As I sit here in class waiting to be let out I listen to all the young adults roaming through the hallways. And can hear the whispers of people talking. Finally I am let out of class and can be free. I walk down the hall out of the building and see some of my friends huddled up together talking. They turn to see me walking up to them  and I can hear their voices getting louder. That's when I hear one of my friends, her first name Tracy  and surname Stott say, “It's so unfair these days. I mean women don’t even get a fair pay as men.”

That's when Abby added, “And don’t even get me started on even trying to find a job. I mean young women like us need to make a living too, you know.” Then she continued,  “What do you think  Chloe?” 

“I think it is outrageous the amount of unfairness women are presented with.” I added.  As you can tell, it is  hard being a woman in 1959. 

“It's so unfair these days. I mean women don’t even get a fair pay as men.”

 “And don’t even get me started on even trying to find a job. I mean young women like us need to make a living too, you know.” “What do you think  Chloe?” 

“I think it is outrageous the amount of unfairness women are presented with.

Then everyone got quiet because we realized once we leave college that's it. We are out in the world. Alone trying to make due with the small amount of money we get. That is if we even get a job. Who knows what opportunities will come flying at us. Most likely none I thought in my head. It was 3:30 by now and I really needed to get home and start my homework if I wanted to have the weekend off, I thought to myself. Then I explained to the girls that I would have to part with them. We said our goodbyes and off I went back to my dorm. I go to quite a big school in Tennessee called The University of Tennessee. It holds lots of people. And it is pretty nice. I walk through the door to my dorm tired, and happy because It's a Friday which means I have the weekend off.  I sit down at my desk and unload the heavy books out of my backpack. As I sort through the pile of papers and books I find a newspaper. It says help wanted. Men hourly pay: $5.39 Women hourly pay: $1.00. This is absolutely terrible I thought to myself. How does someone expect me to live only getting $1.00 an hour when men get $5.39. It is crazy. But besides that I continue to look around for my math book. There it is I think in my head as my eyes land  on a blue hardcover book with the letters m a t h written on it. 

  HELP WANTED

Men hourly pay: $5.39 Women hourly pay: $1.00

MATH

    A couple months  have gone by since the last time I have spoken to you  but I would like to share some events that have happened.  First off I left school. Well graduated actually. I still live in Tennessee although most of my friends moved away. I still have Abby though. Actually I think she is about to go to a job interview right now. It's pretty hard finding a job as a young woman. I hope she gets treated right. That and she gets paid well. Better yet I hope she at least gets the job. She really needs it. So do I though, when  living by  yourself it is hard to make ends meet. Right now I am working in a tiny shoe shop on Pittsburgh street. It's a nice little shop but the pay is terrible. I get $1.00 an hour. Meanwhile the male employees get paid $5.39! It's insane that people can do this. But one day I promise all women and men will be treated fairly just not right now it seems.

That is it!  I am done working in this lousy shop. I can’t work for something not worthy of me. I am  superfluous for this job and if my boss doesn’t see that it is his loss. When I came into work today I had a conversation with my boss. I asked him for a tiny raise. It’s just hard to live off of the money I get. But when I asked him he yelled at me and told me I'm not worth more money. He has always been an enigma  to me. One day he's nice and the other day he is nasty treating every woman with disrespect.  His response was in the very least  plausible, so I resonated  on quitting. I am so done with women not being treated the same. I digress on all this  banter but it’s just   incredible the difference between both women and men. After that annoying experience I took a train back home. I could smell the beautiful flowers and the dewy grass. The sky was just lightening up from a day full of rain and a rainbow was peeking up from behind the clouds. When I saw it I was a little emotive and it made me  happier. I have always loved seeing rainbows. They're so interesting when shining all their lavish colors all in order in the middle of the sky.

No! You are not worth more money! 

Can I please get a little raise? 

 Once I got home  Abby came over, and she gave me great news. She got a job! She is now working at a small little shop right off the street of Trent drive. With all the joy and excitement happening I remember the difference in pay women get than men and ask her a question. “Abby?” I asked hoping to get her attention before she celebrates too much. “ I would hate to evoke this exciting news but how much money do you get at your job?” 

Abby replies and says, “$1.50 isn't that great. I mean it's not the same as a man but it's more than $1.00 which is what women normally make.” Then her excitement went down because she still realized it is still not the same price. Then I realized I still need a job. 

$1.50 isn't that great, I mean it's not the same as a man but it's more than $1.00 which is what a woman normally makes. 

 I would hate to evoke this exciting news but how much money do you get at your job?”

     Later that day I got ready to go out and look for a job. I got up off my couch and turned off my tv. I walked over to my vanity and looked at all my colorful clothes. A white skirt and blue shirt will do, I thought to myself as I pulled out the clothes. I walked up to my mirror and saw a skinny, tall, red haired girl. With her wavy hair down in a white skirt and blue shirt. Prefect I said as I walked out the door.  I went looking from store to store asking if anyone needs a worker but after hearing the pay I denouement on leaving.  As I entered a bakery I mentioned to the boss that I would like to work there he told me he would pay me $1 an hour. That didn’t work for me because  I might as well go back to my old job if I wanted to be paid $1.00. There was no job that would pay a lady over $1 dollar. And don’t even get me started on making the pay even close to what men get. That was until I walked up to  a clothing store. Inside was a young man. He was working the cash register while people shopped around. As I walked up to his desk he smiled nicely and asked, “Is there anything I can do for you ma'am?” He had brown hair and blue eyes. He was tall and had a blue shirt on with black pants and a light blue tie. He looked like the best dressed man in all of town. As I opened my mouth to speak, no words came out. I tried again, same thing. What is wrong with me I thought in my head, finally the words poured out of my mouth, “Do you need any employees here,” I said hoping he would say yes.