Women Don't Ask -- Discussion Questions for Friday's Meeting
Rainey
Here are some discussion questions for the meeting *this upcoming
Friday.* As a reminder, we're meeting on Friday March 19th, 6:30 PM
at Progressive Health Services (2141 El Cajon Blvd San Diego, CA
92104). Please bring a $4 donation if you can, though nobody is turned
away for lack of funds. We'll be discussing "Women Don't Ask" by
Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever. Please also bring book suggestions
for May's book - the topic will be Eco-feminism.
Discussion questions:
Given the detailed explanations of worth based on pay, starting pay
negotiations, and missed bonuses throughout a career, does the
observation that women generally don't ask explain away the infamous
78 cents to $1 pay gap between men and women? Could there be any
unrelated factors affecting this pay gap?
Babcock urges women to negotiate using friendly, less confrontational
negotiation techniques. Is it counterproductive for women to avoid
aggressive negotiation methods simply to avoid being labeled ‘bitchy’?
Do these types of techniques promote the view that women are less
capable and assertive in business?
Are these techniques as effective as aggressive, traditionally
masculine negotiation techniques?
Is negotiation inherently unfeminine?
Babcock devotes a great deal of time to women’s anxiety over
negotiation. Why are women more anxious about negotiation than men?
This book has been criticized as anti-feminist – blaming women for
their own economic inequality. Do you agree with this criticism? Do
you think women are themselves to blame for the inequality of the
sexes, because women failed to ask for more?
Does higher pay for women equal lesser pay for men? Why or why not?
How has maternity leave influenced wage disparities? What policies
would encourage maternity leave without the negative impact on women’s
earning potential?
How does women’s unpaid domestic labor, both historically and
currently, affect women’s worth in the workplace? What would be a
solution to this?
Is this book dated? Have modern women progressed beyond the
negotiation inequality?
Babcock tries to draw parallels between home life and work-based
negotiation. Do women not get help with domestic work and childcare
because they don't ask for it? Will negotiating effect change?
This book is designed to be a catalyst for change – promoting wage
equality by teaching women to ask and managers to counter bias. Has
it changed how you approach negotiation in your own life? How?
That should get the discussion rolling. See you on Friday,
Rainey
kim eisenberg
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