My Writing Blog

Dear members of the Portfolio Committee,

I’ve never been a confident writer, I use to dread the idea of having to put my thoughts into words. The second I walked into the classroom I wanted to drop the class. My friend begged me not to, she claimed “I always take the easy route.” Not only was it a writing class it also was at 9 A.M. I barley could get up in time for dinner, let alone a 9 A.M. class. Two days out of the week I use to sporadically pop in and out, not really giving my full attention just trying to do the bare minimum. I knew writing was a college essential and that I could actually benefit from paying attention. I knew that if I could at least take away a couple better writing tools I wouldn’t have to be so insecure when asked to write an essay, anything to save me from that embarrassment again.  I found myself coming to class more frequent and checking my blog dashboard for updates. My teacher helped keep me involved, she was very straight forward and persistent. She never made me feel my writing was too sloppy or unfixable. I felt as if every essay I wrote I was improving, I wasn’t nervous about posting on the blog knowing everyone could see it.

My portfolio is in the order they were written, the ethnography “Sister Sister” I wrote in the perspective of my little sister who is at a time of change in her life. Teenagers are at a time in their lives where change and chaos is expected and accepted. I tried to elaborate on things that are important to girls like her at this time, family, school, and graduating. I started the essay off by describing the setting in which Krystal grew up, how closely her and her siblings are. While working on this essay I learned that when interviewing her or anyone else for an essay I would asked them to not sugar code their answers, I stressed the importance of knowing the little things. For instance her bedroom and where she kept her diary. Including little details helped me with creating a setting in a story.

The second essay you will read titled “What’s Your Mother Getting Paid?” The teacher asked to pick a topic that was a social issue close to our heart. I’ve always felt that women were undervalued in society and the wage gap is a prime example. It proves that discrimination against women still exist even after a few different “equal pay laws” were passed. It makes me sick to think of my mother working just as hard as any other worker but being deprived of a thousands of dollars each year, simply because she is a woman. While working on this essay I felt my researching skills have improved. I learned in class which websites are factual and which aren’t. I provided the readers with the statistics and facts first then went on to explain how and why the wage gap still exist.

Essay 3 “Women Propaganda” is a visual essay from pervious essay above. I’m very passionate with it comes to equity, equality, and justice. I wanted to show how often women are discriminated in a “politically correct” way. Also wanted to represent women from the 1940s. Women have taken over the work force before when their husbands went to war. Women have proven to be able to do “a man’s job.” While creating this essay I learned about perspective. I want the reader to see a visual representation of how blatant this discrimination is. Not only from my point of view but also men.

Joining College Writing 101 gave me confidence. All things considered I came out of this class a better writer then before. I am now able to confidently write a college essay without feeling embarrassed, or not well spoken. I’ve picked up some quick helpful tips on researching, citing, and perspective. I now look forward to constructive criticism
and improving at any chance.  I am very thankful of this experience and am grateful for Professor H. Pappas  for providing me with the tools. I look forward to my next writing class to continuing to develop these skills even more.

Sincerely,

Shannon Rosensteel

Ethnography of A Teenager

Blood Ticker Than Water 

Sunrise Florida is were she grew up, it was a nice neighborhood a light post every 10 feet or direction you looked it. They had 24 hour security and  a community pool the size of the Bahamas, plus the biggest house on the block. Krystal was lucky she had everything kids her age could ask for. She has two parents who love and spoil her to death, they’ve been together for 23 years. She also has her own car her own room. Krystal is a family person she never really needed to go out and make friends when she has two sisters, Shannon 19, Ashley 23 and a little brother who is 9 years old.

Krystal and Shannon were never that far apart from age but definitely were close, they were more then sisters they were best friends. They went to the same high school for 2 years. They shared all the same drama, clothes, and walked each other to class. They didn’t need anyone else it was the Rosesnsteel sisters against the world.  They gossiped about the hottest boys and shared every dark secret they had to each other. It wasn’t always like this, growing up Krystal always looked up to Shannon and use to mock ever movement like she was playing follow the leader. As they grew up they realized it was so much easier to stick together then be alone.

Ashley was the oldest sister, she was like the mother figure to Krystal. They were polar opposite you wouldn’t even think they were 100% pure blood related. Ashley thought she had to be the boss of everyone. Krystal and Ashley usually butted heads and disagreed with everything but it was a love hate relationship. Krystal knows she loves Ashley she was the sister who had experienced everything first and felt like she wanted to prevent it happening to others. Krystal and Shannon often laughed at her and kept on their own paths.

Stevie was Krystal’s younger brother, the only brother out of four children. He usually hogged up all the love, you know being the heir to the Rosensteel name and all. Everyone knew not to mess with Stevie or you felt the wrath of his sisters.  Nothing came in-between the Rosensteel family they had strong siblings and strong parents to back them up. They all knew that at the end of the day it was about them. Many people resented her family because they looked so unified no one was ever alone. The family goal is to never leave anyone behind and Krystal is a firm believer in this. Wether it comes to her father, mother, sisters, or brother.

My Bedroom is My Safe-Zone 

When we live in our parents house, there isn’t much that truly belongs to us. Parents often use this fact to their advantage: “As long as you live in my house, you follow my rules!” “When YOU pay the mortgage, YOU can do whatever YOU want!” True we don’t pay the bills, but we do spend a large part of our time in that room, and it plays host to most of our belongings.

It was her own room Krystal didn’t have to worry about bumping into someone or having to fake laugh at her corny uncles drunk joke in her own room. It was her get away when she needed to get away, plus it was conveniently only 20 feet away. She had all her books stacked on her bed from her endless amount of homework given daily, she rarely turned on her lights she always lighted her room by little Christmas lights. No one was allowed unless invited. She’s always felt comfortable in her powder pink room, its been her room for 11 years now she knows every inch and crack of that room. No one would know that her diary is under all the shoe boxes to the far right in her room, or that her secret stash of makeup is in her cheetah Victoria Secret purse underneath all her clothes in her left drawer.

Krystal didn’t like anyone going in her room it didn’t matter how much she loved you it was not happening. She was not mad or anti social, it was just her private space where she can go to so she can relax. Everything in her room was carefully placed and planned out meticulously for  those 11 years, even the crusty cereal bowl thats practically molded to the floor under her bed. Or when you go into her closet and notice the color coded clothes from spring to fall colors, pants to shorts, crop tops to long sleeves. Krystal knew where everything was so what was the point for her to invite someone in who will move things around.

Closing Walls 

The walls were a light coffee color, the floor was an even darker brown with all the school breakfast splattered all over it. The wall were as dull as the curriculum. Krystal couldn’t tell you what the breakfast or lunch was she avoided even walking into the cafeteria. The cafe was known to house all the cliques. Krystal wasn’t associated with any she just wanted to get her work done and leave. She felt that the kids in her high school were always so concerned about what song Drake just released or who they were going to copy for 3rd periods homework. Her friends highlight of the week was if a new guy transferred to the school, Krystal wasn’t hypnotized by all this she knew  better. She understood that the better her grades the faster she could get out of there.

School is the biggest time consuming part of Krystal’s life. She spends at least 40 hours a week physically in school, 30 outside doing homework and studying. Krystal has always been an  A+ student but that doesn’t stop the day to day anxiety of that hell hole.  High school was about who hung out with who and who wore the newest clothes. The only thing motivating her at this point was she only had one year left.

The Beyond

Every person remembers moving out their parents house and taking on bigger responsibilities. It’s that bitter sweet moment that you cherish and hold on too. It was almost Krystal’s time, one more year then she was graduating and going to Florida State. She wouldn’t be able to see her parents and siblings everyday, or take her whole room that she’s known all her life. It was time to move on to the next step of “adulthood” that Krystal so yearned for. She wasn’t nervous she actually embraced the unknown and the uncertainty. It was time for this little teenager to grow up.

The Wage Gap Overtime

Women are almost half of the workforce. They are the sole or co-partners in half of American families with children. They receive more college and graduate degrees than men. Yet on average women continue to earn 79 cent to the male average dollar. It’s been over 50 years since the passing of the Equal Pay Act and yet this problem still persists. Women have made many strides forward in the labor force but nothing seems to change about the wage gap. We can start shrinking the wage gap today by building better opportunity to higher payed wages for women by removing barriers in the male dominated fields, lifting the minimum wage, increasing the availability of affordable child care, and by providing fair schedules, family leave, and paid sick days.

The wage gap occurs at all educational levels. Skeptics of the wage gap may also insist that the wage gap exists because of the occupational choices that women make. This argument ignores the fact that “women’s” jobs often pay less specifically because women do them, because women’s work is devalued, and that women are paid less even when they work in the same occupations as men. Data from the National Women Law Center shows the wage gap exists for every racial group. Asian mothers are paid 85 cents, White mothers are paid 69 cents, Black mothers are paid 51 cents, Native mothers are paid 49 cents, Latina mothers are paid 46 cents. Single mothers are paid 55 cents for the average male dollar.(National Womens Law Center)

The wage gap is even worse for African American women. Median wages for Black women in the United States is $36,203 per year, compared to median wages of $57,204 annually for white men. This amounts to a difference of $21,001 each year.(TD Bank Financial) This money going missing mean black women and their families have less money to support themselves and their families, save and invest for the future, and spend on goods and services. Because of this black women take nearly eight extra months to be paid what the average white male is being paid. Families, businesses and the economy suffer as a result. “Hispanic women will have to wait until the year 2248 and the Black women will wait until 2124 for equal pay” The Institution For Women Policy Research

Women aren’t the only one put at a disadvantage because of this wage gap, so are children and families. Closing the gender wage gap can mean the difference between living above or below the poverty line, whether or not it’s between having access to high quality child care, schools, higher education, or only being able to afford poorer quality alternatives. Closing the gender gap can improve the economy. Women play a huge role in the economic growth and social development for our societies. Ensuring that women serve on corporate boards and are in leadership positions can also have positive effects towards advancing women.

Wage equality will improve society, lives of families and kids. Equal parental leave policies have been known to help the wage gap. An example of equalizing parental rights In Sweden, parents both mothers and fathers are entitled to 480 days of paid parental leave when a child is born or adopted. For 390 of the days parents are entitled to nearly 80 percent of their normal pay. Visier’s reports suggest ways to help employers address the management divide by considering at least once female candidate, adjusting HR policies, and awareness of gender equity(Daniel Visier)

The wage gap can be closed! Why this gap still exists today, even after the laws passed to prevent discrimination in the work force? A fair salary can mean the difference between poverty and sustainability for a family. Closing the gender gap can help create a more equal and cohesive society. Valuing women’s work and skill will improve their economic independence.

Work Cited

“Career Interrupted: The Economic Impact of Motherhood.” TD Bank Financial, TD Bank Financial, 12 Apr. 2014, childcarecanada.org/documents/canada/10/10/career-interrupted-economic-impact-motherhood. Accessed 6 May 2017.

Miller, Kevin. “The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap (Spring 2017).” AAUW: Empowering Women Since 1881, American Association of University Women, June 2017, www.aauw.org/research/the-simple-truth-about-the-gender-pay-gap/. Accessed 6 May 2017.

Visier, Daniel “Visier Managing Human Resources in International Joint Ventures.” Global HRM Managing Human Resources in Cross-Border Alliances, Mar. 2003, doi:10.4324/9780203451236.ch3.

“The Wage Gap: The Who, How, Why, and What To Do.” NWLC, National Womens Law Center , 19 Sept. 2016, nwlc.org/resources/the-wage-gap-the-who-how-why-and-what-to-do/. Accessed 6 May 2017.

