Gender Roles
A look inside political cartoons
GENDER INEQUALITY IN PAY
Background:
In relation to inequality in the workplace, the wage gap between men and women is a constant problem that is still apparent in today’s society. Equality in pay has improved from 62 percent to about anywhere from 78-81 percent of what males made in the same positions (BLS, 2010;DOL, 2011). Fortunately, pay is gradually becoming more equal. However, it is not completely equal yet, and political cartoons explore this issue with either heavy satire or somber metaphors that reflect the state that society is still in.
DOL 2014. “Women’s Employment During the Recovery”, Washington, D.C
Pay Equity & Discrimination. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http://www.iwpr.org/initiatives/pay-equity-and-discrimination
The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap (Spring 2016). (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http://www.aauw.org/research/the-simple-truth-about-the-gender-pay-g
Team Member Name: Cassidy Long
Publication: Star Tribune
Date: 04/10/2014
Cartoonist: Steve Sack
U.S./International: US
Title of cartoon: Pay Equality
Cartoon # 6
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Negative framing of the issue.
2) Framing is supportive to those who are opposed to wage gap.
3) Framing is opposed to those who do not consider wage gap.
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?
In the cartoon a donkey represents the democratic party, and an elephant representing the republican party. The donkey is holding a piece of paper that is labeled with the words “pay disparity issue” both the donkey and the elephant are looking at a presentation that shows the symbol for male and female. Inside the male symbol is a dollar sign and inside the female symbol is a cent sign. This represents that there is a huge wage gap between men and women. The message is understandable, but through labeling we can see that the republican party still doesn’t see the issue.
Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?
The cartoon takes the side of ignorance for inequality in pay between men and women. Because of the ignorance of this issue there is support that there is inequality in pay.
What evidence can you give that the cartoon supports one side or the other?
In 1963, JFK created the Equal Pay Act. this act required all women and men earn “equal pay for equal work”. Flashforward 51 years to 2014. President Barack Obama created an executive order to prevent workplace discrimination.In 51 years not much has changed for the pay gap. Women still are being paid less than men. According to whitehouse.gov. Women who work full time make about 78% of what men make on average. This gap increases more with race. African american women make 64% and Latina women make 56% (“The White House”, 2015).
What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?
Steve Sack wants readers to be aware of the issues involving unfair pay for women. By showing readers the harsh truth about the wage gap, sack wants to make sure there is no inequality in pay.
Analysis:
Inside this cartoon are symbols representing larger things. For example, on the presentation board there are symbols to represent the male and female gender. Among these symbols you can see the symbol for dollars ($) and the symbol for cents (₵). Also, the two prominent political parties, Democrats and Republicans, are symbolized by their mascots, a donkey and an elephant. Labeling is utilized in this cartoon to clearly mark that the piece of paper that the democratic party is holding states “Pay Disparity Issue”. This cartoon also show irony with the idea that the republican party still doesn’t understand the issue at hand when he democratic party seems to be making it clear.
Resources:
Hill, Cathrine. "The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap (Spring 2016)." AAUW: Empowering Women Since 1881. The American Association of University Women, 2016. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
"Understand the Basics." The White House. The White House. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
Sack, Steve. "Pay Equality." Cagle Post RSS. Star Tribune, Cagle Cartoons, 10 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
(Hill, 2016)
Team Member Name: Ryan Taylor
Publication: Mike Luckovich’s Editorial Cartoons
Date: 2/6/15
Cartoonist: Mike Luckovich
U.S./International: U.S.
Title of cartoon: “Vanity Fair, Caitlyn Jenner”
Cartoon #7
Tone of the cartoon: Satirical
1) Negative framing of the issue.
2) Framing is supportive to those that support equal pay.
3) Framing is opposed to supporters of the wage gap.
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?
In the cartoon Caitlyn Jenner is displayed picking up her paycheck for her Vanity Fair cover story. The editor pays her while saying “here’s 78% of what we pay guys”. This represents the gender wage gap. The gender wage gap during the time of the cartoons publication was in full force. During the year of 2014, Females only made 79 cents for every dollar a male made in the industry. (Pay Equity) Not only does this cartoon tackle the gender gap, but it also utilized the gender change that Bruce Jenner under went earlier that year, around June of 2015 to be exact.
Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?
The cartoon is framed in way that strongly supporters the abolition of the wage gap between men and women. The cartoon creates a metaphor of Caitlyn Jenner receiving a lesser paycheck for her cover shoot because she is now a man, which is translated into society to exemplify that women are still paid less than men.
What evidence can you give that the cartoon supports one side or the other?
There are many pieces of evidence within this cartoon that support the abolition of the wage gap between men and women. Most importantly, the cartoon utilizes the fact that women earn less than men per dollar by displaying the editor paying Caitlyn 78% of what they pay men. Another important piece of evidence is that Caitlyn was paid less because she is a woman. This puts a spin on the situation because Caitlyn was previously a man named Bruce Jenner. The cartoonist utilized this metaphorical illustration to showcase how all women are at risk for receiving unequal payment for their labors.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?
The cartoonist wants readers to realize that women are consistently paid less for their work, and that it affects everyone, especially women. By displaying Caitlyn Jenner as a victim of lesser pay, it encourages readers to realize that this is an issue that is still happening, and all women are at risk.
Analysis:
What makes this cartoon intriguing and impactful is that it utilized Caitlyn Jenner. Caitlyn was previously a man, Bruce Jenner. The cartoon contrasts the wage gap by showing that because Caitlyn is now a woman, she is receiving less payment, and that she would have been paid more if she was “a guy”. The editor drives that point home by telling her she is receiving payment that is 78% of what a “guy” would be getting.
Resources:
Pay Equity & Discrimination. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2016, from http://www.iwpr.org/initiatives/pay-equity-and-discrimination
Mike Luckovich's Editorial Cartoons - Civil Rights Comics And Cartoons | The Cartoonist Group. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/subject/The-Civil Rights-Comics-and-Cartoons-by-Mike Luckovich's Editorial Cartoons.php
Littleton, C. (2015). The Secret Mastermind Behind Caitlyn Jenner’s Transformation. Retrieved March 30, 2016, from http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/bruce-jenner-caitlyn-jenner-transition-new-york-times-story-1201513335/
Team Member Name: Kaiti Guiver
Publication: The Buffalo News
Date: 4/15/2015
Cartoonist: Adam Zyglis
U.S./International: U.S.
Title of cartoon: Women’s Wages
Cartoon #8
Tone of the cartoon: Ironic
1) Negative framing of gender equality.
2) Framing is opposed to supporters of gender equality.
3) Framing is supportive to opponents of gender equality.
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?
The woman (we assume her to be a relatively successful business woman) is showing off her first dollar, like many business people do. The irony in this, is a fourth of the dollar is cut off and framed as if it is something to be proud of, but rather referring to the issue that women aren’t paid as much as men. According to thewhitehouse.gov, women are to this day getting paid around 78 cents for every dollar that men are making in the same career. That 22 percent extra pay really adds up, and women aren't getting it. This decreased pay affects their ability to bring it home in order to help care for their own everyday needs as well as their family's. The labeling shows that the woman is saying, "...And this is the first 77 cents I've ever earned." She's confirming the fact that women get paid less. The outline is a symbol of what it should look like, and the dollar is falling apart. You can see bits and pieces falling off, symbolizing that the dollar has less value.
Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?
The side is for gender equality, and even more so in favor of women's equal pay.
What evidence can you give that the cartoon supports one side or the other?
The evidence is shown by the framed dollar bill and the comment that the woman is making. She acts as if it is something to be proud of, because that’s how other people show off their first dollar, but as she says it's only worth 77 cents. It's a compare and contrast type of cartoon. If you have some background knowledge that women are getting paid less than men, then you understand that the cartoonist is comparing men's pay with women's pay. With the visual evidence it's easy to see the difference.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?
The cartoonist is trying to visually show us that there is inequality in the pay between men and women, and effectively does so through irony and satire.
Analysis: Symbolism is shown by the frame, the dollar, and the woman’s appearance. The frame represents pride. Whatever is in the frame is something that one should be proud of. The dollar represents success. However, because the dollar isn’t a full dollar, it represents disappointment and less value than a whole dollar is worth. The woman’s appearance is nice and she looks very well put together. She looks as though she is successful, but the dollar bill says otherwise. This all joins the argument that successful women are being unfairly paid for their labors, and that men get a full dollar while women need to settle with their ¾ of one.
Resources:
Did You Know That Women Are Still Paid Less Than Men? (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2016, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/equal-pay/career
Zyglis, A. (2014, April 4). Cagle Cartoons. Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.caglecartoons.com/viewimage.asp?ID={C2D01651-D029-498E-845F-237AD8BCB58C}
Team Member Name: Cassidy Long
Publication: Salt Lake Tribune
Date: 10/23/2015
Cartoonist: Pat Bagley
U.S./International: US
Title of cartoon: Local Utah Pay Gap
Cartoon #9
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Negative framing of the issue.
2) Framing is supportive of those who oppose the wage gap.
3) Framing is opposed to those who do not consider the wage gap.
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?
Three dollar bills stand side by side the first one a whole dollar, the next one about three quarters of a dollar and the third one in the shape of the state of utah.
Which side is supported by the framing of the cartoon?
The framing of this cartoon is in support of educating the readers of how the wage gap can affect individuals.
What evidence can you give that the cartoon supports one side or the other?
Not only is the wage gap a large issue across america, it is an even bigger issue in the state of utah. According to an article from local news source, KSL, it is said that utah has the fourth largest wage gap in america and that it’s closing at the second slowest national rate; making it hard for women to work and raise families. (McKellar, 2015)
What “reality” is constructed/framed about your issue?
(In other words, what does the cartoonist want you to believe after looking at this cartoon?)
The reality of this cartoon is that there are major wage gaps in america, utah being one of lowest. The cartoonist wants us to understand that there is inequality in pay between men and women, especially in the state of utah.
Analysis:
There are three large symbols in this cartoon first, a whole dollar bill representing what men earn in america. Second, three quarters of a dollar bill representing what women make on average compared to men. And finally, a dollar bill cut to the shape of utah, representing that the wage gap between men and women is even wider in the state of utah.
Resources:
Bagley, P. (2015, November 10). CagleCartoons.com - View Image. Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http://www.caglecartoons.com/viewimage.asp?ID={01DBD254-1D88-4F63-A029-FE47D63D654E}
Hill, C. (2015, Spring). The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap (Spring 2016). Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http://www.aauw.org/research/the-simple-truth-about-the-gender-pay-gap/