Knowing Your Value by Mika Brzezinski Read Free Book Online Page B

it. And we know women certainly don’t always do that. But why? One reason is that women have been raised to think of money in terms of security—and not just financial security. Even today, a surprising number of us still think that it’s the man’s job to make and understand money. Far too often we delegate this responsibility and don’t learn enough about money—so of course we fear it.”

    “Women don’t say what they think, and they don’t do what they feel.”
    —SUZE ORMAN

    After she hears my story, financial guru, talk-show host, author, and motivational speaker Suze Orman puts it succinctly: “The problem is, a woman is socialized to accept that which she is given. So if somebody tells you that you can’t, you believe it. If somebody says you’re not worth it, you believe it. You get angry, but you can’t say anything because women don’t say what they think and they don’t do what they feel.”

    Wanting to be liked, taking things personally, feeling lucky to have the job, fearing unknown consequences: these are filters through which a lot of women view their work, and that influences the way they react. But the truth is, the filters blur our focus and keep us from our goals.
    Looking back at the Paris Hilton incident and the events that followed, I realize it is just one of many cautionary tales I have to share. I would like my story to speak to any and all younger or newly employed women who feel they are “just lucky to be there.” Get over being so grateful for the opportunity. If you’re good, you should know it and own it, and always be ready to walk. Always be aware of your ability to walk. Depend on no one to notice your worth. Being liked should not be your first priority. I am one hundred percent sure, looking back now, that had I reacted differently when I received my admonition/promotion, my fate would have been different, too. That manager probably would have had more respect for me if I hadn’t apologized for ripping up the script. I should have said that I respectfully disagreed with her assessment of the incident, and I should have seized the opportunity to ask for more money. Instead, I did what was asked of me.

CHAPTER 3
    WHAT’S A WOMAN WORTH?
The Gender Wage Gap and the Perception of Value
    WITH MARIE C. WILSON, ILENE H. LANG, BRIAN NOSEK, TINA BROWN, JACK WELCH, DONALD TRUMP, DONNY DEUTSCH, SUSIE ESSMAN, SENATOR CLAIRE MCCASKILL, BROOKSLEY BORN, SHEILA BAIR, AND HANNAH RILEY BOWLES

NOT YET EQUAL
    O ne could easily argue that women have made impressive gains over the past fifty years. Yes, women now make up more than half the workforce. Yes, we are governors of states and running for president. Yes, there are three women on the Supreme Court, women are commanding space shuttles and serving on Navy submarines. Women in the United States are better educated than men: they receive three college degrees for every two that men earn, they earn more master’s degrees than men do, and about forty-three percent of all MBAs. But despite all these impressive gains, we still sell ourselves way too short. On average, women make only seventy-seven cents for every dollar earned by a man. According to
a Government Accountability Office study released in September 2010, professional women still make only eighty-one cents for every dollar a man makes in a similar job.
    Women are not just lagging in wages; they are far behind when it comes to leadership. Women make up only seventeen percent of the United States Congress. The United States ranks seventy-second of 189 countries in terms of the proportion of women in their national legislatures—behind France and even Afghanistan and Pakistan. Across such industries as business, law, academia, journalism, and politics, on average, women hold fewer than twenty percent of the top positions. Only three percent of Fortune 500 companies have female CEOs. Researchers say that the percentage of women in the executive suites has been growing for