Discussion examines workplace inequality

At a panel discussion Wednesday, students were given a glimpse into a world where women are often treated unequally in the workforce of America. \n"Even though women are moving into male dominated professional positions, they\'re not getting paid the same money," Jean C. Robinson, dean of the office of Women's Affairs, said.\nRobinson chuckled at the facts and figures given by her fellow panelists and displayed contempt for a film clip shown.\n"I think it's just terrible that men get paid more than women," Robinson said. "And when that guy we just saw on the 60 Minutes film clip said, 'Women in construction are taking away jobs from men who need them to feed their kids.' I'm thinking the women need those jobs to feed their kids, too."\nRobinson was just one of the four panelists sharing in discussion at "Shattering The Glass Ceiling -- Women in the Workforce," sponsored by the Union Board Debates and Issues Department. The others were PNC Cathy Cederholm, Command Chief of the U.S. Navy, and professors Lynn Duggan and Elizabeth Gatewood.\nCederholm broke the mold of facts and figures, and shared her personal testimony with the group.\n"It was out of complete spite that I enlisted," Cederholm said. "I worked with 250 men and no other women, and all I wanted was to be treated like the other men. They told me, 'Okay, clean the urinal.' I said, \'Why should I? I don't use it."\nShe finished the story by saying how the men demonstrated to her that she could use the urinal if she wanted to, she just chose not to.\n"This taught me two things," Cederholm said. "To be one of the guys I had to be willing to do things I wouldn't normally do. And two, don't ask people to do anything I feel I\'m above doing."\nCederholm expressed all the hardships she encountered while enlisted in the Navy, and how her choice of a male dominated career affected her family, her marriage and her character. Her story touched the hearts of everyone in the room; the sincere extended applause she received was a testimony to it.\nAlthough she said she wished the attendance number was greater, Lakshmi Hasanadka, Union Board program adviser said she was delighted with the variety of people who attended.\n"If the 50 people that were here walk away and tell someone about what they heard tonight, then we've done our job."\nGatewood said although no concrete solution to inequality of women in the workforce was given, "I guess the moral of the story is dream large enough"