In a time when discussions about equal pay should feel resolved, a local Utah GOP official recently stirred the pot with an op-ed that many viewed as an echo from a bygone era. Writing for both The Mountain Record and the Wasatch Herald, Mark S. Jennings argued that “Equal pay for women comes with consequences.” For men.
Jennings posited that the traditional notion of men as primary earners is being threatened. He suggested that if women receive equal pay, businesses would have to lower men’s salaries to balance the budget. “If companies are pressed to match women’s earnings with men’s, it follows that they will need to cut male salaries,” he argued, presenting this as a simple economic truth.
His perspective implies that every family thrives best with a stay-at-home parent, and he seems to assume that all men are cisgender individuals supporting a typical nuclear family. According to Jennings, if men and women are compensated equally, it will become harder for men to provide for their families, leading more mothers to leave the home, where he claims they may prefer to be, and join the workforce.
Moreover, he argued that an influx of women in the job market increases competition, which he believes will drive wages down across the board, ultimately resulting in a detrimental cycle for families and society as a whole. He concludes that we should allow “free market principles” to guide the way forward, invoking the sacred tenets of capitalism to support his claims.
His op-ed also criticized a proposed Equal Pay Bill in Utah, which would fund research into the gender pay gap and establish guidelines for fair performance-based raises. Jennings labeled the bill as a significant threat that needed to be halted.
The backlash against Jennings was swift and fierce. So intense that he soon resigned from his position in the county GOP and issued an apology. In comments reported by local media, he claimed he intended no offense to women and acknowledged their contributions in the workforce as invaluable. He even shared his personal narrative of having worked tirelessly to allow his wife to stay home with their children, boasting about their successful careers as a result of that choice, further distorting the conversation.
As Jennings retreated into the shadows of the past, one has to wonder—if even the conservative community in Utah disapproves of such views, isn’t it time for a change?
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In summary, Mark S. Jennings’ op-ed arguing that equal pay negatively impacts men’s earnings faced overwhelming criticism, resulting in his resignation and an apology. His traditional views on family and gender roles were met with backlash, indicating a need for more progressive conversations around equal pay and workplace equality.