The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act are two important steps forward in America towards gender equality. The former is the first piece of legislation congress is passing to the newly elected President Obama.

Lilly Ledbetter was a woman in Alabama who found out she was paid less than her male co-workers for nearly two decades. After hearing that she was being paid less to do the same job, she sued. In the beginning, she was awarded the money that was due to her, but the U.S. Supreme Court took away the money given to her claiming that there was a 180-day filing limit on the unjust paychecks. After the money was taken from her, the House legislation pulled up an established rule which handled every paycheck as its own discriminatory act, thus resetting the 180-day limit. Although this did serve to provide Mrs. Ledbetter with the money that was owed to her, it was only a partial renewal of the civil rights. Due to a "cap" placed on the amount of damages a person discriminated against can collect, Lilly Ledbetter didn't get all the wages she was deprived of but she did receive some.

This was a step in the right direction, a step towards equality and justice. The Lilly Ledbetter Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act are important to many, including myself, and they should be passed; they will be the first votes of the new House. As a woman, I believe that wage discrimination is exactly what it says: an act of unjust discrimination. If a woman is doing the same job as man, with the same title, same goals, and same tasks, then does she not also deserve the same pay?

When all are treated fairly, there is unity; when people are treated unfairly, problems begin to arise. Companies around the United States claim to be equal opportunity employers and this means that they should be honest and provide equal opportunities to all who are employed under them. Mrs. Ledbetter said in an interview that she was earning only 70 to 80 percent of what her male colleagues were. She started at a lower salary and was given less of a raise each time. When a company hires a person, they should be prepared to pay every person they hire the same wage for the same job, regardless of their gender. If a woman, or any person for that matter, is doing an equal job to another, they should receive equal pay.

As an employee, if both genders are recognized as valued and worthy of the same salary, then there will be a sense of unity and trust in the workplace, which should be a feeling that is desired by all companies. I believe it is wrong to discriminate against people whether it is in the workplace as an employee, as a customer, or for any other reasons. I admire Mrs. Ledbetter's courage and I hope that her efforts and struggles will not go unnoticed, that people will look at her and see the injustice that companies are giving their workers, and that the House and the Senate consider these things when it comes time to vote on these important acts.