt, regret.

The expectation to say yes when so many people are involved is what prompts responses, which eventually reduces down to one person asking. The trouble with saying yes to others is that habits stick. You start outsourcing your decisions, silencing your instincts, and eventually, you stop trusting your own judgment.

Your gut instincts are the ones you truly should always rely on. Even the slightest negative feeling should prompt you out of unsafe situations, as it is truly better to be safe than to deal with the consequences of giving in. Peer pressure never disappears. People will always have an opinion on how you should live your life because, in their eyes, it is the right way. The real change comes from trusting your inside voice, ensuring it doesn’t get drowned in the eruption of cheers when you say yes.

Questions to ask yourself before saying Yes

Do I wanna do this, or do I want to fit in?

Is the “Yes” from desire or fear?

If no one was watching or judging, would I still choose this?

Saying NO!

Rejecting an idea or action does not have to be dramatic or spiteful; it is simply not your place to be doing that action, so in your right, you can say no to the question. It also doesn’t need to be accompanied by an apology or promises to make amends. “No.” is a complete sentence. Refusing peer pressure should be done calmly and with confidence.

“No, that doesn’t work for me.”

“I have different priorities at the moment.”

“I don’t think I can right now.”

The world will not end when you say no to someone. In fact, because you are now given the freedom to do what you want, the world might just begin. Yes, not all peer pressure is bad. Oftentimes, it’s another person wanting to spend time with you. A true friend would ask you what you want to do instead of getting offended or throwing a fit and judging.

Redefine Belonging

At the end of the day, your oldest and closest companion is always yourself. Peer pressure challenges you, your identity, and your sense of self. Conforming essentially means betraying that. Does belonging really justify betraying yourself?

NO is never about conditional friendships and understanding. It’s about being understood for who you are. You do not really belong if you have to change yourself. Your life is not going to get bigger and better when you say yes to everything; it will definitely be more enriched if you say yes to the right things.

The best thing sometimes is smiling kindly at the crowd, saying a pleasant “No,” and making your way home safely.

Read more about how peer pressure can affect safety here!

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What is Feminism?

Feminism is a range of social movements, political movements, and ideologies that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that societies prioritize the male point of view, and that women are treated unfairly within those societies. Efforts to change that include fighting gender stereotypes, and seeking to establish educational and professional opportunities for women that are equal to those for men.

What are Feminist Movements?

Feminist movements have campaigned and continue to campaign for women’s rights. This includes the right to vote, to hold public office, to work, to earn fair wages, equal pay and eliminate the gender pay gap. To own property, to receive education, to enter contracts, to have equal rights within marriage, and to have maternity leave. Feminists have also worked to ensure access to legal abortions and social integration, and to protect women and girls from rape, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. Changes in dress and acceptable physical activity have often been part of feminist movements.

Some scholars consider feminist campaigns to be the main force behind major historical, societal changes for women’s rights, particularly in the West, where they are near-universally credited with achieving women’s suffrage, gender-neutral language, reproductive rights for women, and the right to enter into contracts and own property. Although feminist advocacy is, and has been, mainly focused on women’s rights, some feminists, including bell hooks, argue for the inclusion of men’s liberation within its aims. This is because they believe that men are also harmed by traditional gender roles.

Numerous feminist movements and ideologies have developed over the years and represent different viewpoints and aims. Some forms of feminism have been criticized for taking into account only white, middle class, and college-educated perspectives. This criticism led to the creation of ethnically specific or multicultural forms of feminism, including black feminism and intersectional feminism. 

The Origin of Feminism

The words “féminisme”  and “féministe” first appeared in France and the Netherlands in 1872, Great Britain in the 1890s, and the United States in 1910. The Oxford English Dictionary lists 1852 as the year of the first appearance of “feminist” and 1895 for “feminism”. Depending on the historical moment, culture and country, feminists around the world have had different causes and goals. Most western feminist historians contend that all movements working to obtain women’s rights should be considered feminist movements, even when they did not apply the term to themselves. Other historians assert that the term should be limited to the modern feminist movement and its descendants. Those historians use the label “protofeminist” to describe earlier movements.

