Reader comments
Hispanic women face wage gap in U.S.

Christy | 5:57 a.m. May 28, 2008

Wait a minute. The pro-immigration people are constantly telling us that these people will "do jobs Americans won't do," presumably because the wages are so low. Now we're supposed to cry because they aren't earning as much as the rest of us?

Samantha | 7:04 a.m. May 28, 2008

But aren't alot of these wages earned "tax free" because of illegal immigration?

Political Media | 7:29 a.m. May 28, 2008

Let's take a look at single "Father's" who work as aircraft mechanics making only $16/hour. Working construction at $14/hour plus overtime is nearly $60,000 per year. With little to no education, that's pretty darn good. I too have thought of the poorer people in our community especially at these higher gas prices. But we must be careful because I worked at a candy packaging company where the supervisor (hispanic) drove a NEW car and always bought her lunch, she would put her kids on the "Angel Tree" every year and say to us, "Hey, that's one less gift I have to buy". Where is the Media going with this article?

Comments continue below

Under the surface | 7:38 a.m. May 28, 2008

We've come full circle. The immigrants (punctuated by illegal aliens) have been the driving force for keeping wages DOWN in low-skill, entry-level occupations.
Someone here legally has no reason to fear reprisals from legitimate labor complaints. Illegal aliens have no such protection.
As for being reluctant to complain, I would suggest that the May Day protests for the past three years tell a different story.
And these are the same folks who oppose E-Verify and workplace raids. You can't have it both ways, folks. Either we clean up the workforce or we will continue to make assumptions about lawful presence.

Bob G | 7:52 a.m. May 28, 2008

The illegals making $400 dollars a week are better off than a legal resident because they are not paying any taxes out of their unreported and illegal income. Employers are discriminating on wages to legal residents and legal workers and that is the disparity in wages. Employers also profit well off the illegal alien employees because the employers also pay no taxes on illegal alien workers who have no legal identity or means of tracking their income. There should be laws that allow employees to discuss wages and earnings that employers are paying its employees. Employees have a right to know the real truth in wages and income of its workers. Employers, under threat of reprisal and dismisal, prohibit its employees from discussing or revealing their wages with each other. This is represive to fair wages and should be considered discriminatory witholding of wages and earnings information that employees have a right to know. All positions of employement in a business should establish wage and pay charts of employment. Forcing secrecy in wages among employees is not giving employees needed freedom of information. Employers should disclose wages and income for each job of the company as it offers promotional incentive.

to: Samantha | 7:58 a.m. May 28, 2008

Actually I think the article is referring to legal immigrants and no, there wages are not tax free.

I'm Underpaid Too! | 8:03 a.m. May 28, 2008

If you compare me with the other white males at my work, I am underpaid ... ignoring the fact that I have a 2 Yr. degree & they have 4 Yr. degree, also they have 5 more yrs. than I do, also they are management ... but still I am at the top of the pay scale for the "Male, White, Scottish-European Mix, Vertically Impaired, Gravitationally Gifted, Bi-Specticaled & Gramaticly Challanged" ... So There!

DD | 9:11 a.m. May 28, 2008

Illegal Hispanic women shouldn't be working in the first place, since they are legally barred from doing so. It would be nice if the reporter would quit trying to blur the line between legal and illegal immigrants.

This article points out that we should modify our immigration policy so it favors skilled contributors over distant relatives. Why would we want to add more and more uneducated, non-English speaking immigrants to our country? Based on anecdotal evidence, many of these don't learn any English even after being here for more than 20 years.

Paul | 9:10 a.m. May 28, 2008

I guess the key is, we have enough immigrants, legal or otherwise, that don't have diplomas. Mexico, how about sending more college grads over the border in your invasion?

Someone | 9:19 a.m. May 28, 2008

Seems like immigrants aren't willing to work for less than $10 hr just like anybody else. So immigrants or illegal immigrants are doing work no else will do, I don't think so. Everyone is trying to keep a float financially. Give the less than $10 jobs back to teenagers and then help the rest of us get better paying jobs to take care of ourselves and our families.

Article is bogus | 9:24 a.m. May 28, 2008

Two issues here: It is incredibly simplistic to imply that these women are making less because they are Hispanic, female, or immigrants. There are plenty of high-skilled immigrants making lots of money. So there are a number of other factors at play.

And the suggestion that these folks can't survive in their native country to baloney. It seems the bulk come here for luxuries or to save enough money to better establish themselves back home. Nothing wrong with that as a motive, but let's drop this faux-desperation argument.

