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Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington

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TheGuvnah
01/09/09

In reply to Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington
flood your senators' offices:

[secure2.convio.net]
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LaComtesse
01/09/09

In reply to Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington
HOORAY! Colbert's take on this last night was fantastic.
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NefariousNewt
01/09/09

In reply to Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington
The Senate is the issue; the House passed it before. Let's hope there's not some side-wise rebellion brewing that will derail this yet again.

Sorry -- my cynicism seems to be stuck in the "ON" position to today.
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annewithaneee
01/09/09

In reply to Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington
My daughter just graduated college and is interviewing for her first "real" job. I would love for her to have the reassurance that her efforts are worth just as much as her male classmates.

Sadly, any time I try to talk with her about sexism/feminism, she tells me she doesn't see the point in getting mad about things we can't change. Yeah, that's my girl. Of course I was young and naive once, too. My angry woman voice took awhile to come out so maybe...?
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LaComtesse
01/09/09

@annewithaneee is colder than a...: Throughout high school, I always told my mom she was too 'militant' about these issues... then I watched a video in Psychology that was a 30 minute bombardment of commericals from the 50s to 80s that were ragingly sexist. So I went home, told her I had no idea, and have been killing boners and hating menz ever since. ;-)
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arodriguez.romero
01/09/09

@annewithaneee is colder than a...: funny my 16yo daughter was talking about this in her English class today, since it was on the news.

She asked me why I am interested in feminist issues and if I think my pay was ever unfair.

So we chatted for a while (short cuz she hates lectures and I clearly love them).

So, yes, (music plays) teach your children well ...
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vamusical
01/09/09

@annewithaneee is colder than a...: I had never really experienced real sexism until I got my first job out of college last year. Coincidentally, it was the same year I started reading Jezebel. It's hard to relate though, when it hasn't happened to anyone you know.

Oh, and my mom is a total pushover about it, so I'm glad you're teaching your daughter so she doesn't have to figure it out the hard way!
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LaMorena
01/09/09

In reply to Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington
A tip of the hat to you, Lilly! Here's hoping we don't have to give a wag of the finger to the Senate...
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Trulymadlyme
01/09/09

In reply to Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington
This made my day!

Honestly, it sometimes takes years to uncover a pay disparity.
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sportz.star
01/09/09

In reply to Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington
Good work House! The decision was seriously one of the most f'ed up things SCOTUS has done in a while, and that's saying a lot.
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MadelineBassett
01/09/09

In reply to Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington
Also, Lilly's husband just died a few weeks ago (he'd been sick for quite some time), so hopefully this at least started off 2009 on a positive note. She's just a lovely woman.
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exelizabeth
01/09/09

@MadelineBassett: Oh, that is so sad. Please, Senate, don't be a douchenozzle to this woman AGAIN.
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morninggloria
01/09/09

In reply to Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington
Ms. Ledbetter, I love that song that Pearl Jam sings about you!
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
01/09/09

@morninggloria: Fucking awesome song! I also like their song "Alive", which I understand is about that Ethan Hawke plane crash movie.
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morninggloria
01/09/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): My favorite PJ song is "Corduroy" because it reminds me of the woooorst relationship I ever had, but it also rocks.
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
01/09/09

@morninggloria: Um, okay this will sound weird but that's par for my course: I got my very first period on Eddie Vedder's 30th bday. I immediately took it as a sign that my womb was meant to bear his children.
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Kivrin
01/09/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): I loooove "Yellow Ledbetter" for two reasons: (1) the opening and closing guitar solos, and (2) my high-school crush sang in a band and they performed that song at a talent show circa 1994, and he looked SO CUTE singing that song on stage.

:)
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Kivrin
01/09/09

@morninggloria: I love "Corduroy," too -- that's my #2 favorite PJ song. In part because a guy friend in h.s. used to randomly burst out with a gravelly, wannabe-Vedder "I would rather starve than eat your bread" in really random times/places.
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morninggloria
01/09/09

@Kivrin: I hope in the lunch line.
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Kivrin
01/09/09

@morninggloria: Yes, in fact. And restaurants. Once in the middle of a test, just to crack everybody up. He was strange (but hilarious).
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Evie Havok
01/09/09

In reply to Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington
So, it hasn't been formally passed yet since it hasn't gone through the Senate? Explain, someone?
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PilgrimSoul
01/09/09

@I_Love_AFI: Yeah, wherever a bill originates is where it's first discussed, and then it moves on to the other house for approval.
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hfree
01/09/09

@I_Love_AFI: welcome to bi-cameral legislation. A bill can be passed in the House only to die a slow death in the Senate (and vice versa). Just hope that the Senate doesn't amend the bill, cuz then it has to go back to the House.
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catastrophe
01/09/09

In reply to Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington
I seriously just got chills, and not because it's nineteen fucking degrees out. Come on, Senate, don't let me down...
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SouthernSatine
01/09/09

@catastrophe: I KNOW RIGHT?! I'm in an actual state of disbelief. This is so awesome! Now, if the Senate crushes my hopes and dreams I will have lost all faith in humanity.
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
01/09/09

In reply to Ms. Ledbetter Goes To Washington
Huzzah! Senate, do NOT fuck this one up.

