TOW #17: "Was standing ovation for women's pay just as fake as Don Draper?" by Maya L. Harris (via CNN.com)

     Recently, President Obama addressed the issue of gender inequality (specifically dealing with wages) at the State of the Union. His announcement that a "women deserves equal pay for equal work" was met with a standing ovation. However, in the opinion article "Was standing ovation for women's pay just as fake as Don Draper?", Maya L. Harris, a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School and a women's rights activist, argues that a standing ovation won't make change – action will. By passionately suggesting and thoroughly supporting ways to take action, Harris effectively conveys her desire for change through action and shows how America could be made a better place because of it.
     Harris follows up her statement that "Only action will [change the gender wage gap]" by proposes a way for Congress to start taking that action. She writes, "Congress can start by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act so that women can't get fired for asking their co-workers about their pay." She follows up this suggestion with reasons why that would be a good first step, citing Lilly Ledbetter, a women who had been part of a wage discrimination case and who is now a women's equality activist, as asking, "How will a women know she being paid less if she can't ask?" First, by giving a well-supported suggestion, Harris urges readers to understand the importance of the wage inequality issue. By showing that she has spent time researching the Paycheck Fairness Act and its effects, as well as finding the opinions of people who support it, Harris makes clear how important equality is to her. This passion to solve the problem that Harris expresses attempts to make readers feel the same way. Harris continues to give suggestions and provide inspiring messages, writing, "When we lift women, we lift America." Ultimately, by vehemently presenting her ideas about the wage gap, Harris effectively convinces readers that this issue should be important to everyone. Her well-supported suggestions then show that the only way to bring about that change is through action.
     In "Was standing ovation for women's pay just as fake as Don Draper?", Maya L. Harris states that the only way to bring about equal pay is to actually do something. She argues that standing ovations will not help – action will. By presenting well-supported suggestions with a passionate tone, Harris effectively conveys her desire for change and then urges readers to understand that importance so they can make change happen and ultimately make America a better place.

Standing Ovation at State of the Union:

Obama's announcement of support for equal pay resulted in a standing ovation. But, as Harris argues, that standing ovation isn't what will bring about change. If we truly want to make a difference, we need to take action.

(Source: http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/1029325/women-take-center-stage-in-president-obamas-2014-state-of-the-union-address)