Gender Gap Affects Us All
Posted: October 5, 2012
Christine Edwards made me think (“Choice on Nov. 6 Clear for Women: Obama,” Sept. 19). I had assumed that women’s issues should take a back seat for this election because of the big financial and economic issues facing the country.
But Ms. Edwards points out the importance of achieving equal pay for equal work. Short-changing women, who earn on average 77 cents for every $1 that men earn for the same job, and gutting social and health services, will have disastrous consequences for lower-income families with children in terms of access to food, shelter, education and training.
So I looked at the party platforms. The Republican platform addresses women’s issues almost solely by opposing abortion and many reproductive rights. This is far too narrow a perspective because the gender gap affects us all now and future generations, not just working women.
But Ms. Edwards points out the importance of achieving equal pay for equal work. Short-changing women, who earn on average 77 cents for every $1 that men earn for the same job, and gutting social and health services, will have disastrous consequences for lower-income families with children in terms of access to food, shelter, education and training.
So I looked at the party platforms. The Republican platform addresses women’s issues almost solely by opposing abortion and many reproductive rights. This is far too narrow a perspective because the gender gap affects us all now and future generations, not just working women.
Linda A. Dove
Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg