T
Reclaiming
hinking of women’s
history, I was recently
researching the pay inequity between women and men
with the hopes of seeing the gap narrowing. As the most recent and disappointing data appeared on my
screen, the stern voice
of Maxine Waters saying,
“Reclaiming my time,” rang in my ears. Although she
was speaking on another
subject, she was putting up
a similar fight in resisting the “mansplaining” happening
in Congress that day nearly six years ago. Everyone remembers seeing this
woman of great conviction unfazed, speaking truth to injustice. This pay gap is a glaring injustice, too, and
seeing that it STILL exists, well, there must be some
serious mansplaining going
on to justify these numbers. It is time women speak up
like Maxine has and demand to be heard. It is time for
women to reclaim our time, our talent, and our value. The US Census Bureau,
Pew Research, and the US Government Accounting
Office all report that in 202021, there was still nearly a
20 percent gap in women’s pay versus men’s for the
same jobs. Women continue to earn only 83 cents on the dollar compared to
their male counterparts.
14 | SPIRITUALITY
that you could be great at – can be hugely empowering in itself.
Building on those strengths, and
By Beth Trouy
For women in management, it
and the XX, XY distinction. How
come from the bosom of Eve
receive 23 percent less than men,
blame Genesis and the writers of
from Satan? Truth be told,
gets worse. Female managers and for women who own their
own businesses, it’s the worst
at 31 percent less. Apparently, the more assertive, ambitious, and driven a woman might be, the more it will cost her. Oh,
and if that woman has darker
skin, it becomes 37-42 percent less. Women, and yes, men as
well, should be disgusted with
this data. I include men as well
because we are their mothers,
sisters, wives, and daughters, and surely, they agree that it should be equal pay for equal work!
Why are these pay gaps still
present? Why, or more precisely, “Y”? In my view, it’s because
we women do not have one, I
suppose-a Y that is, in our DNA.
There does not appear to be any other answer other than genes
did this happen? Personally, I
the silly creation story (and it is just a story, you know!).
It was hardly 100 years ago that we women could finally vote in the United States and only 60 years ago that we could have
their own bank account without a man co-signing. If only Eve
had not been created from the
generously donated rib of Adam
behind men, possibly because of Eve’s failure to resist temptation. I doubt we would be having this
gender pay discussion today had
the story been written differently. Think about it: what if Adam had
of emotional intelligence, a key skill in the workplace. Developing your
emotional intelligence allows you to
and it was a man who wanted
see how your emotions and behavior
to be like God. But history
affect the people around you. This
is always written by the
will likely make it easier for you to
winners, and since the Bible
get others "on board" to help you to
was completely written by
achieve your goals.
men, here we are with women
So, now is the time to get to know
still trying to find our rightful
yourself because before things
place of equality.
voice to get someone’s
placed as second-class citizens
yourself better is a core aspect
that men came from women,
have been branded as the fallen beginning of time, women were
bigger boost. Understanding
the story makes more sense
Like Maxine Waters, it takes
and weaker sex. From the very
limitations, can give you an even
and he had taken the apple
and then eaten that apple to ruin it for all mankind, she might not
knowing how to deal with your
a clear, persistent, and firm
attention. Let the world hear our collective voice that
we are reclaiming our time and our story. We reclaim
the right to be paid as much as our male coworkers. We also reclaim the right to be
will get worse before they will get
Know Yourself
any better and if you are not sure self-empowerment in different ways, depending on our personalities
and our circumstances. With all of the circumstances surrounding
our LGBTQ+ people we must stand strong and tall knowing who’s and
whose you are! When you feel that
Dr. Davin D. Clemons
you lack power, your confidence and
labeled as a bitch or too
As I sit and ponder on how
Developing your self-awareness
right to be leaders by our
“Empowerment Edition of The
feel this way, and to take charge of
assertive, ambitious, and
outspoken without being emotional. We reclaim the own merit without the rumor that we must have slept with
the boss to get our titles. We
reclaim the right to be treated with the same respect and
dignity regardless of whether we have a Y chromosome or not. You can keep that
apple and the rib, too; we
refuse to be second-class citizens in the country we helped raise. And if I can pick our spokesperson,
I’d say that Maxine Waters can do the talking.
to express myself in this
Unleashed Voice Magazine” with
over 340 Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills at the State Level, 150 of which target transgender people highest
number on record. Currently in
my home State of Tennessee the legislators have passed the first law in the country banning drag shows and a proposal on the
state floor of Tennessee House attempting to require a license for Drag performers. The word
“Empowerment” is more important
than ever because we all experience
self-esteem can take a knock, too.
can help you to understand why you your emotions and actions. Start by
considering your locus of control the extent to which you believe that you are the master of your own
destiny, or that your outcomes are determined by external forces,
people or events. Understanding
this distinction can enable you to take responsibility for your own
empowerment, and to adopt a mindset that fosters learning and growth. Then, analyze your strengths and weaknesses. Listing all of the
things that you're good at – and
about whose you are then you will
be vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. For the bible declares in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places.” Christian warfare consists of a spiritual strategy fought with
supernatural weapons against an unseen enemy. The opposition is
real but not visible to the naked eye. Beneath the surface, an invisible
spiritual battle is raging. We fight
this war not with tangible weapons like guns and ammunition, nor with bodily defenses such as kicks and
punches, but by daily putting on the
whole armor of God, always praying, standing firm in the Word of God, and staying alert.
So, KNOW YOURSELF!!!! 15
EDITOR’S LETTER |