The Four Waves of Feminism

The history of the modern western feminist movement is divided into four “waves”. The first comprised of women’s suffrage movements of the 19th and early-20th centuries, promoting women’s right to vote. The second wave, the women’s liberation movement, began in the 1960s and campaigned for legal and social equality for women. In or around 1992, a third wave was identified, characterized by a focus on individuality and diversity. The fourth wave, from around 2012, used social media to combat sexual harassment, violence against women and rape culture; it is best known for the Me Too movement. The history of feminism is certainly a complicated one, that continues to form as our society grows.

Interested in learning more about the history of feminism, check out this article Different Waves of Feminism!

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is that for you

the world is ending

and yet

the sun continues to rise each day

-m.n.

To read more emotional poems like this, check out Girl Spring contributor Anna McCormack’s poem here.

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October is National Bullying Prevention Month and we’ve got 5 great books to check out

1 – Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (2011)

A high school girl leaves behind a series of cassette tapes after taking her own life. Those tapes lead classmate Clay Jensen on a chilling journey as he reconstructs her pain.

In honor of National bullying prevention month, click here to read more info on anti-bullying provided by Girl Spring.

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to taint that surface with a flat-fingered graze

–Gazing

To the innards of a hidden hollow roof of plywood. I imagine,
revealing the lost image
of spilled applesauce on my pleated skirt,
the first breath of warm air, stinging after
Cold
and slurping Spaghetti-Os.

My near frostbitten feet,
and the steam of warm water in the plastic puke bowl

–my feet were washed and swathed and soothed and the Son taught me to wash the feet of others

–let me do so, unto you,
singing that song of
–what was it?
Desire and discontent:
I’ll polish your leather shoes
For that penny, and I’ll repent,
confessing kid sins into the grille
To admonish my guilt for curiosity
And cold

With that polish and shoe shine and pretty pennies I still won’t know what’s above the styrofoam ceiling The rectangles and the possibilities
When it was pronged up–

The cavity.

Beyond the starch-white,
Beyond hymnal voices among the pews

–I didn’t know what I was singing.

Mysteries stay mystified,
The styrofoam stays shut and white,
And the voices still whine,
Why haven’t you polished my shoes?

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I stooped down to open my closet door and revealed yet another desolate space. It was here that I would do it. Where I would make sure we were always a part of this house. Pencil in hand, I drew in a deep breath before bearing the graphite down on the wall. My fingers, white from the pressure, shakily traced a familiar name. Our last name, on the wall. Forever. I made sure of it.

As I sat back to process what I had done, I wasn’t sure what to feel. A crippling sigh escaped me and stood back up dizzily.

“Lily.” A voice tore through the heavy silence that had gathered in the room. I turned toward the sound as if woken from a dream, and fell into the fortress of my mother’s arms. She stroked my hair for a few moments before suggesting that we return to the kitchen.

“We shouldn’t keep your sister and dad waiting in the car,” she explained. Hands interlocked, we closed the door to my bedroom for the last time.

“Well,” she said hoarsely, gazing at me with red eyes, “This is it. Say goodbye.”

“Goodbye,” I choked, hardly caring that I was speaking to a house. Perhaps if an outsider had been watching, they would have scoffed at the scene.

After all, I had been told countless times, it’s such a small move. It’s not that big of a deal. But standing there with my mother, speaking our last words in the place we had called home for so long, it felt like the ending of a grand chapter.

“Before we go,” my mother sniffed, “I thought I would show you… I wrote a note…” She gently took my hand and lead me to the kitchen island; the island where my she had cooked so many meals, the island where we would laugh and cry as a family. There, on that island, lay a sheet of paper like a cotton ball cloud in a drab sky. She picked it up with trembling hands and began to read it aloud:

Dear Pseudos,
It was lovely getting to meet you. I am so glad to be passing this house down to such wonderful people. We are sad to leave, but it makes me happy to know that your family will grow in such a sweet house. This place has been a faithful home to my us for many years, and I hope that it serves you just as well. God bless you as you start this journey in your life.
Sincerely, the Nyms.

Tears rolled down my cheeks, falling with my mother’s onto the granite island. We stood there for a few moments, holding each other tightly. Her embrace was comforting, familiar. She smelled like warmth and light, like a glowing fire in the bitter cold, like she always had. Then my mother sniffed and we released our grasp.

