Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site steinmetz.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!ncsu!uvacs!edison!steinmetz!stern 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- harold a. stern 410 memorial drive stern%teela@mit-athena cambridge, ma 02139 uvacs!edison!steinmetz!stern (617) 225-8304, 253-1541 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------