In any case, we (the US) should be strategic about immigration and not just sit by and allow the random millions from Mexico to self-select.

Interesting | 9:28 a.m. May 28, 2008

"With a high school education, Juarez is better educated than many of her immigrant peers, and being bilingual has boosted her career options. However, she'd like more training to be able to find a higher paying job."

Now wait-a-minute, are you telling me that being legal, having an education, speaking 2 languages fluently has given her career options? ... I am having a hard time seeing the correlation here.

Then she wants more training to further boost her career options? She just wants more! She just wants to be an elitist! She just wants to ... She is exactly what the USA wants in the immigrants, I applaude her for doing what is required & continuing to progress!

Anonymous | 10:12 a.m. May 28, 2008

I have worked for 15 years in the same job and have worked my way up from minimum wage to just over $10 an hour, so I guess I am underpayed too. This is a joke, they cry and cry for more. Either you are qualified for a job or you are not, I cannot afford to go back to school either but I make do. Come on people you came here now be satisfied with what you have! We all want to earn more, but we do not use discrimination as a way to get it. Not everything has to do with discrimination, it is life. The Hispanic community seems to always be crying about something.

Stewart | 10:14 a.m. May 28, 2008

This article was designed with an ethnic (Hispanic is not a race) point of view. The wage difference between citizen, immigrant, and illegal alien was not discussed. From this article we are left with the perception that native Hispanics and Hispanic illegal aliens' wages should be in the same comparison.

Hispanics by supporting open borders and illegal immigration are their own worst enemy. This has been the case since Cesar Chavez protested on the border with his farm labor union trying to prevent the California growers from bringing in cheaper labor than the union Hispanics, because the employers didn't want to pay a living wage to the farm laborers.

It is the same game today. The cheap labor employers would have us believe that it is the civil right of anyone on the planet who will work cheap to come to the United States. This plays into the ethnic and family feelings (its our people)of Hispanics. They fail to understand, as Cesar Chavez did 50 years ago, that wages are determined by supply and demand. This article assumes that we need second class unskilled labor, which is untrue. Wages will go up when we control the border and immigration.

wallofvoodoo | 11:05 a.m. May 28, 2008

Seems that their wgaes are dang good for unskilled labor jobs requiring little education. Maybe I should go into construction.

State Employee | 11:57 a.m. May 28, 2008

I am white, female and underpaid for the amount of work expected of a State Employee at the bottom of the ladder, having to know several different computer programs. Between my husband (he is a city employee) and myself we make less than the couple in the article. So what I don't understand is why the "minorities" are the ones that are only ever reported on. It just irks me that you have to be something other than white to get noticed if you are having a problem.

Anonymous | 5:16 p.m. May 28, 2008

Why should we pay them more? Its so darn much trouble to understand the broken English, that I now look for checkouts manned by English looking people, or even go to another store, rather than have to deal with broken english. Maybe if the boses saw enough of my type actions, they would pay the Mexicans less, untill they can master the languare here. And yes, I have told Wal-Mart I no longer will shop there untill their employees learn to speak English.

Hablo no espanol | 8:36 p.m. May 28, 2008

a couple months ago I filed a discrimination suit against an employer who refused to even interview me because I don't speak spanish. I was told that the senate or who ever decides on the goverment laws decided that speaking spanish is a learned 'skill' and the employer was within his rights.

Well speaking ENGLISH is also a learned skill and if you can't speak or understand english then you should be learning it. And not get a job until you have it almost mastered. I did take spanish in high school many many years ago. Some stayed with me some didn't.

I am also discriminated on because of my age. I'm over 40 and end up being interviewed by young people in my own children's age group only not to get hired. I have bills too and I can't move back in with mom and dad.

Jose E. | 8:15 a.m. May 30, 2008

I have read every single post on this subject and I have come to one conclusion. No matter if you are White,Brown,Black,Red,Female,Male if you want to earn more you must get an education and work hard. I know many, yes many, individuals who are or have been in the US illegally yet they have learned English and got an education and became great assets to their communities. (I am currently a Scout Master and do my very best to help others at all times). Eventually these individuals have paid their dues and become legalized. I am not promoting illegal entry into the US, my parents brought me here legally but we remained here even after our Visas expired. After paying fees and fulfilling the Immigration requirements I became a Legal Resident. I have an education and I am living the American Dream, up to my ears in debt, a nice car and a rewarding career and a nice place we call home.

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2 photos

Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

Maricruz Juarez earns $15 an hour teaching parenting classes. With a high school education, Juarez is better educated than many of her immigrant peers.

Gallery (2 photos)