Bad Boys, Bad Boys

By: Katherine Peralta

Gender, what is gender? It is the socially learned expectations and behaviors associated with members of each sex. So how does bad boys, bad boys connect with this? Well, in careers like law enforcement and criminal justice or movies like Mission Impossible and Live Free Die Hard, society expects men to be the main stars. Why don’t women play such a role, as a special agent? There are a few movies of women playing this role of a tough special agent like the Silence of the Lambs and Untraceable. “Why” is the question.

I never knew that in the work force women were paid differently than men. I was highly disappointed and I guess that if you’re a woman reading this, you are too. It’s something that has tried to be passed by congress that women get paid equally but it fails over and over again. Is this gender stereotyping or prejudice? Gender stereotyping is based on a person’s gender; stereotypes about women are most likely to be negative, rather than men stereotyping. The Human Capital Theory explains the gender differences. Why should women be treated unequally compared to men? According to the Dual Labor Market Theory, women gain less than men because they have low paying jobs and men work in different segments. Another thing that affects the pay is gender segregation. Women get placed in different sectors based on gender. Employers assume “She’s a women, she can’t do that; it’s a guys job!” Why should women get treated differently. YES, I do agree that some jobs can be difficult for women but as long as it’s able to be completed, I say “It’s just perfectly fine!”

                          

This is a perfect example of the hard work women go through to join the FBI; they dedicte themselves to accomplish their goal and strive for what they want.

So now to my point, in careers like in the FBI, people picture a well built male agent but they don’t count in the female agents. Now at days, women are needed in the FBI. There are about 2,000 women in the FBI who serve as agents all over the country and in overseas offices. They play a major role, contributing to the FBI with their skills and experiences. Most of the women that join the FBI, apply because they had misperceptions they had about the FBI or thought that the headquarters only hired men as agents. Let me just say they were WRONG!

                                    

Personally, I love the fact of joining the FBI; I love everything about it. I’m looking forward to pursuing this career; I know that its hard work and that maybe just maybe I do get paid differently than men but let me and women, just hope this is over and we accomplish to get equal treatment like men. Women can make a big difference in the work force.                                                                                                                    

Barely Living - The Struggle of the Workign Poor.

By: Ashakia Macklin

      According to Dictonary.com  there was no match for the term "working poor". According to Bureau of Labor  Statitics the "working poor" are people who are not in the labor force or those who work less than 27 hours a week and income falls below poverty level ( U.S. Department of Labor, Report 957). According to the ordinary American citzen the term "working poor" simply means  someone who works hard just to  get by.

      Way before the recsesion the workign poor existed. I was always told if you go to school you get a better job ? Well  is that really the case ? What happens if  get my degree , get a good job , then im laid off ? Or what happens if I go to school , get a degree and my paycheck just simply is not enough to cover my everyday livings? These are questions millions of Americans ask everyday, not to metion those that couldnt afford to get a higher education but still what to live a "good" life.  The cost of living today  is about $20,000 or more ( and thats just basic living(food , shelter)) . Not everyone is feed the silver spoon at birth, the only way to make legal money is to go out and work for it . Average minum wage today is $7.25 , granted you work full time ( 40 hours)  , before taxes the average Amercain takes home about  $30,160 a year. After taking out taxes and adding in factors like children , bills , healthcare your left with little to nothing. Many people struggle to make the dollar "stretch". Its common to hear a worker say " I dont know how I am going to do it". 63 % of the working poor are women and 1 out of 7 of those women are single parent mothers. As a mother you always want the best for you kids , things you never had, struggle is something you hide from your kids. Being a single parent mother you have to provide off of one income, child suppourt may help thats even if you get it. So many mothers are obtaining second jobs , trying to go back to school  which both are heavy work loads, but theyll do anything just to keep their kids safe.

       It is very easy for society to play the blame game. Never thinking that anyone of any ecomnic status can  to become of the "working poor". They ( society) blames the poor saying their lazy , dont want to get a job  etc. When in reality they (working poor) didnt ask to be lik this. Differnt factors play a role like divorce, loss of jobs ,  foreclosed homes , cars were taken , everything that had was taken from them.  Thats why I say never judge a book by its cover. Take a look at the video posted below, it gives you a one on one interaction with the "working poor" and how they view their situation.

  In conclusion the "working poor" can be anybody ,  no matter your age , gender or sex it affects all ecomnic statues. The workign poor are people who simply are trying to "get by" or "make ends meet" based on thir econmic condtions. Amercica needs to take a deepr look and stop blaming and start helping ! Struggles of the Working Poor