A recently released documentary film, Equal Means Equal, by director Kamala Lopez raises the age-old argument over gender equality. The film interviews women of different positions on topics such as: wage, contraceptives, and rape, and asks the question, is there inequality between men and women in the United States? Lopez tries to answer by providing fact and statistics while examining the American political system, a system that allows a 23% salary gap between men and women. Even though ensuring equality and preventing discrimination, including discrimination based on gender, are important roles of government, should the wage gap between men and women be a topic of public discourse?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK9AV6Uffro
The distinction between private and public discourse is an important one when thinking about an individual’s right to Life, Liberty, and property. Public discussion of topics clearly in the private realm can infringe on the rights of citizens and even border on tyranny, when laws pertaining to private affairs are passed by legislatures. Public discourse should consist only of topics that are obligatory for the protection of citizens’ rights and that are consistent with previous laws and precedents. For example, Texas House Bill 2 (HB2) from 2013, which placed restrictions on abortion providers, was overturned in the Supreme Court in June due to its infringement of women’s’ rights. The bill led to the closure of many abortion providers due to unnecessary requirements and, as a result, prevented many women from exercising their right to an abortion. HB2 clearly dealt in the private matters of a woman’s right to her body and was inconsistent with the precedent set by the Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, placing it outside of public discourse.
Similarly to a women’s right over her body, I believe the value of market wages falls under private discourse and is not a public matter to be handled by the government. Each employer should be able to decide on the wages he pays his employees, based solely on the value of work they provide. Just like pregnant women, employers have the right to liberty and property, which protect them from any government (or other) intervention in their business. In addition, employees have the same rights as their employers, and they can agree or disagree to work in return for certain wages. This leads to an equal distribution of the power over salaries between employers and employees. Under these conditions, the ultimate salary paid will be exactly equal to the value of work provided by the employee and will be equal between men and women, provided they maintain the same level of output.
Although the wage paid to employees should be kept as a private matter, some discussion of topics dealing with wages can and must be dealt with publicly. The government should work to preserve equality and pass laws that help prevent wage discrimination. For example, a new law passed by the Massachusetts legislature prevents employers from inquiring about an employee’s salary history. The bill helps prevent discrimination by making sure employees are not being repeatedly underpaid by different employers and provides good grounds for fair wages. Under the new law, employees are more likely to receive fair compensation for their efforts and groups previously discriminated against, like women, will be free from oppression.
Sources:
www.nytimes.com/2016/09/02/movies/equal-means-equal-review.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FWomen%27s%20Rights
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/careers/new-massachusetts-law-promises-pay-equality-close-gender-wage-gap-n638471