At the end of November 2006, the hopes and dreams of women, especially mothers, to obtain a job with dignity and respect in Pennsylvania, died on the steps of the state capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania as a result of complete, deliberate and intentional neglect by the committee chairmen of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee and the House Judiciary Committee who held the fate of SB440 and HB352 in their hands.

Despite public outcry from women all over Pennsylvania and the United States of America who signed petitions at MomsRising.org, and from other individuals who called and wrote to these chairmen directly, their pleas for these male lawmakers to bring these bills to their committees for a vote fell on deaf ears.

HB352 and SB440 from the 04-06 legislative session were predeceased by HB65 and SB131 (02-04 legislative session) and HB1718 and SB1261 (00-02 legislative session). These bills added only TWO words to the 51-year-old Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. When enacted, these bills would prohibit employers from asking job candidates about their marital/familial status during job interviews (as is currently the law in 28 states). Ironically, these questions are rarely if ever asked to men during interviews. Women are even paid less for their work because of having to divulge their childbearing status during job interviews.

Are the rumors that this is a misogynistic state really true?

As I don my traditional funeral attire and mourn for the loss of yet another chance that women receive fair and equal treatment in the workforce through updated legislation, I ponder, why the continuous repression of women and their children?

HB352 and SB440 are survived by women everywhere who believe in equality and justice and are trying to provide the best they can for their families. May our legacy continue and our efforts quadruple next session to get the next set of bills passed.