“We better go.” The sun dried my tears as I shuffled to the car, following my mom. I turned around, soaking in my last view of the house, and a smile formed on my lips. I knew my impulsive inscription would soon fade, and then one day a new one, the name of another family, would appear. They would write their name on this place while we wrote ours on another. And I knew that, when all was said and done, all the names would blur until they were unreadable. And that was alright.

With a final nod, I opened the car door to my family, my home. No matter where we lived, we knew who we were. We knew where our strength was found and where our foundation stood. And no time could erase that.

It was the ending of a chapter, but I knew the best was yet to come.

If you liked this, check out a short story from Girl Spring contributor Margaret just in time for spooky season!

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 It pains me to share that people of color are forgotten in the pages of history. Unfortunately, women of color are most likely underrepresented, underappreciated, and overworked. Society needs to be better at honoring the work of all citizens, especially women from minority ethnic backgrounds. Below are three Latinas in politics who deserve to be in every textbook because of their significant impact on the world.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

She went from being an unknown bartender to being the youngest congressman in the US seemingly overnight. The “democratic socialist” was born in the Bronx, one of the poorest boroughs in New York, in 1989 to Puerto Rican parents. The Nuyorican did not let her underprivilege determine her density.

Instead, from an early age, she was passionate about controlling the outcome of her life. While she was in high school, she was a part of the National Hispanic Institutes’ Lorenzo de Zavala (LDZ) Youth Legislative Session. Moreover, she participated in the 2007 Intel Science and Engineering Fair and won second place. After high school, she attended Boston University and double majored in international relations and economics.

AOC in Politics

Due to her family’s economic situation, she took waitressing and bartending jobs in her early twenties to help support her family; her father’s cancer journey and subsequent death put the family in debt. Therefore, Cortez worked hard to help pay off her family debt while paying off her student loans. Her lower-class socioeconomic background and her young age are two factors that significantly helped her become a popular choice among lower and middle-class Americans, as well as Generation Z.

Her first involvement in politics was during the 2016 presidential election because she was a volunteer organizer for Bernie Sanders, an American senator from Vermont. She became a household name two years later, on June 26, 2018, when she defeated 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley during the 2018 midterm elections. Four months later, the newcomer became the youngest-ever congresswoman.

According to AOC’s website, her first action as Democratic representative for New York’s 14th district in the Bronx was the Green Deal resolution, “which envisions a 10-year national mobilization, akin to FDR’s New Deal, that would put millions to work in good-paying, union jobs repairing the nation’s infrastructure, reducing air and water pollution, and fighting the intertwined economic, social, racial and climate crises crippling the country.” While her first legislation is impressive, the young up-and-comer didn’t stop there.

Instead, she introduced 22 more pieces of legislation, including the Loan Shark Prevention Act, which would cap credit card interest rates at 15%. In 2019, Donald Trump, a Republican, was the President, but AOC did not let Republican control of the Senate and Presidency stop her from accomplishing her goals. On the contrary, she became a nightmare for the republican party as she became an effective questionnaire in committee hearings, a consistent town hall host, and saw three amendments pass into law.

Sonia Sotomayor 

She was the first Hispanic, the first Latina, and the third woman to serve on the High Court. Just like AOC, she was also born in the Bronx neighborhood of New York to Puerto Rican parents. Another similarity to AOC is that Sonia’s father passed away while she was young, so she had to work to support her family. She knew at age ten that she wanted to be an attorney, so she studied diligently.

Her academic efforts paid off as, in 1972, Sotomayor graduated as the valedictorian of Cardinal Spellman High School. After high school, she attended the prestigious Princeton University. At the Ivy League school, Miss Sotomayor was a part of Acción Puertorriqueña, a Puerto Rican activist group. After graduating from Princeton University with a bachelor’s in history, she attended Yale Law School. Her first job in politics was as an assistant district attorney to famous Manhattan attorney Robert Morgenthau.

SS in Politics 

During her time working under Mr. Morgentau, a particular case was the Tarzan murder case. Five years after working with Morgenthau, she joined a private practice known as the New York law firm of Pavia and Harcourt. Rather than handling matters related to shoplifting, robberies, assaults, murders, and police brutality, she mainly dealt with businesses, corporations, and property rights under the private firm.

Three years later, she was appointed to serve as a district court judge. During her time in district court, she remained veiled from media attention as she mainly dealt with non-controversial cases. Six years later, she was appointed Court of Appeals Judge. According to Oyez, Sotomayor heard “more than 3,000 cases and [wrote] around 380 majority opinions.”

