Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site h-sc1.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!h-sc1!desjardins From: desjardins@h-sc1.UUCP (marie desjardins) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: Changing Roles Message-ID: <467@h-sc1.UUCP> Date: Fri, 26-Jul-85 16:40:47 EDT Article-I.D.: h-sc1.467 Posted: Fri Jul 26 16:40:47 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 28-Jul-85 04:17:12 EDT References: <993@ubc-vision.CDN> <202@ihlpl.UUCP> <282@timeinc.UUCP> <3006@hplabsb.UUCP> <397@kontron.UUCP> Organization: Harvard Univ. Science Center Lines: 29 > My wife experienced severe PMS after our daughter was born; for a week > and a half each month, she became depressed and difficult to live with. > ... > PMS doesn't justify discrimination against individuals; but if PMS affects > a sizeable percentage of women, and thereby impairs job performance, it > might explain some of the *average* discrepancy in wages between men and > women in comparable jobs. > > I realize a lot of people out there would rather believe that the discrepancy > is entirely the result of discrimination; the pursuit of truth can be most > unpleasant to those who are so damn certain they have it all wrapped up in > a neat little bundle. You know, for somebody who started out sounding quite reasonable, you really wound up sounding like a jerk. Of all the women I know or have ever known, none of them have any noticeable amount of PMS; some have cramps for a day or so, or symptoms like water gain that couldn't possibly affect their working. If you are going to even imply something like "PMS affects a sizeable percentage of women" then I think you should have a little more information to back it up. You yourself admitted that your wife only had severe PMS immediately after having a child. Doubtless that would have an effect on your hormones, but I really can't see how that could apply to women IN GENERAL. More men than women are alcholics; alcoholism can cause trouble with work; so men should be discriminated against, right? marie desjardins park