There's something about a recession

Recessions are great excuses for bad behaviour. As I've already admitted, this is my fourth recession god help me, and it's always fascinating to watch asthe bull's underbelly is revealed. A couple of things that strike me: It's a great time to discard staff who are controversial, challenging or act as the scapegoat for management failures. Of course this doesn't apply to the folks in the manufacturing or construction sectors who are naturally hit by retractions in spending, this is more to do with organizations who use the recession as an opportunity to rid themselves of great chunks of staff under the guise of cutbacks.

The other thing a recession reveals is the status quo. In this recession it's the 'shocking' study reported today in The Guardian (guardian.co.uk) that shows women in the U.K.'s financial sector make on average 55% less then their male counterparts. Yes, 55%! Can you believe it? Isn't the 'acceptable' standard 79%? And this in one of the wealthiest sectors. It is outrageous that pay discrimination continues in any form (it's also outrageous that these folks make so much money with so little oversight but that's another post) but this stat is worthy of Gloria Steinhem, whom most of us in l'age moyen might remember. (Still love the pantsuits and square glasses, but that's another post.)

And then the same study by The U.K.'s Equality and Human Rights Commission reveals that women hold only 11% of senior management positions, a fraction of the already paltry 29% held be women across all sectors. (Note to Gloria, put the marriage on hold and get back to work honey).

All that grim news said, women are faring this recession far better than men. With manufacturing and construction jobs eroding the loss of these well-paying, blue collar jobs are disproportionately affecting men. Women on the other hand are heavily weighted in health and education and those sectors remain stable even in a recession. However, given that women continue to be paid less than men and are also more likely to hold pink collar (sounds as repressive as it is) service sector jobs (which pay less than construction or manufacturing, have lousy benefits etc.) is it that we're just cheaper? At last, a force that actually reverses gender discrimination - cheapness.

How will this wrong ever be made right? How many women do you know have quit their corporate jobs to work as consultants,start a small business, or move to the public sector because they can no longer jump through the hoops? What about those women in the U.K. who chose not to blow the whistle during the good times - still afraid they could lose the gains they've gotten even if still a fraction of what the men earn? Still so little to go around that the ones who land the brass ring are loathe to share?

I hate to be bleak in bleak times but it is hard to see how this is going to change this time around.