Now can we fix the maternity leave system?
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R_Claw
01/09/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): What's wrong with maternity leave system?
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BeckySharper
01/09/09

@R_Claw(a/k/a Mrs. Edward Cullen): Srsly?
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dianersb was bit by a zombie
01/09/09

@R_Claw(a/k/a Mrs. Edward Cullen): I believe she's referring to our utter lack of a maternity leave system. And the fact that maternity leave often has to be considered short-term disability in order for people to get payed for the time off (that is if they have the proper insurance coverage and if they live in a state which allows them time off).
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
01/09/09

@R_Claw(a/k/a Mrs. Edward Cullen): I get 12 weeks paid leave. Maybe. Because I will not have been at my current job for a full year when my leave is scheduled to start. And I might not take the whole time all at once because if the ovumlord gets sick I will need that paid leave.
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Maritsa
01/09/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): I can recommend only what worked for me.

1. Tell a-hole partner you're pregnant.
2. Receive rude reaction, including statements like: "Don't you think it's soon to be telling people?" and "Well, we hire young women, what do we think will happen?"
3. Tell others of rude reaction.
4. Wait for gossip to filter to senior partners.
5. Wait some more.
6. Get increased maternity leave for all!!
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Mama Penguino
01/09/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): For real. The current system treats maternity like this huge effing inconvenience and/or disability. We offer no hand of help to working mothers!
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NefariousNewt
01/09/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): Which Senate? The Roland-Burris-Demands-His-Seat Senate?
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
01/09/09

@Maritsa: Ha, I liked the reaction I got:

One supervisor: "You're pregnant? Aren't you, like 21?"
Another supervisor: "Oh man, that will really hurt us when you're out." (In lieu of any congratulations)
Head honcho: "You're doing this alone? I think maybe trying to do this with the father is best for the child."
HR: "Hahahaha, we will try to dick you over." [okay, that's paraphrasing it]
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
01/09/09

@Mama Penguino: Insurance companies, too. In their eyes, pregnancy = illness.

@NefariousNewt: Yeah. Sigh. Not the one with Jimmy Stewart as Mr. Smith.
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DangerMouse
01/09/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): At least you get paid leave... I don't know how people live without it.
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DangerMouse
01/09/09

@DangerMouse: Also! If I finish my dissertation in time, I might come up for a few months and babysit nieceyboo. I could add Sammy?
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Mama Penguino
01/09/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): I think I've posted this before, months ago, on a pregnancy/work related thread, but I must do it again. When it became apparent that I could not get pregnant, my (female) boss said, "I'm so relieved. I really didn't want to take over the Withers case."
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Maritsa
01/09/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): I want to punch the head honcho in his head. No, the other one. Asshat.

Same partner told people I "wouldn't make it" til the month of my due date and he stopped giving me cases 4 months before my leave was to start. Then a couple weeks before my due date he started asking "So when is your last day?" It's like, let me explain this process to you....it happens when it happens.

I got back and found out the slimy little associate who started right before I went out is trying to steal my cases. Welcome back to me!!
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robot ninja spy
01/09/09

@Mama Penguino: That makes me really sick. Can't they see that in the long run, investing in these kinds of things will pay off in the long run by by enabling them to keep good talent around? (Of course they don't. But it sucks that not only are they only ever thinking about the bottom line, but they're short-sighted about that, too.)
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Maritsa
01/09/09

@Mama Penguino: Bitch. Give me her name, too.
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Mama Penguino
01/09/09

@Sour Patch Bitch (r.n. spy returns in the spring): The utter irony of the situation is that my boss disagreed with the way I was arguing the case in my brief (she had a personal vendetta against the presiding judge) so she rewrote it and it turned out to the the first case I (she) lost and I was on a huge winning streak.
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Trulymadlyme
01/09/09

@Sour Patch Bitch (r.n. spy returns in the spring): One thing that would help maternity leave policies is if men were actually encouraged to take paternity leave. The men at my old firm were back in the office two days after their wives gave brief. I was all "damn...don't you think you're more needed elsewhere, like say helping your wife?" These were the same tools that gave women hell when they took leave (and talked up women who appeared back at work with seemingly light speed). They didn't value family leave, whatsoever.

It would probably just be nice to have an extra hand in adjusting to the whole living, breathing, pooping thing your life. Just sayin.
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
01/09/09

@Sour Patch Bitch (r.n. spy returns in the spring): Oh yeah, it is so short-sighted. My boss reneged this week on his earlier promise to let me work part-time because I am going to school full-time (and gestating a human). Then tells me I am the most valuable hire he has made since starting the program. Then make me FEEL valued. I know it's because he wants to maximize my time before he has to let me take paid leave.

@DangerMouse: Like you have to ask? Lil' dude will have so many Jezzie godmamas!
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Trulymadlyme
01/09/09

@trulymadlyme: brief, ha! I meant birth, of course.

God, I'm such a lawyer.
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Maritsa
01/09/09

@trulymadlyme: A partner at my firm came to the office after they induced his wife (which they only did because he had something due the next week) and he came back the day after his child was born. Our office manager, who started months ago, only just realized this guy has a kid.

I took my 18 weeks, and then I took two personal days to see my niece being born. So there!
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
01/09/09

@trulymadlyme: That is an excellent point. Unless you are going it alone, sigh.

@Maritsa: One word: ew.
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Grim Reaper of the Forest
01/09/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): I get confused about FMLA. Doesn't it only guarantee you 12 weeks off, not 12 weeks paid? My small non-profit doesn't actually have a maternity policy, and they have never had a female employee pregnant before, so I am a little nervous about planning to have a kid.
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veronykah
01/09/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): Why can't they give EVERYONE a few months of paid leave?

As someone with no interest in having children it seems a bit unfair for someone male or female to get PAID to leave work for something going on in their PERSONAL life.

Now if they want to extend this to ALL I would have no problem but put yourself in your co-workers shoes. Think about it objectively. I'm sure I'll be set on fire and burned in effigy here for this comment but I just don't see it as fair to pay people for maternity/paternity leave and not give an equal benefit to those who don't choose or aren't able to have children.
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Grim Reaper of the Forest
01/09/09

@veronykah: Well, the government does require 12 weeks (unpaid - I just checked) for any employee for medical leave, caring for a new child, or caring for a sick relative. What individual companies do is up to them, but some may offer paid medical leave.
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Grim Reaper of the Forest
01/09/09

@veronykah: Well, lucky for you, very few employers offer paid maternity leave. Only 8% overall.

[www.iwpr.org]
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Maritsa
01/09/09

@veronykah: For starters, you feel like shit for a few weeks after giving birth. Typically the first six weeks (if you get that long) are short-term disability, i.e., medical. Also, longer maternity leaves promote breastfeeding, which can lead to fewer days off to take care of sick kids.

But fundamentally parental leave is not about the parent, it is about the child. Whether it's for a newborn or an adopted child, it helps the child adjust to his or her new life and promotes parent-child bonding, which arguably has impact on society. It's really more akin to leave to take care of a sick relative (which is why they're both part of the FMLA) than it is to someone want to take a few months off to backpack around Europe. That said, I don't have a problem with people getting paid sabbaticals, but it's not really the same thing as parental leave.
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
01/09/09

@veronykah: It extends to other kinds of family leave, not just childbearing. It gives equal time to other situations in people's personal lives. It's called the Family Leave Act, not the childbearing leave act. And as someone who is single after being dumped while pregnant and having to do this on my own, I do NEED that time.
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veronykah
01/09/09

@Maritsa: @sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): I didn't say I was against LEAVE. I know the FMLA guarantees leave for medical reasons, my argument is against PAID leave. Apparently no one saw that part.
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Maritsa
01/09/09

@veronykah: I didn't think you were against leave. Unpaid leave is basically like no leave at all for many people. They can't afford to take it. I only mentioned the FMLA because it groups parental leave with sick leave, and I think the two are similar.

I think my points apply whether the leave is paid or unpaid. You may not want to have kids, but if you'd like to even have the hope of getting Social Security benefits, we need more workers in the future. And if you work at a place that offers paid maternity leave, you probably also get paid time to take off to do what you'd like to do. It's called vacation.
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
01/09/09

@veronykah: So how should I pay those 3 months rent? Doctor bills that insurance doesn't cover? (Because there are a whole load of healthcare costs right now.) There is no way I could afford to take even four weeks unpaid leave, let alone 12.
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Maritsa
01/09/09

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (2009: a space ovumlord): Duh...sell the baby!
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