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From: stern@steinmetz.UUCP (Harold A. Stern)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Re: A new form of institutionalized bigotry(really underpaid secs)
Message-ID: <238@steinmetz.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Aug-85 11:27:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: steinmet.238
Posted: Mon Aug 12 11:27:34 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 17-Aug-85 16:23:43 EDT
References: <3420@decwrl.UUCP> <379@phri.UUCP>
Organization: GE CRD, Schenectady, NY
Lines: 25

> > L S Chabot decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-amber!chabot   chabot%amber.dec@decwrl.arpa
> 
> I've been wondering for a while WHY secretaries are so underpaid, yet  there
> is  never  a  shortage  of secretaries.  It's not an easy job (I couldn't do
> it), it doesn't pay well enough to support one person, in many places  there
> is  virtually  no  hope for advancement.  Added to that they are practically
> indispensible.  Why do so many women stay in the field?  
> 
> How does such an important job rate such a flagrantly low wage?  In the city
> there is no way a secretary can pay  an  apartment  rent.   Do  high  school
> guidance  counselors  channel  women  into  secretarial  programs or do they
> choose them themselves?

It seems to me that you have the answer to your question. If there is never
a shortage of secretaries, what incentive is there to pay reasonable wages
to them? Should one have the "nerve" to demand higher pay, you can always get
another. Simple supply and demand. Many women stay in the field because they
are not trained < note: I did NOT say uncapable > to do anything else. Hence
the downward pressure on salaries.

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harold a. stern					   	     410 memorial drive
stern%teela@mit-athena	   			            cambridge, ma 02139
uvacs!edison!steinmetz!stern   		               (617) 225-8304, 253-1541
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