In a special edition of Morning Joe, Mika Brzezinski hosted a discussion on the disparity in men and women's salaries.
Photo by Drew Katchen | msnbc.com
Among the highlights:
- Mika talked about how she almost quit the show after discovering that co-host Joe Scarborough was making 14 times more than she was. Brzezinski says that she was spending more to do her job (clothing for the broadcast, childcare, etc), than she was actually making on the job. Joe Scarborough gave her his ratings bonus ("an investment," he says), but that situation was awkward for both of them. Brzezinski eventually prevailed upon msnbc management to pay her what she's worth.
- Norah O'Donnell and Sen. Claire McCaskill discussed the challenges of being perceived as committed and competent at their jobs with the split priority of caring for young children. O'Donnell says that she was terrified of telling her then-boss, the late Tim Russert, that she was pregnant again (after just having had twins). He turned out to be extrememly supportive and happy for her. (Video)
- For Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, "the women's movement has stalled." She points to the decrease of women in Congress, and that there is 88 percent less women in state legistures. Gillibrand argues that women's voices matter in the political process - 56 percent of women voted for President Obama. (Video)
- Singer/songwriter Carole King shared that her struggle was demanding her worth in her personal life; in previous relationships, she would feel guilty and overcompensate for making more than her partner. (Video)
- Mika recounts how angry she was after a successful 2007 interview with then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Brzezinski says she was thrilled to have made that booking for msnbc, but that a phone call from a manager afterwards consisted of a complaint about the red hair clip she wore during the interview. (Video)
- Donny Deutsch posed this question to FDIC's Sheila Bair and Financial Times' Gillian Tett: Had there been more women on Wall Street, would the financial crisis NOT have happened? Some studies theorize that women are more collaborative in the corporate environment and take more moderated risks. (Video)
- CBS News' Lesley Stahl talked about how women are less likely to go into their bosses' office and ask for more pay or better assignments.
- Joe Scarborough talked honestly about how he's seen some women use their attractiveness to get ahead, and how this short-sightedness disappoints him. (Video)
If you missed the show, you can watch the episode here -- there are different take aways for men and women at various stages one's career. View a set of pictures from today's episode.
Photo by Drew Katchen | msnbc.com
Photo by Drew Katchen | msnbc.com
Jessica Johnson of the Johnson Security Bureau, the National Urban League's Marc Morial, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Carole King in the Morning Joe greenroom.
Morning Joe's Knowing Your Value special was sponsored in part by Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative.
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Where is Mikas condemnation of Ed for calling Laura Ingram a sexist misogynistic demeaning name? To me, not commenting is defending Ed Shultz. How is this protecting your value???
I love the show- but, I don't understand how Mika missed the obvious answere to her book's main question. The main question at least on today's show asked why do women not rise to top positions as much as men?
Simple- There is a huge element of taking power to get to "high positions" and asking for "higher pay". And men are much more comfortable and skilled and getting and keeping power.
I'm not saying men are better then women - just different and maybe not as ruthless.
From this morning's discussion, this is a book I will read. I would make these observations:
there are many crafty and successful people in the marketplace regardless of gender; there are many crafty and successful people in the marketplace due to gender whether 'good ole boys' or 'flirtatious'. For the rest of the marketplace, the crafty and successful merge with the 'war mentality' of the masses. Competition whether through actual war, politics, sports or entertainment dominates the actions of both genders. Since the employment universe has no measured advancement methods, people have to advance themselves by asking or manipulating. My 40 years in the workplace have shown that women don't work well with women; men are competitive like in a china shop; both genders are attempting to find an advantage among peers. Value is always hard to obtain from outside oneself; so we have to self-promote.
and let me scream from the mountain tops I support women and mika- but women have to get this one priciple in life if they ever want to become wiser on the issue of how to get what you want. that priciple is "power is almost never ever ever ever given away- it is taken"
So do think things should be this way or men should be for womens right is too idealistic and a worthless way to go about change. Women must take control and take the power. This is the men's little secret that keeps women down.
There is no more time left for women to be a victom and wish and hope and pray for power to just be given to them. It's time to grow some balls- lol
MIKA: How would you like to be called a slut. The show was about womens values. Money isn't everything..It helps. RESPECT WOMEN FIRST> Republicans conservative women as just as good as your group of women, although your fellow msnbc employees call them sluts. Why wasn't this mentioned this morning. Also I am a 79 year old woman, don't laught at commercials pushing women over the cliff
Teresa Gilbert 55 Sills Dr Oakville CT 06779
SHAME ON YOU Teresa Gilbert 55 sills Dr Oakville CYT 06779
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Very important show about women realizing their value and being able to ask for a comparable salary. Also, how men and women relate at work. I know women want to not be treated as "sex objects" in any way -strictly business. No problem from me. But have you seen how women are dressing these days. How about the Austrailian gal, I believe her name is Amanda Drury?, on CNBC. With the outfits she wears and her body (which she can't help), any man's reaction is going to be driven by his reptilian brain. Just the way it is. I think some women just have to dress down but don't.
I agree with the above. How can you justify having a program on women and their worth and at the same time bash women who are trying to do what you advocate women doing? Is it only political or just for the ones you like? Two faced thinking.