In World War 2  the economy was going to crash if women did not step in to do what some men consider to be “ men’s work.” Married and single women were encouraged to seek jobs from the factories. Factories which manufactured bullets, machine gun belts and mechanic parts. Women were introduced into traditionally male jobs in factories, jobs like munition productions, steel mills, and production of planes. Women are capable of doing men jobs.

​The “middle class” is represented by the white American women who makes 69 cent. The “poor” or poverty struck women are the ethnic women, who get paid 51 cent to the average dollar.(National Womens Law Center) The white male is label as “The rich.” This picture shows more of the effect the wage gap. The white woman gets a slice of the pie(White women wages aren’t as bad), while the ethnic mother struggles to put crumbs on the table.

Women have made huge strides in the job market since President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act in 1963. Yet almost half a century after it became illegal to pay women less than men for the same job, the weekly wage of a typical woman who works full time is almost 18 percent less than that of the typical working man. Former president Obama first legislation was the Lilly Ledbetter Act, another way to shrink the wage gap. These laws were passed to ensure all Americans fair pay.​Yet today the median wage of a woman working full-time year-round in the United States is about $39,600 which is only 79 percent of what a man makes.​

Business owners only care about money. They usually are sexist who push men to the top of the ladder faster then men. If you’re greedy and only care about money, you’re going to hire the person willing to work for $15 an hour.These terrible, sexist business owners would have two options at this point.  Either lower the salaries of what they pay men, or bring up the salaries of what they pay woman.

Women are more likely to work part time jobs rather than full time. They are more likely to take extended leaves, most often to give birth and start a family. The wage gap does not stem from employers paying women less than men for the same job. It occurs because men and women take different career paths, which leads to results of discrimination in the hiring process.

 A lower tax bracket is hardly a “perk” of the wage gap. Median wages for  women in the United States is $36,203 per year, compared to median wages of $57,204 annually for white men. This amounts to a difference of $21,001 each year. This money going missing mean women and their families loose out on the basic necessities for their families and have less money to support themselves and their families, save and invest for the future, and spend on goods and services. Because of this the economy suffers.

Work Cited:

1. Geminijen . “Anti-Capitalist Meetup: Don’t Buy the Hype: The Gender Wage Gap and Women’s Oppression.” Daily Kos News, 23 June 2013, www.dailykos.com/story/2013/6/23/1218098/-Anti-Capitalist-Meetup-Don-t-Buy-the-Hype-The-Gender-Wage-Gap-and-Women-s-Oppression. Accessed 8 May 2017.
2. National Womens Law Center “The Wage Gap: The Who, How, Why, and What To Do.” NWLC,  , 19 Sept. 2016, nwlc.org/resources/the-wage-gap-the-who-how-why-and-what-to-do/. Accessed 6 May 2017.
3. Pnuetz. “Posts from February 2016 on Sacred Cow Chips.” Sacred Cow Chips, Feb. 2016, sacredcowchips.net/2016/02/. Accessed 8 May 2017.
4. Tront, Mike. “Wage Gap: Greedy or Sexist?” The Mike Tront Blog, 5 Apr. 2016, www.levelheadedlibertarian.com/wage-gap-greedy-or-sexist/. Accessed 8 May 2017.​
5. “Why Conservatives Are Still Trying, And Failing, To Prove Income Inequality Is A Myth.” Occupy.com, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2015, www.occupy.com/article/why-conservatives-are-still-trying-and-failing-prove-income-inequality-myth#sthash.n55apnEk.dpbs. Accessed 8 May 2017.
6. Wiliam, Sydney Australia. “Skwirk Interactive Schooling.” , Women in World War II, Australia and World War II, History Year 9, NSW | Online Education Home Schooling Skwirk Australia, www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-56_u-91_t-202_c-676/women-in-industry/nsw/women-in-industry/australia-and-world-war-ii/women-in-world-war-ii. Accessed 9 May 2017.