USA TODAY reported that employment for women still doesn't show full equality.

In 2009 women lost 1.6 million jobs, and men lost 4.7 million. Men had the higher paying jobs to begin with, so they went first when position cuts were made.  If women work fewer hours than men, hold more part-time jobs than men, or earn 77% of what men make, then from an employer perspective, it makes sense to hire women who will work for less, or lay-off men and women who work for more.

Men still dominate higher-paying executive ranks. It has been my observation that many executive men are afraid to talk to me, afraid of "what their wives will think," and I am either lead to a lower ranking position or talked-down in salary if I get far enough to interview. When I post my salary needs, I have lately been told that what I ask is too high. It was the last salary I made, but suddenly that's too high. Is it better that I ask for a lower salary, work under a man, or just work part time? The economy may look bad for everyone, but it has reversed the strides I was trying to make to become more equal in pay.

Last night on the news, I heard the news reporter say that women still struggle to make enough money to be head of their own households or live on their own. There has got to be something wrong with a government that urges unwed mothers to marry abusive men, to avoid homlessness or destitution by moving in with men for sex, or to endure living or sleeping with anyone because their only other option is homelessness. Do we want to keep women unequal so that men benefit? Do women contribute to the myth?

Despite our models of equality, the glass ceiling still exists because of stereotypes of women being unable, or incapable, of taking on equal responsibility. Some employers feel they don't want to risk putting women in their ranks because women will take off time to tend to child care, tempt married men, leave work for child care matters, or use personal time and days off to tend to family rather than engage in professional development.

No matter how educated women get, we can't seem to remove the sexual stereotypes. It is not true that women wear short sexy tops to work to gain raises, nor is it true that men only look to cheat by targeting females at work (if they're looking, they look outside of work as well, right?) In fact, men are just as likely to leave work early, or have families that they go home to, or to engage in non-professional endeavors on the weekends. You would think gender would not be used as an issue for the "good old boys" to continue to prevent women from working amidst their ranks, but it's not so, not even in 2009. Many employers still hold on the the reigns, or the males in charge still do, and ladies, they aren't going to cut you a break.

If you are a woman seeking employment, try not to stereotype yourself before you get started!

1) Don't talk about children or financial issues at your job interview or at work.

2) Don't use children as an excuse to leave work early.

3)Have a back-up who can tend to all child issues while you are at work. (If your employer gets wind of the fact that children are in the way, you appear unstable and the whole stereotype will come up. They may find some excuse to remove you.)

4) Don't expect understanding when you talk about your children or their problems at work, even if you think you are protected by anti-discrimination laws. You think employers should care, but all they really hear is "Blah Blah Blah..." that you can't think clearly, and your personal life is taking up space in your brain where your job should be!

Do not expect employers to be excited when you do not give your duties your full attention. Your employer should be your one and only thought when you go to work- even at lunch or at work parties. Men seem to be better at masking emotions than women are, but at work, it's a card game and you need to have a poker face. The better your poker face, the more options you give yourself. Even I have cringed during job interviews when I ask women, "Tell me about yourself." A good poker face response sounds like this: "Well, I completed my credential in October, and I was really excited when I saw your ad. I have read all about your company and I know that you do X and Y. I would be perfect for this position."

A bad poker face (all about you) sounds like this: "Well, I just had my newborn two weeks ago and he was 13 pounds. That cost a lot and I'm exhausted all the time. We are so behind on the bills that I just have to make some money, so I was really excited to see your ad because that was what I did before I had little Johny. And I can hardly wait to have enough money to get the car fixed so that I will be able to afford reliable transportation."

Does anyone really understand what is going through the mind of the employer as the second woman blathers on and on about her personal life? The expression "nobody cares" comes to mind. OK, we all reproduce, but your employer WANTS somebody who is not too busy to work, and #2 just ruled herself out. If an employer hints wanting to know about your personal life, you should reply, "I can hardly wait to get here every morning, and I even read up on it at night." The end.

So if you interview, ladies, if it's not about your job ambitions and what you can do for their company, you hurt the very real reputation of women like me who try and try to break that glass ceiling! Maybe you are one of the lucky ones, living at home on someone else's pay check, working as a hobby, doing your nails every day. Meanwhile, a woman like me, who really does make her own mortgage payments, may try to gain merit by stating all the professional development I do each week just to reassure my employer that I really am there to grow and participate, not just to stare at the clock until it's time to pick Johny up from day care.

After 20 years, I am still trying to get back the 23% of my pay that men got for doing the same jobs. Just think of how much money I have lost over a life time because of stereotypes.  If I'm going to be judged or have my pay docked, it should be for more than the mere fact that I marked an "F" under "what is your gender?" Women need to realize that they will continue to earn less pay if they don't realy make a concerted effort to rise to the occasion. In the employment game you have to walk the walk and talk the talk. What you have to lose is your right to autonomy, and the rights of other women to their autonomy as well.

This woman doesn't want to work for less. Is 100% of what I am due really too much to ask?