Yesterday, Today, and Beyond

Occupational segregation is a two fold issue that will continue to self perpetuate until enough people change.   When referring to gender occupational segregation, many men and women self select careers that they think will be a good fit for them.   There are many reasons for this.   One reason is the examples that people have seen growing up and in their lifetime.   For example, many teachers have historically been women.   When little girls are growing up, they may think that teaching could be a profession for them to choose.   Boys may be less likely to want to become a teacher, because there are not as many male teachers as there are female. Although stereotypes are changing - in our culture, as well as many others, we think of and are taught that certain jobs are for certain people because they historically always have been.   When we, as a society picture a firefighter, we generally think of a man.   When we think of a secretary, we tend...

The United States has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) international agreement.   According to the National Women’s Law Center, only the United States and six other countries have not ratified this agreement ("Issues").   The Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center testified that CEDAW protects basic human rights and aims to stop gender based discrimination against girls and women.   Nearly 200 countries have adopted CEDAW.   The main tenets of CEDAW are to: 1) prevent crimes of sexual assault, domestic violence, sex trafficking and other forced physical and sexual acts primarily experience by women worldwide; 2) give girls and women equal access to education and job training; 3) improve access for women to healthcare and improve maternal mortality rates; and 4) provide critical legal support and legislation to families, mothers and their children (Greenberger). CEDAW seems like a no brain...

According to a report by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, men make more money in their lifetimes, even at the very beginning of their careers, in comparison with women.   In 2016, the weekly median difference between all men and women over 16 was $166.   While men’s salaries continue to go up during their 20’s through 60’s, women’s salaries show topping off in their 30’s and 40’s at about $200 less per week than men their same age.   Even after age 65, when both men and women’s salaries decline, the weekly salary of a woman still stays about $200 less than a man’s salary.   This is significant amount of money that can have an impact over a woman’s lifetime.   Two hundred dollars may not seem like much, but equals over $10,000 a year, and over $400,000 over a 40 year career (Women’s).   There are many reasons that these pay gaps exist.   Women are typically seen as the primary caregiver to children and over the domest...

There are many things that could facilitate a higher risk of being a victim of a serial killer.   In some cases in which victims are tricked, the victims may be trusting and gullible, putting their fate in the hands of a stranger.   Some people living on the fringes of society have a higher probability of becoming a victim of a serial killer, such as prostitutes, homeless, runaways, drug addicts, or hitchhikers.   In this way some victims have allowed themselves to be in a vulnerable position. When someone becomes a victim, their actions could possibly save them if they realize they are in danger and can act in time.   Such is the case when a victim of Ted Bundy’s actually fought him in the vehicle and was ultimately able to escape ( Ted Bundy ). The victim may not have lived if she were submissive to Bundy and didn’t fight for her life.   Ultimately, the serial killer will kill and the blame relies solely on the killer.   Should one person not fit the bi...

Serial killers are often glorified in the media.   Some serial killers get a type of “cult” following, even letters professing love and admiration for the offender.   People seem to be fascinated with serial killers. In The Psychology of Serial Killer Investigations The Grisly Business Unit , Robert Keppel and William Birnes note that “Recognition is the single most important concept in serial murder investigations.” (Keppel & Birnes 3).   Serial killers sometimes remain undetected and undeterred as they operate on the fringes of society or appear so normal that they hide in plain sight.   Another obstacle is that some police departments may not want to admit they have a serial offender on their hands.   There are many reasons for this.   The rate of solving serial murder cases is generally much lower and slower than other murders and crimes.   The media and public attention may cause additional stress on the police department to solve the case...

Some serial killers are emblazoned into the minds of the public.   Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and Jeffrey Dahmer’s names are synonymous with evil and what it means to be a serial killer.   Gacy, for instance, would kill young men that were on the fringes of society – often runaways or homeless.   He then would hide their bodies in the crawlspaces of his home.   Gacy was eventually arrested for the murder of 33 young men, with 28 of their bodies were found inside his home.   Police did not know there was a serial killer in the area, nor suspect Gacy of any killings before his last victim. Other serial killer cases are less known to the public (Keppel & Birnes).   There was a group of serial killers who like likely killed 30 or more teenage boys.   The killers were Elmer Wayne Henley, Dean Corll, and David Owen Brooks.   The police and public were unaware there was a serial killer trio in Pasadena, Texas.   On August 8, 1973, Henley ki...

In 1946, someone terrorized the small town of Texarkana.   The ripples on this town are so deep that a 1976 movie was made based loosely on the killings that put fear in the town.   Five people were killed within a ten week span, along with three others that were attacked and survived (Grey).   People in town were locking and blocking doors and windows in their homes, setting booby traps.   Theaters in town were deserted.   People didn’t visit each other unannounced or after dark.   The townspeople were paralyzed with fear (McDonald).   In February, Jimmy Hollis and Mary Jeanne Larey were parked out at a lover’s lane.   A man with a white hood over his head walked up with a gun and ordered the two out of the car.   Hollis was forced to take his pants off and then beat on the head so hard that his skull was fractured (Stowers).   He cracked Hollis’s skull so loud that Larey thought the gun was fired.   The attacker had told Larey...