Upon the retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter, the Barack administration quickly got Sotomayor his seat. On May 26, 2009, Hispanics across America and many working-class people from the Bronx rejoiced as their favored representative rose to the position.

Aida Álvarez

She is the first Hispanic and Latino American woman to serve in the United States Presidential cabinet. Similarly to the first two Latinas, Alvarez also hails from Puerto Rico and grew up in New York. In high school, she was a part of the ASPIRA program, a non-profit founded by Dr. Antonio Pantoja to “empower the Latino community through advocacy and the education and leadership development of its youth” (ASPIRA).

Upon graduating High School, Alvarez attended Harvard University, earning a Bachelor of Arts. Her first job was being a journalist for the New York Post. She later became a successful news anchor for Channel Five. She received an Emmy Award, Front Page Award, and an Associate Press Award. Aidachanged her career path from news reporter to investment banker and succeeded in it. After a decade, in 1997, Alarez made history by becoming the first Hispanic and Latina to serve on the cabinet.

AA in Politics

Her role as an executive officer was to handle small business administration. According to Stanford University, “She presided over record activity: $61.5 billion in guaranteed loans and venture capital financing over four years.” She created social change by “trip[ling] lending to women and doub[ling] lending to minority-owned small businesses” (California Competes). Currently, Alvarez serves on the board of many major businesses, such as HP Inc., Zoosk, and Oportun Financial Corporation. Moreover, she is on the board of the Latino Community Foundation and the San Francisco Symphony.

Click here to read about how women’s voting rights are so important in politics.

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• Little Amal represents the millions of children and families who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and other crises. She embodies the resilience and courage of refugees, reminding us that behind every statistic is a human story.
• Hope and Resilience: Little Amal’s journey is a testament to the indomitable spirit of refugees. She embarks on a journey filled with challenges, but her determination to reach safety and find her family reflects the hope and resilience that many refugees hold onto in the face of adversity.
• Unity and Compassion: Little Amal’s story transcends borders and speaks to the universal values of compassion and unity. As she travels through different countries, she encounters people from diverse backgrounds who come together to help her on her journey. This reflects the idea that we are all connected, regardless of our differences, and that we have a collective responsibility to support those in need.  

Why is Little Amal important?

• Raising Awareness: Little Amal’s journey serves as a powerful platform to raise awareness about the refugee crisis. Through her story, people are reminded of the human faces behind the headlines and statistics, fostering empathy and understanding.
• Fostering Empathy: The Walk project and Little Amal’s character invite people to step into the shoes of refugees, even if just for a moment. This empathetic connection can lead to greater compassion and a willingness to take action to support refugees and migrants.
• Promoting Dialogue: Little Amal’s journey sparks conversations about the refugee crisis, immigration policies, and the need for international cooperation. It encourages individuals and communities to engage in meaningful dialogues about these complex issues.
• Inspiring Action: Little Amal’s journey isn’t just a passive experience; it encourages people to take action. Whether it’s supporting refugee organizations, advocating for policy changes, or volunteering, her story inspires individuals to make a positive difference in the lives of refugees.

Representation for those in need

Little Amal is more than a puppet, she is a symbol of hope, unity, and compassion in a world divided and indifferent to the suffering of others. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder that we can all play a part in creating a more inclusive and empathetic world.

By embracing the values she represents, while taking action to support refugees and migrants, we as a collective people can make a difference. We must ensure that the world becomes a more welcoming place for those seeking safety and a better future. 

Here are the following dates for where Little Amal will be walking across America:

• Sept 20 – Pittsburgh, PA  
• Sept 22 – Cincinnati, OH 
• Sept 24 – Oakland, MI  
• Sept 26 – Detroit MI 
• Sept 28 – Chicago, IL    

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Who is Little Amal?

Little Amal is not your ordinary character – she is a giant puppet; a 3.5-meter-tall young Syrian refugee girl, brought to life by the acclaimed Handspring Puppet Company. This artistic creation is part of a project called “The Walk,” a remarkable and ambitious theatrical journey that was conceived to highlight the plight of refugees and migrants. Little Amal’s story is fictional, but her presence carries a profound message of empathy and solidarity. 

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