What's Wrong With The World Today? - Discrimination in the Workplace

     It's kind of sad to be writing about this topic now, while I am in the mist of applying for jobs ... Especially because I thought that women would have been able to break right on through that glass ceiling and climb the ladder of success without any problems ... But apparently I am dead wrong. Discrimination in the workplace against women is still a giant problem, and this past week, women (and people with qualms against their employers, in general) have been set back decades. AWESOME!

     Last week, the Supreme Court agreed with Walmart, stating that some 1.6 million women who were taking part in a discrimination lawsuit - who work at different stores, in different states, in different positions - could not sue under one class action. Each woman would need to file their own complaint against the company.

     I see the sense in that. The Supreme Court was really thinking hard. 

     "Go ahead and get yourself (and only yourself because you can't team up with any other women being discriminated against) the best lawyer your 7.50 an hour salary can buy! Oh, don't worry, you just have to face off against the best lawyers that the entire corporation of Walmart can buy. We don't see the problem there. It makes total sense."
     Despite the ruling, let's just hope that Walmart takes a hint and begins treating the women they hire (which make up more than half of their workforce) equal to the men they hire. Although, let's face it, with this roll-back that the Supreme Court laid out, it's unlikely.

      This is not the only case of discrimination against women in the workplace that we've seen this past week ... The other comes out of that lovely white-washed company of Abercrombie and Fitch.

     Hani Khan, a 20-year-old Muslim woman, in California is suing the A&F Co. for discrimination. She was hired at a San Mateo, CA Hollister store while wearing a hijab, a Muslim headscarf. When hired, the manager said it was okay for her to wear her hijab as long as it was in company colors but four months later, a district manager asked her to remove it while at work (in the stockroom, no less), and when she refused, she was suspended and then fired.
     According to the A&F Company site, the Hollister brand prides itself on the following:

Photo c/o http://www.abercrombie.com/anf/careers/brands.html

     I can almost smell the musky stench of their white lawyers trying to explain how their decision to let Khan go is absolutely in line with their “look policy.”
     Seriously, Abercrombie, you pride yourself on being an All-American brand? Well, there's nothing American about discriminating against someone because of their religion (or race), so get it together. How many times do you need to be sued to realize your "look policy" is a load of bull and a way for you to try and get around your shitty hiring policies?

     ... And that's what wrong with the world today ...

It's a sacrifice working day to day for a little money, just tips for pay, but it's worth it all to hear them say that they care. She works hard for the money. So hard for it, honey. She works hard for the money, so you better treat her right. (She Works Hard For The Money, Donna Summer)

Sidenote: If you believe you or someone you know has been discriminated against in the workplace, information is available at the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's site at http://www.eeoc.gov/.