Coining Out Of The Gender Gap | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Coining Out Of The Gender Gap

"A bulge in your pants means a bulge in your wallet"?!

50
Coining Out Of The Gender Gap
Kristian Seemeyer

When I first heard that line, my initial reaction was literally What. The. Hell.

I recently came across a ridiculous YouTube video in which a guy promotes his business called the “Business Bulge” where he really confidently shares his project with the pitch, "A bulge in your pants means a bulge in your wallet.” You can watch the video below to learn more about his "product."

With the ridiculousness of the video came out the truth. The product being a marketing ploy to raise awareness about the pay gap and from the feedback, it is receiving it has definitely done that. The campaign has prompted people to think about sexism in the business world.

The website for the product says, "A Ridiculous Solution For A Ridiculous Problem - You’re either here to buy something ridiculous or to complain about something ridiculous. Either way, it’s a good thing that you’re here. The Business Bulge is a fictional product. What’s not fictional is the fact that in 2016, women still earn less because of their gender. That’s not just wrong. It’s embarrassing. Politicians aren’t addressing the problem, and CEOs need a reason to act."

GetABulge.com and the product are the satirical work of Clark Hoffman, meant to start a conversation about gender income inequality. The gap between the salaries of men and women remains a troubling issue for women across the United States.

Today, an American woman earns on average 78 cents for every dollar of an American man earns. Although for some people those 22 cents may not seem like much, it's important to realize that those 22 cents not being paid to women means that women worked for free for part of their job.

With March being Women's month where people from around the globe celebrate women, this video serves a perfect gateway to bring about the issue of the gender wage gap and gender inequality.

Jone Johnson Lewis perfectly defines the month as a mean to "increase consciousness and knowledge of women's history: to take one month of the year to remember the contributions of notable and ordinary women, in hopes that the day will soon come when it's impossible to teach or learn history without remembering these contributions."

Collectively, one day, we won't need a Women's History month. I hope to see the day when the achievements of women are a strong part of history that isn't revealed after the contributions of men, rather alongside them.

However, to get there is going to be quite the journey. It already has been a long journey. Like most national problems, it's going to take a while to fix the issue. Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of the Gender Equality Charity at the Fawcett Society, said at the current rate of progress it would take 50 years to close the gender pay gap. She added, “Women should not have to wait that long."

And she is right!

However, we can all be part of a faster change by being in it together. Be it raising the issue enough to actually make CEOs stop this disparity or raising your children and siblings with ideals that see women as equal counterparts to men.

You can join several organizations such as UN Women, HeForShe, GirlUp, ManUp, Young Minds for Gender Equality and many more which have dedicated themselves to bring gender equality in the world.

In her issue for Esquire, Emma Watson shares that, "You [guys] don't have to give up your job, surrender your liberty, empty your bank account or never look at a pretty woman again. We're not asking you never to hold the door open [or] never to pay for dinner. . .We're asking you to think not what gender equality can do for you, but what you can do for gender equality."

Although women will continue fighting for their rights, be it in promoting gender equality, reducing the wage gap, or encouraging feminism, we can't do much without most people if not everyone is part of the solution.

Watson shares that guys should make themselves aware of the issue on the most basic level. Talk to women about their experiences of discrimination and once you recognize the problem, adjust your own behavior, if necessary, in order to lessen it, then encourage others.

You can participate in this campaign by raising awareness on the issue by using the hashtag #StopDickingAround, which directs people to the website Young Minds 4 Gender Equality.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

307926
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

171892
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments