THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 14, 1995 TAG: 9504140062
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TEENSPEAK
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
WHEN IT comes to job-hunting, six Currituck County High School students hope future employers will consider education, experience, attitude and appearance.
They don't want race or gender to be a factor.
At this week's Teenspeak, the students agreed that women and minorities still may need programs to ensure equal opportunity, but they said that the federal government's affirmative action programs need reform. Currently, the federal government sponsors programs that give hiring preferences to women and minorities to diversify the workforce and to provide job opportunities to the disadvantaged.
``I just think it needs to be updated some because it was a good idea for its time but it's done for right now,'' said John Appleton, an 18-year-old senior.
Sophomore Latia Banks, 16, agreed: ``I don't think the whole system should be gotten rid of because women and minorities need to be given an equal chance.''
But, she added, ``When you apply for a job, they shouldn't look at your skin color, or whether you're male or female. I think it should be based on qualifications and your potential to do the job.''
Most of the panelists have participated in Currituck County High School's gender-equity program, which places students in non-traditional roles during the summer to expand career opportunities. Female students may discover they excel in carpentry, and males might look into nursing after sampling an occupational health-care class.
Even though students said that college or job acceptance should not be determined by programs with a minority-preference, they thought that affirmative action could still help equalize pay and promotion.
A recent government study shows African-American men with professional degrees earn 79 percent of what white males with the same credentials make. And then there's the ``glass ceiling'' that is said to keep women and minorities from reaching the top of the corporate ladder.
Women now hold 40 percent of all corporate middle-management jobs, but only 5 percent are vice president and higher, according to a recent issue of Newsweek.
That bothers people like sophomore Carrie Atkins, 17.
``If you can do the job, then why not. It does not matter if you're black or white or a woman. You should be paid the same, regardless,'' she said.
Chanda Spence, a sophomore, was encouraged by statistics that indicate more women are enrolling in law school and earning advanced business degrees - a prerequisite for those on the CEO track.
``More are putting their career first and putting off having kids,'' Chanda, 16, said.
``I think we'll make a big statement by the year 2020,'' Carrie added. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos on page E1 by Drew Wilson, Staff
Jason Forbes
Chanda spence
Latia Banks
Kimberly Bardo
Carrie Atkins
by CNB